Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in New York City
A psychiatrist-led psychotherapy practice in Midtown Manhattan offering complex psychiatric evaluation, personality assessment, TFP, medication consultation, and depth-oriented care for adolescents, adults, emerging adults, and families.
Experienced.Insightful.Dedicated.
Psychiatrist-led, psychotherapy-focused care that integrates personality assessment, TFP, psychoanalysis, family systems, and complex psychiatric treatment planning.
Alexander H. Sheppe, MD.
FAPA, DFAACAP
Board-certified psychiatrist with expertise in complex psychiatric conditions, personality assessment, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis & integrated treatment.
Aliza Spruch-Feiner, PhD
Clinical psychologist specializing in transference-focused psychotherapy, psychodynamic treatment, psychological assessment, personality functioning, trauma, suicidality, and complex care.
Each service is designed to create clarity around symptoms, personality functioning, relationships, development, and the treatment path forward.
Specialized care across personality assessment, TFP, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and family systems.
We provide depth-oriented, individualized care for adults, adolescents, emerging adults, and families navigating complex emotional landscapes.
Beyond Symptom Relief.
A clearer formulation.
Many patients and families arrive after treatment has helped only partially, or after receiving labels that never fully explained the pattern. The next step is a fuller clinical picture: symptoms, personality functioning, relationships, development, risk, family systems, and the treatment environment around the patient.
When treatmentfeels stuck.
Patterns are reviewed across symptoms, prior care, relationships, and development so the treatment direction becomes more precise.
Treatment resistanceWhen relationshipsfeel intense.
Care clarifies regulation, identity, attachment, conflict cycles, and how relational patterns shape symptoms over time.
Relational patternsWhen diagnosisfeels unclear.
Assessment separates psychiatric, psychological, developmental, relational, and personality-based needs so treatment is better matched.
Diagnostic clarityWhen familiesneed direction.
Family work clarifies boundaries, reduces escalation, supports autonomy, and helps loved ones participate with care.
Family systemsA thoughtful beginning. A treatment path that fits.
The first phase slows down the rush toward assumptions. We clarify what is happening, what has already been tried, and what kind of care is most likely to help.
Listen
History, urgency, goals, and prior care are gathered so the first step begins with context.
Clarify
Symptoms, development, relationships, risk, and strengths are organized into a fuller clinical picture.
Plan
The direction is matched to psychotherapy, psychiatry, TFP, family work, or coordinated care.
Clinical carefor complexpsychiatric conditions.
These pages help patients and families understand the kinds of symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment questions that often bring people to The Sheppe Group, from mood, anxiety, trauma, attention, and personality concerns to family, behavioral, and emotion regulation difficulties.
Mood disorders
Depressive and bipolar disorders, mood instability, and shifts in functioning.
Anxiety & panic
Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic symptoms, and avoidance.
Personality disorders
BPD, NPD, and personality patterns affecting identity, relationships, and regulation.
Emotion & relationships
Self-esteem, work, relationship, and emotion regulation difficulties.
Family dynamics
Complex family dynamics, parent-child strain, communication, and support.
OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, intrusive thoughts, rituals, and related anxiety patterns.
Post-traumatic stress
Post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma-related symptoms affecting safety, mood, and relationships.
ADHD
ADHD, attention, concentration, impulsivity, and executive function concerns.
Oppositional defiance
ODD, defiance, behavioral escalation, conflict, and family strain.
Mood dysregulation
DMDD, irritability, intense reactivity, and disruptive mood patterns.
Care described as careful, clear, and deeply attentive.
Curated excerpts from third-party review platforms, shortened for readability and selected to avoid outcome guarantees or overpromising. Individual experiences vary. Each card links to the original review page.
“Steady guidance in difficult moments.”
MM · Zocdoc review · Read source“Very helpful. Great experience.”
Amy A. · Zocdoc review · Read source“Thorough, reassuring answers during important decisions.”
NS · Zocdoc review · Read source“Honest, down-to-earth, and compassionate.”
RM · Zocdoc review · Read source“Clear, coherent, and thorough.”
CB · Zocdoc review · Read source“Warm and comprehensive consult.”
