Physicians spend their careers caring for others, often at the cost of their own well-being. Long hours, life-and-death decisions, and the cumulative weight of patient care can wear down even the most resilient providers. At The Midtown Practice, our experienced clinicians in NYC offer confidential, evidence-based therapy designed for the realities of a career in medicine.
If you’re a physician who’s struggling, you’re not alone.
Our team understands the unique pressures that come with practicing medicine. The physicians we work with often share similar experiences—the kinds of struggles that can be difficult to name out loud, especially in a profession that prizes composure and self-reliance.
- You’re exhausted in a way that sleep doesn’t fix, and the work that once felt meaningful now feels like an obligation
- A difficult patient outcome is still with you weeks or months later, even though you’ve moved on to dozens of other cases
- You’re functioning at work but emotionally checked out at home, and your partner has started to notice
- You’ve built a career around being the one who has it together, and you don’t know how to admit you’re struggling
- You’re losing sleep over decisions, charting, and what could have gone differently
- You’re questioning whether to stay in your specialty, scale back, or leave medicine altogether
- Your drinking, eating, or other coping habits have crept in a direction you’re not comfortable with
If any of these resonate, you’re in good company—and you’re in the right place to do something about it.
Meet our New York therapists for physicians
Kate Ballen, LMSW
I work with physicians who are trying to make sense of where they are in their careers and personal lives. With a previous career in journalism and as co-author of a book on parenting, I bring a deep respect for each client’s story and the narratives we build about ourselves. Many of my physician clients are navigating relationship and family challenges, parenting in a demanding field, or wondering what comes next. I offer a collaborative, non-judgmental space to think it through together.
- Offers therapy for doctors ✓
- Credentials: Licensed Master Social Worker #126799
- Specialty Areas: Career and life transitions, relationship and family challenges, parenting, adult identity development
Karen Franklin, LCSW
With more than two decades in clinical practice and mental health leadership, I understand the weight of carrying responsibility for others. I work with physicians on the deeper patterns shaping their lives, including perfectionism, self-criticism, and difficulty asking for help. My approach blends psychodynamic insight with practical tools from DBT and CBT, and I’m fluent in English and Spanish. Whether you’re processing burnout, trauma, or a difficult transition, I offer steady, direct support grounded in a strong therapeutic relationship.
- Offers therapy for doctors ✓
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #100938
- Specialty Areas: Depression, anxiety, grief, life transitions, trauma, relationship difficulties
Jane Ray, LMHC-D
As a trauma-focused therapist certified in both EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy, I specialize in helping physicians process the weight of what they witness at work. Whether you carry memories of patient deaths, traumatic codes, or accumulated moral injury, you don’t have to manage it alone. I also work with doctors navigating anxiety, depression, and identity questions. My approach is rooted in active listening and collaboration, helping clients move toward healing while staying grounded in their professional lives.
- Offers therapy for doctors ✓
- Credentials: Licensed Mental Health Counselor #011571
- Specialty Areas: Trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, eating disorders, substance abuse, identity, life transitions, creatives, adolescents
Meghan Shank, PMHNP-BC
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner with prior service in the United States Navy and additional training in Lifestyle Medicine, I bring a well-rounded perspective to working with physicians. I can prescribe medication when appropriate, while also paying close attention to sleep, nutrition, and movement—the very things doctors often sacrifice. I prescribe the minimum effective dose with the most favorable side effect profile, helping physicians feel like themselves again without unnecessary side effects or interruptions to their work.
- Offers therapy for doctors ✓
- Credentials: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner #404458
- Specialty Areas: Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, life transitions, trauma
Shira Lee Silver, LCSW-R
Much of my work centers on young adults in their 20s and 30s, which makes me a natural fit for medical residents, fellows, and early-career physicians. I’m extensively trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which helps clients build a meaningful life even amid demanding circumstances. I also work with grief and bereavement, something many doctors carry, whether from situations at work or simply from being a human who has experienced loss. My style is warm and actively engaged, and I believe the therapeutic alliance is the foundation of real change.
- Offers therapy for doctors ✓
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #084692
- Specialty Areas: Depression, anxiety, panic, relationship issues, family conflict, grief & bereavement, trauma, career challenges
Azat Oganesian, LCSW
I help physicians build practical tools for the daily stressors of medical practice, including panic, anger, sleep difficulties, and the emotional reactivity that comes with chronic overwork. Drawing from CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness, I work collaboratively to reduce destructive patterns while deepening self-understanding. I’m also fluent in Russian and have experience working with Russian-speaking clients. Above all, I prioritize a trusting, nonjudgmental space where doctors can express what they often can’t say at work.
