David Martino

I have been in practice for 13 years and in telehealth for the past six years. While providing medication management for individuals at all levels of functioning, I have also prescribed treatment for an atypically large percentage of complex cases in outpatient settings. Difficult cases are not burdensome; they are intriguing and rewarding. My undergraduate studies in English literature and graduate work in systematic theology and psychiatric nursing have been invaluable in the treatment of complex cases. Each adademic discipline challenged me to think adaptively, engage with diverse frames of reference and use them as tools to think "outside the box." My diagnostic process in psychiatry unfolded from that perspective taking. Accurate diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.

As a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, I am keenly aware of the influence that stigma, discrimination, microaggression, internalized oppression, trauma, and the questioning of one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity can have on a person's well-being and clinical presentation. The most appropriate treatments are in accordance with this context, not isolated from it.

My approach can be explained well with an extended metaphor, specifically a jigsaw puzzle. The intake can feel overwhelming, but all puzzle pieces need to be dumped out of the box before assembly. Using questions, I proverbially connect the edged pieces. Then we begin the rest of the puzzle together, one piece/treatment target at a time. The more symptoms, conditions, and treatment history are involved, the longer it takes to customize your treatment and complete the puzzle together.

The first session is a 60-minute intake (one 60-minute appointment or two 30-minute time slots back-to-back). The full hour gives us time for introductions and gathering of background information without feeling rushed.

Clients typically feel that they are listened to without judgment, that their needs and concerns are heard and understood. The session is a safe space where you are encouraged to ask questions, learn more about your treatment, and voice when part of it is not working or is not well-tolerated so that it can be adjusted and improved.

Recommendations/referrals for more intensive psychotherapy, such as weekly trauma work, are made when appropriate.