Esther Kim md, abihm, abpn
ABOUT ME
I graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University. In Rhode Island, I founded the Korean Adoptee Mentoring Program leading to my interest in cross-cultural psychiatry. Since then, I have also worked with the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research Center of Excellence in Culturally Competent Mental Health and a local community clinic serving the Korean immigrant population to modify an evidence based practice, cognitive behavioral therapy, to be more culturally sensitive and to increase cultural competence.
I am a native New Yorker and received my medical school, general psychiatry residency, and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training from New York University School of Medicine. During my training, I also served as a Clinical Instructor providing clinical teaching and supervision to medical students and psychiatry residents in the inpatient units and emergency room settings at Bellevue Hospital and presenting on various topics in pediatric mental health to pediatric residents. I believe providing education is an integral part of treatment and in enhancing public awareness to help anyone who is currently struggling with or knows someone struggling with mental illness. In 2003, I was awarded the Fulbright Teaching Assistantship Award. Currently, I am a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at New York University. I also have experience serving as an attending psychiatrist at the NYU Student Health Center, helping many undergraduate and graduate students with the transitions in the phases of adolescence into adulthood.
TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY
I believe that treating each individual is unique and requires a thoughtful and collaborative approach. I believe treatment can start at the initial visit. Mental health is a reflection of physical, emotional, intellectual, environmental, cultural, and spiritual systems that are all interconnected, and I employ an integrative and holistic approach to treatment where all these things are considered to be an integral part of treatment and wellness. I use medication, when necessary, along with complementary alternative approaches, and provide psychotherapy to achieve optimal health.
EXPERTISE
I have special interests in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Depression, Generalized Anxiety disorder, Social Anxiety, Panic, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Adjustment disorders, and treating individuals experiencing difficult life circumstances including relationship, family, school, or job stresses. These may include academic issues, career related issues, stress, and/or burn-out; loss or grief; and perfectionism or mental obstacles in high performance achievers. I treat children, adolescents, and individuals in all stages of life and provide a wide range of services including evaluations, psychotherapy, and medication management.