- Offers therapy for doctors ✓
- Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #087559
- Specialty Areas: Anger management, depression, panic, anxiety, stress management, problem solving, trauma
Cliff Sobel, MHC-LP
After a long career as a CEO and entrepreneur, I transitioned into mental health work to bring that lived experience to my clients. I’m particularly attuned to physician leaders, department chairs, and senior doctors balancing administrative burden with clinical work. I also work with physicians navigating “gray divorce”—the growing phenomenon of divorce after age 50—and other midlife transitions. My approach is eclectic, drawing from psychodynamic, existential, and cognitive-behavioral traditions to meet you where you are.
- Offers therapy for doctors ✓
- Credentials: Mental Health Counselor – Limited Permit
- Specialty Areas: Career stress, executive coaching, anxiety, depression, relationship issues
How therapy can help medical professionals
Reduce burnout & reconnect with purpose
Burnout among physicians has reached crisis levels, but it isn’t inevitable. Therapy provides a structured space to examine the patterns driving exhaustion, such as chronic over-functioning, difficulty saying no, and perfectionism, and to rebuild a sense of meaning in your work.Process the emotional weight of patient care
Doctors witness suffering, death, and difficult outcomes routinely, often with no time to absorb them. Over months and years, this accumulates. Therapy offers a confidential place to bring these experiences to light, work through grief and moral injury, and develop sustainable ways to remain present for patients without losing yourself in the process.
Strengthen relationships outside the hospital
The demands of medicine can strain marriages, friendships, and connections with your children. Therapy helps physicians examine how work bleeds into home life and develop better boundaries, communication, and presence. Whether you’re navigating dating, a long-term partnership, or parenting in a high-pressure field, you can rebuild the relationships that sustain you.
Address anxiety, depression, & other mental health concerns
Physicians experience anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions at rates that meet or exceed the general population, yet are often the least likely to seek help. Our clinicians offer evidence-based psychotherapy, and when appropriate, our prescribers can manage medication, all within one coordinated practice.Our process
1. Connect
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation with our highly trained Clinical Coordinator, Alli Malamut, by either:
- Call or text us at: 332-262-7077
- Email us at: info@midtownpractice.com
- Or complete the form below
2. Get matched
In order to find you an ideal fitting clinician or therapist, our Clinical Coordinator will want to learn more about you. Specifically, it would be helpful to hear about your concerns, personal preferences, and any relevant logistical matters (for example, in-person or video sessions? best time or day to meet?)
3. Check the fit
Connect with the clinician or therapist you are matched with to ask questions, share history, and make sure you feel comfortable about moving forward. If so, book your first session. If it does not feel right, circle back with us.
Schedule time to meet with your new clinician or therapist and work towards living a more fulfilling life! Over the years, we’ve found our thoughtful matching process is the surest way to find you an ideal clinician or therapist and achieve the best outcome for you.
FAQs about therapy for medical providers
Yes, and you are far from alone. Unfortunately, physicians experience particularly high rates of burnout, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The culture of medicine often discourages help-seeking, and we hold deep compassion for how difficult it can be to reach out. Rest assured, you’ll be welcomed here without judgment or stigma. Many of the doctors we’ve worked with find that addressing these struggles improves both their professional performance and their personal lives.
At The Midtown Practice, we understand the specialized needs of physicians. Here’s what sets us apart: Our clinicians bring decades of combined experience, with training at top academic medical centers like Weill Cornell, Columbia, and Harvard. We offer psychotherapy and psychopharmacology under one roof, allowing seamless coordination of care. Our team understands the language, culture, and pressures of medicine, and we treat physicians with the discretion and respect they deserve. If you’re still unsure whether we’re the right fit, please contact our office to set up a free consultation call.
Yes. Your sessions are confidential and protected by law, with narrow exceptions involving imminent safety concerns. Because we do not accept insurance, we do not share clinical information with insurance companies, which can be especially relevant for physicians concerned about licensing or credentialing implications. You’re welcome to discuss documentation and privacy preferences directly with your clinician.
While it can feel difficult to carve out time for therapy, most of the doctors we’ve worked with find that it gives back more than it takes, reporting that it ultimately saves time and energy rather than draining them. By addressing burnout, sleep, anxiety, or relationship strain at the root, you function better at work and at home. We offer virtual sessions, evening appointments, and flexible scheduling so that therapy can realistically fit into a demanding medical career.
Start working with a New York therapist for physicians today