YH · Healthgrades review · Read source“Patient with questions and thorough.”
TP · Healthgrades review · Read source“His warmth and compassion helped me so much.”
Greg Sandersen · Healthgrades review · Read source“Steady guidance in difficult moments.”
MM · Zocdoc review · Read source“Very helpful. Great experience.”
Amy A. · Zocdoc review · Read source“Thorough, reassuring answers during important decisions.”
NS · Zocdoc review · Read source“Honest, down-to-earth, and compassionate.”
RM · Zocdoc review · Read source“Clear, coherent, and thorough.”
CB · Zocdoc review · Read source“Warm and comprehensive consult.”
YH · Healthgrades review · Read source“Patient with questions and thorough.”
TP · Healthgrades review · Read source“His warmth and compassion helped me so much.”
Greg Sandersen · Healthgrades review · Read sourceQuestions before beginning.
Brief answers to common questions before beginning care.
Remote care, when appropriate.
Telehealth may be available for patients in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, and California when it is clinically appropriate.
Ask About Fit →What does a psychiatrist treat?
A psychiatrist can evaluate mental health symptoms, emotional patterns, behavior, functioning, medication questions, and complex diagnostic concerns. At The Sheppe Group, care is focused on thoughtful psychiatric evaluation, psychotherapy, personality assessment, and treatment planning for adolescents, adults, emerging adults, and families.
What are signs you may benefit from seeing a psychiatrist?
Someone may seek a psychiatrist when symptoms, mood changes, anxiety, relationship patterns, emotional intensity, attention concerns, or prior treatment questions are affecting daily life. A consultation can help clarify what may be contributing to the concern and what type of care may be appropriate.
Can I go straight to a psychiatrist?
Yes. Many people contact a psychiatrist directly when they want diagnostic clarity, medication consultation, psychotherapy, or a more complete understanding of complex symptoms. A psychiatrist can also help determine whether psychotherapy, medication, assessment, family consultation, or another form of care may be useful.
Is a psychotherapist different from a therapist?
“Therapist” is a broad term. A psychotherapist is usually a clinician who provides talk therapy focused on emotional, relational, behavioral, or psychological concerns. At The Sheppe Group, psychotherapy is psychiatrist-led and depth-oriented, with attention to symptoms, personality functioning, relationships, development, and treatment direction.
What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist, and psychotherapist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can evaluate mental health concerns, diagnose psychiatric conditions, prescribe medication when appropriate, and provide psychotherapy. A psychologist often provides psychological testing, assessment, or psychotherapy. A psychotherapist provides talk therapy and may come from several clinical backgrounds depending on training and licensure.
What is the difference between psychotherapy and medication consultation?
Psychotherapy focuses on emotional patterns, relationships, coping, personality functioning, and deeper psychological concerns over time. Medication consultation focuses on whether medication may be appropriate, helpful, unnecessary, or worth reconsidering as part of a broader treatment plan. Some patients benefit from one, both, or a careful reassessment of what they have already tried.
Can psychotherapy work as well as medication for depression?
The answer depends on the person, the severity of symptoms, history, goals, safety concerns, and prior treatment response. For some people, psychotherapy may be central to care. For others, medication consultation may be appropriate. The goal of evaluation is not to force one path, but to understand what kind of treatment plan makes clinical sense.
When should my child or teenager see a psychiatrist instead of a therapist?
A child or adolescent psychiatrist may be helpful when there are diagnostic questions, medication questions, complex mood or anxiety symptoms, emotional dysregulation, school or family concerns, safety concerns, or when therapy alone has not clarified the treatment direction. The first step is usually a careful evaluation, not a predetermined treatment plan.
Midtown Manhattan office. Near Grand Central.
The Sheppe Group sees patients at 122 East 42nd Street, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10168, near Grand Central.
122 East 42nd Street, 32nd Floor.
A Midtown Manhattan office near Grand Central, accessible from across New York City and surrounding areas.
Ready to takethe next step?
Request a consult to discuss fit, clinical needs, and the most appropriate next step for you, your child, your family, or a patient you are helping support.