A compassionate, pragmatic approach to mental wellness
Bayou St John Psychiatry is a mental health practice in New Orleans offering medication management and psychotherapy.
About Dr. Peterson
I am a board-certified psychiatrist in New Orleans, LA. I attended medical school at University of Washington, followed by psychiatry residency at Tulane. I have experience treating a wide variety of disorders in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Getting to know and help my patients is an extraordinary privilege. Your trust and time are always valued.
Areas of Focus
Women’s mental health
LGBTQIA+
anxiety
depression
OCD
eating disorders (fat acceptance, anti-diet, health at every size approach)
trauma
grief
life transitions
stress
relationship problems
alcohol dependence
Frequently Asked Questions
DO YOU OFFER VIRTUAL VISITS?
Yes! Both virtual and in person visits are available.
DO YOU DO THERAPY?
I offer medication management as well as psychotherapy. Some patients prefer one or the other; most end up needing a balance of both. I’m happy to meet patients wherever they fall on this spectrum.
I am a solo practitioner. I limit the size of my patient panel to ensure that I am able to spend time with my patients and that it is easy to get an appointment with me.
I’VE HAD BAD EXPERIENCES WITH MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATIONS IN THE PAST. WHY IS THIS DIFFERENT?
Mental health is complicated. I do not subscribe to the notion that mental illness is purely a biochemical process. A person’s whole background and current circumstances affect their mental health and how they will react to certain treatments. Additionally, each patient has their own set of goals. Wellness looks different to us all.
I practice psychodynamic psychopharmacology. This is an approach to medication management that combines evidence-based use of medication with careful consideration of a person’s developmental history and patterns in their behaviors, feelings, and relationships.
This approach can be especially helpful for folks who have been called “treatment resistant.”
I WANT TO GET OFF OF MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATIONS; CAN YOU HELP ME?
Yes, we can discuss strategies for discontinuing medications and work on coping tools to facilitate the process.
I SAW YOU ON MY INSURANCE DIRECTORY OF PROVIDERS, DO YOU ACCEPT MY INSURANCE?
No. I do appear on some insurance provider lists as an inpatient doctor, but I do not accept insurance of any kind for outpatient services through Bayou St John Psychiatry.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
I only work with adults (18+)
**I do not accept insurance of any kind.** I can accept credit card payments, Venmo, or Zelle.
I do not perform diagnostic assessments for ADHD or initiate stimulants.
I only prescribe benzodiazepines and sedative hypnotics on a time limited basis and only in certain situations where they are appropriate. The reason for this is that current evidence shows these medications are associated with serious adverse outcomes and are not appropriate for long term use. If you are already taking a benzodiazepine or a sedative hypnotic when you start working with me, you agree that our long term goal is to taper off of this medication.
Services
INITIAL PHONE INTRODUCTION - 15 MIN - FREE
We chat about your goals and my approach to determine if this might be a good fit
INITIAL EVALUATION - $450
We will take time to dive into what’s going on, what the options are for treatment, and which will work best for you
60 MINUTE FOLLOW UP - $250
Psychotherapy with or without medication management
30 MINUTE FOLLOW UP - $150
Brief psychotherapy and/or medication management
I have a limited number of sliding scale spots, all of which are currently filled. Check back for availability.
Contact
Contact me for a free 15 minute phone conversation to discuss your goals further and determine if working with me is right for you.
Note: if you are having a mental health or medical emergency, please call 911 or report to the emergency room.
