Dr. Francis Nguyen

I'm Dr. Francis Nguyen, a D.O. board-certified adult and addiction psychiatrist.

Having worked in various treatment settings across the country, I bring a broad, compassionate perspective to my practice. I consider it a true privilege to hear my patients' stories and partnering with them through the ups and downs of life. I have real comfort with complex psychopharmacology, including MAOIs, and with tapering people off medications as often as I add them.

I tend to be a good fit for people who value autonomy, self-reflection, and straightforward communication. Many of my patients are functioning well in their careers and relationships but recognize that certain habits, symptoms, or patterns are beginning to interfere with the life they want. You do not need to have everything figured out, but a willingness to be honest, consider feedback, and take an active role in treatment is important.

I see treatment as a collaboration. My job is to bring medical knowledge, experience, and an outside perspective. Your job is to be honest about what is happening and what you actually want to change. Neither of us has to pretend we know everything at the beginning.

I am generally less interested in telling people how they should live than in helping them understand the consequences of the choices they are making. That includes medication, alcohol, drugs, relationships, work, and the ways we sometimes get in our own way.

The goal is not simply to feel better for an hour or leave with another prescription. It is to understand yourself better, make more deliberate choices, and gradually need less help from me to manage your own life.

My style is straightforward, collaborative, and pretty down-to-earth. I take a nonjudgmental, evidence-informed approach to substance use. You can talk openly without worrying that I’ll judge you or automatically assume you have an addiction. At the same time, I’ll be honest when I think something may be affecting your mood, sleep, health, relationships, or medications.

I also ask a lot of questions! I want to know about your work, relationships, habits, ambitions, and the parts of your life that may not seem obviously “psychiatric.”