How do I determine if I need psychotherapy?
Different people seek out therapy for different reasons. We all deal with problems in our lives everyday. We use our resources - talk to our family and friends, religious leaders, teachers, mentors and bosses; read self-help books, join support groups; or attempt to deal with our difficulties the best way we know how. For many people this alone is sufficient and the crisis is averted. Sometimes, however, these efforts are not sufficient. Life throws unexpected curveballs our way that make it difficult to maintain relationships, work, and otherwise function in the ways that we want. It is when our own efforts do not give us relief that people need professional assistance. Sometimes people want help to get through a crisis in their lives. Some people wish to be proactive during major life transitions even when not in crisis. Some people seek therapy soon after a traumatic experience (end of a relationship, death of a loved one, recent illness, and loss of a job) or long after they have begun seeking closure. Some people are inherently curious about their lives and want a deeper understanding of themselves, their desires and motivations. Psychotherapy and, only when appropriate, medications can help to re-establish order so that you see your life in an entirely different way that allows you greater mindfulness, such that you are making decisions about your life rather than simply reacting to impulses.

What's the difference between a psychiatrist and other forms of counselor, therapist, etc.?
All of these mental health professionals talk to people and can help them solve their problems. The difference is their education and training background. Psychiatrists are medical doctors that have the ability to prescribe medications, in addition to psychotherapy, that can additionally provide relief and ameliorate symptoms. There are only a few psychiatric service providers in Las Vegas like the Cairn Center that provide both psychotherapy and medication management services.

How do I know if I need to see a psychiatrist or a therapist?
Psychiatrists have the training to prescribe medications. Some psychiatrists, like Dr. Jain, provide both therapy and medications. Together with the doctor you can determine what works best for you as a therapeutic path. If you already in therapy, your therapist may have suggested that you might benefit from medications. You may want to discuss whether you need to see a psychiatrist with your therapist who has taken the time to get to know you well and can give you good feedback on this question. You can alternatively discuss this with your family doctor and we strongly recommend that you be honest, open and upfront with your internist/family doctor. You can also schedule a consultation at The Cairn Center and we can do a thorough assessment and recommend the best course of treatment for you. Consider us as consultants giving you an expert opinion.

Why do I choose you as my psychiatrist?
We believe that Dr. Jain is one of the few psychiatrists in Las Vegas that can provide both medication management and psychotherapy. She is the only member of the American Psychoanalytic Association in the state of Nevada. She is psychoanalytically trained and has an extensive psychotherapy background. Her psychopharmacological training was under the mentorship of Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, who conducts premier depression research. She also spent a year doing her research fellowship and participating in psychopharmacological research at the Depression Research Clinic at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Can't I just put my problems behind me, move on and hope for the best next time?
Learning from our problems helps us prepare for the next time. You may do that by self-introspection or talking with loved ones. Being honest with yourself can tell you if you are successful. Running away or shoving your problems under the carpet in hope for a different outcome can backfire. In fact, the more we deal with life in that manner the more difficult it usually becomes to move on after each successive disappointment, frustration, or conflict.Each situation that is not dealt with adequately accumulates over prior unresolved issues. A large pileup can cause an overflow in the form of symptoms like stress, anxiety, depression, irritability, lack of focus, stomach upset, headaches, muscle tightness, and the like.

What about reading a book, joining a support group, going to church/temple, attending a parenting class or a seminar, etc. to get the help I need?
It’s possible. We encourage people to be an active participant in their recovery and explore all options. The journey to feeling better is determined by what you put into the treatment. That is, how far you go. Everyone’s path to better mental health is different. And yes, many people try other avenues first before turning to therapy. But know that it does not have to be an “either/or” decision.

What about medications?
Anxiety, fear, depression, mood swings, anger, impulsiveness and addiction can significantly complicate and alter one’s experience of life and relationships. These and other conditions can, indeed, be treated with medications (though in some instances the medications are only working on the symptoms, not the cause). However, research has proven that psychotherapy can often reduce the need for prescription medications with these and other conditions. Our belief is that medications prescribed appropriately can benefit a person tremendously, but that one should not assume that this is the only path of treatment. Psychotherapy, which allows a person to not rely on the medication exclusively and can help get the maximum relief and benefit without being over-medicated, should be considered.

