A personalized boutique practice
What we treat, and how
A small, physician-led practice: every patient is seen by Dr. Giddens herself, appointments are unhurried, and the plan is built around the person, not the diagnosis. Evaluation and treatment for adolescents and adults, with particular depth in addiction, sleep, and the conditions that accompany them.
Children and adolescents
Ages seen: 15 and older now; from July 2027, on completing her child and adolescent fellowship, Dr. Giddens will see children from age 3. For younger children she is glad to recommend a specialist.
Evaluation takes time: a developmental history, input from parents and, with permission, teachers and therapists, validated rating scales, and a frank conversation with the young person. Conditions treated include:
- ADHD and learning difficulties
- Anxiety disorders and OCD
- Depression and mood disorders
- Trauma- and stressor-related disorders
- Insomnia and delayed sleep phase
- Substance use, including cannabis and nicotine vaping
- Eating and feeding disorders, including ARFID, with medical and nutrition teams
- Autism spectrum conditions with anxiety, irritability, or sleep problems
Linked conditions open family guides from AACAP and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Adults
Adult care ranges from a single diagnostic consultation to ongoing medication management, with psychotherapy alongside when it helps. Common reasons to come: depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, insomnia, substance use, ARFID, and very often a combination. Adults with ARFID are seen with their primary care physician and a dietitian, with attention to the anxiety, sensory sensitivity, and nutritional deficits that travel with it. Conditions tied to the cycle, pregnancy, and menopause are on the Women’s Mental Health page. Not sure where to start? Request an evaluation.
Addiction and substance use
Confidential outpatient treatment for alcohol, opioid, cannabis, stimulant, and nicotine use, with privacy and stabilization as the first priorities and co-occurring depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and insomnia treated at the same time. Medications include naltrexone, acamprosate, buprenorphine, and varenicline. Read how addiction care works here, including what the first visit involves.
Sleep and circadian health
Poor sleep worsens nearly every psychiatric condition and can be a cause as well as a consequence (plain-language guides: CDC, AASM). Evaluation includes a structured sleep history, sleep diaries, and, for appropriate sleep disorders or concerns, mobile actigraphy (wearable rest–activity recording over one to two weeks, recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for insomnia and circadian disorders) for more diagnostic precision; screening for sleep apnea with referral when indicated; and attention to caffeine, alcohol, cannabis, and medication effects. Treatment emphasizes CBT for insomnia and circadian strategies, with medication used judiciously. Dr. Giddens’s own research on sleep informs this work.
Stress and sleep in adolescents
Not all sleep is the same. Deep sleep is when the body repairs itself; REM sleep is when the brain consolidates memory and processes emotion. A teenager can spend enough hours in bed and still get too little of either, which is why sleep quality, not just duration, is measured here.
Stress reaches those stages directly. Family conflict is linked to longer time falling asleep, more awakenings, and more nightmares; violence exposure and discrimination heighten alertness in ways that fragment sleep; and depression leaves a signature on the sleep EEG, with REM arriving early and taking up more of the night. That is the mechanism behind the anxious or low adolescent who “sleeps all the time” yet is never rested.
Dr. Giddens presented this material in a research talk drawing on the ABCD study and wearable sleep recordings: view the slides (PDF). The same framework guides assessment here: home and school are part of the sleep history, and mobile actigraphy is used when the pattern, not just the hours, needs to be seen.
Telehealth
Follow-up visits by secure video are available for established patients physically in New York or the District of Columbia at the time of the visit. Initial evaluations and visits involving controlled-substance prescribing may require an in-person appointment.
What treatment here is not
This is an outpatient practice, not equipped for emergencies, medically supervised detoxification, or inpatient care. In immediate danger, call 911, or call or text 988. FindTreatment.gov lists treatment programs.
Helpful resources
- NIMH: mental health topics
- AACAP: Facts for Families
- APA: patients & families
- ASAM: definition of addiction
- AASM: sleep disorders A–Z
- SAMHSA National Helpline
- Patient forms and rating scales
- New York office · Washington, DC office
Questions patients ask
Do I need medication, therapy, or both?
It depends on the diagnosis, severity, and what you have tried. Many conditions respond best to both; some, like mild anxiety or insomnia, start with therapy alone. Nothing is prescribed by default, and the plan is reviewed with you at every visit.
Do you prescribe stimulants and other controlled medications?
Yes, when indicated and after a proper evaluation, with rating scales to track benefit, attention to side effects, and the monitoring controlled substances require. Initial prescriptions and some refills may need an in-person visit.
Will you work with my therapist or other doctors?
Yes. With your permission, care is coordinated with your therapist, primary care physician, pediatrician, gynecologist, or school. If you already have a therapist, there is no need to change.
What tests might you order?
A first-visit panel usually includes thyroid function, a blood count, ferritin and vitamin D, B12 and folate, and a metabolic panel; mobile actigraphy for sleep concerns; and pharmacogenomic testing when a medication has failed or caused unexpected side effects. Tests are ordered because they change the plan.
How long are visits, and how often?
The first evaluation is 60 to 90 minutes. Follow-ups are 25 to 50 minutes, every two to four weeks while treatment is adjusted and less often once stable. You leave each visit with a written summary.
Do you see children?
Patients 15 and older now; from July 2027, children from age 3. For younger children, Dr. Giddens is glad to recommend a specialist.
Can I be seen by video?
Follow-ups, yes, for established patients physically in New York or DC at the time of the visit. Initial evaluations and controlled-substance visits may need to be in person.
Do you take insurance?
No. The practice is private-pay, with a sliding scale for a portion of appointments based on need and a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement on request. See Fees and insurance.
What if I need help right away?
This outpatient practice cannot respond to emergencies. In immediate danger call 911; for a mental-health crisis call or text 988. Established patients can reach the practice at (310) 598-1229 for urgent, non-emergency concerns.