Am I a failure if I go to a psychiatrist (or am I a failure as a parent if I take my child)? Am I "weak" if I cannot work my problems out by myself?
If you have diabetes, you see your family doctor. You go to your lawyer for legal counsel. And you have a mechanic fix your car. Unfortunately, many people do not see going to a mental health professionals in the same light. They may feel that one should just “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” and “stop whining and deal with it.” There is a sense of shame and they see it as a deficiency in themselves. This is probably the result of a lack of information about the nature, causes, and complexities of emotional problems, and what is required to deal with them effectively. Some people are comfortable seeing a life coach, but are hesitant to see a psychiatrist/ therapist. The notion is that psychiatrists only see severe mental illnesses and “I must be really nuts if I need to see one.” That too is misinformation. Psychiatrists like any other professionals, have different training backgrounds and that determines the range of services they provide. We believe that it is wise (not weak) to seek professional counsel and get the direction and guidance you need. Just as one would not hesitate before going to an expert in another field, one should not feel hesitation about seeing a mental health professional.

Will I “fall apart” if I start talking about upsetting thoughts and feelings?
For most people, the answer is no, at least not in terms of a "nervous breakdown" or crying uncontrollably. It is certainly possible that you may cry or feel anxious or upset. But many people feel relief after letting their feelings out during a session.

Will you put me in a hospital against my will?
We recommend hospitalization only when we are deeply concerned about your safety and that of others or in the case of severe mania and psychosis. We do not take this lightly and make this decision in conjunction with your family and loved ones only if you are not in a position to make a decision. Otherwise, we have an extensive discussion with you that explores all the possible options. Hospitalization is only a last resort and in the last three years, Dr. Jain has made a handful of these recommendations. It is not often.

Will what I say in therapy sessions be kept private and confidential?
The details of your personal life discussed at Cairn Center have no chance of being divulged to an outside party without your consent. Confidentiality is essential to creating an atmosphere of trust, and treatment cannot work without that trust. Were we to practice under the traditional managed care model, your rights to confidentiality are basically waived. But because we are not on any insurance panels, we are free from any and all third-party intrusions. If you choose to use traditional insurance to get reimbursement for your sessions with us, we will be required to give a diagnosis in order for you to get reimbursed, based on your benefits. This is the only time we would ever share any information about your treatment with an insurance provider unless you requested otherwise. Further, we share pertinent information with your physician, therapist and family members only when you are in agreement that this would facilitate your treatment.
However, there are circumstances under which exceptions do exist. The following is not a complete list of exceptions to confidentiality, but it does contain a few of the more common ones: 1) you are a threat to harm yourself or someone else; 2) child abuse or neglect is suspected; 3) your treatment records are requested by legal subpoena (Should we receive such a subpoena for your records for legal reasons like a divorce, only the dates of your sessions and diagnosis will be available); or 4) to collect payment for services rendered.

What can I expect in the first session?
The first session offers a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation where Dr. Jain will seek to gain a clear understanding of what issue(s) are bringing you into treatment. By the end of the session, she will provide you a psychiatric diagnosis if applicable or her impressions of your psychological distress. She will discuss with you the treatment options available, and together you can develop a plan about how to address the issues in terms of working towards solutions.

What do I need to do before my first visit?
If you are interested in becoming a new patient in our practice, please email us at shailyjain7@gmail.com or call the office during business hours and leave a message. We will get back to you within 24 hours and help set up the first appointment. We would also like you to fill out the following forms available in the New Patient or the Resources sections of our website.

What is a “concierge practice” and why don’t you take insurances?
There are several types of concierge practices, but all of them alike include direct payment by the patient to the physician for the services provided. There are many benefits of this arrangement. One is that the physician may spend more time with his/her patients. Another is that treatment decisions are made by the physician and patient, not by insurance companies or managed care organizations. Also the physician is free to focus his/her energy on direct patient care, the most rewarding part of the profession. For a full discussion of this topic and of why we feel that this model provides the best care for our clients, please see our Fees section.

How do I get started?
Give us a call or send us an email. We will be back in touch as soon as we are able.