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Dr. Jonathan Leigh Sulkin, PHD is a psychologist in Saratoga Springs, NY specializing in psychology.
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Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common disorders diagnosed in children. Nine percent of children in the USA have been diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms, which include hyperactivity and difficulty maintaining focus or paying attention, can last into adulthood for some patients. Boys are four times as likely to be diagnosed as girls, although experts don't know why this is.
There are three main types of ADHD:
When diagnosing ADHD, it is important to rule out other issues that may be causing the symptoms. Seizure disorders, hearing loss, anxiety, and domestic problems are some examples of problems that can cause behaviors similar to those seen with ADHD.
Treatment can include stimulant medications, behavioral therapy to teach patients ways to navigate their world and control symptoms better, and accommodations at school or work. A structured environment (with lots of organization and well-defined rules) seems to help most kids with ADHD function at their best.
ADHD is mainly thought of as a disorder that affects children, but symptoms can last into adulthood for a third to half of those diagnosed. In adults, ADHD has similar symptoms as when it is seen in children: impulsive behavior, difficulty maintaining focus, being easily distracted, or a tendency to fidget. These symptoms can cause problems in a patient's careers and relationships. Additionally, adults with ADHD are at increased risk for substance abuse. Medications can be an important part of treatment for adults, as well as stress reduction techniques and organization skills training. Specialized ADHD coaches can help adults with ADHD manage their symptoms and succeed in all areas of their life.
Depression
Everyone knows what it feels like to get the blues once in a while. But depression is a serious illness that is more severe than a bad day and lasts much longer. Symptoms of depression stop a person from being able to function and enjoy daily activities for weeks or months at a time. It can happen to anyone, and it isn't something that people can control by force of will or "snap out of it."
Some common symptoms of depression include:
We don't yet know what causes depression, but it's thought that it is a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and social influences. Because of this, the most effective treatments for depression combine medication with psychotherapy. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be extremely helpful in resolving the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression. It gives patients new tools that they can use themselves to cope when their depression is making them feel down.
Some of the common medications used to treat depression include antidepressants such as SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) or atypical antidepressants (Cymbalta, Wellbutrin). It's important to remember that these medications have different effects on everybody, and no one medication works right for everyone. Patients may have to try a couple before finding the one that works just right for them. If the first medication they try doesn't work, they should talk to their doctor about trying something else. In extreme cases where medication is not enough, electro-convulsive therapy and hospitalization may be the answer to keeping a severely depressed person safe.
Depression is a difficult illness to deal with, but it is more common than believed and there are many people who can help. With the right treatment, individuals with depression can get back to fully enjoying life again.
Sexual Health Issues
Sexual health is a broad and loosely defined term that encompasses several extremely different areas of medicine. Sexual health not only includes physical health related to the act of sex, but also emotional, mental, or identity issues that can interfere with healthy sexuality. Because this scope is so broad, a huge number of health care professionals can accurately say they work in the sexual health specialty. Some of the many varied conditions included in sexual health include intimacy disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, reproductive health, LGBTQ issues, and sexual violence.
Sexual intimacy disorders are those that cause problems with the act of sexual intercourse, such as erectile dysfunction or vulvodynia. Erectile dysfunction, the inability to get or maintain an erection hard enough for sexual intercourse, is extremely common. It affects fully half of men over 40 to some degree. It is treated with medications, devices, or surgery. Vulvodynia, burning pain in the vulva that can be made worse with sexal activity, has no known cause. It is treated with oral or topical medications.
Sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, herpes, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, are bacterial or viral infections that are contagious in the bodily fluids exchanged during sexual contact. Barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, help prevent the spread of STDs. HIV is a virus that can be caught from an infected person's sexual fluids or blood. When the virus infects the body, it interferes with the immune system and causes the disease known as AIDS. There is no cure, but anti-viral medications can help people with AIDS live a long and healthy life. Herpes is also a virus found in sexual fluids, called HSV-2. It causes blisters that come and go on the genitals. There is no cure for herpes, but anti-virals can minimize outbreaks. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are both bacterial infections. They are extremely common and often have no symptoms. The most common signs of an infection are burning pain and discharge. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can be treated with medications.
Reproductive health refers to both contraception and infertility treatment. Contraceptives prevent and plan the timing of pregnancy. Some, such as a vasectomy or tubal ligation, are extremely effective at preventing pregnancy. Others, such as spermicides, are less reliable. Popular contraceptives include condoms, birth control pills, IUDs, and diaphragms. On the other side of reproductive health, infertility is the inability to carry a pregnancy to term after one year of trying. It can be due to problems in either the man or the woman, and both genders are affected equally. In total, about 15% of the population suffer from infertility. Infertility treatments include medications and surgery.
Gay and transgender people have a few specific health care needs that may sometimes fall under the sexual health umbrella. First, many LGBT people still face discrimination from healthcare providers, so providing supportive and appropriate care is an issue. Because of social attitudes surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity, many gay and transgender people struggle with their identities. Rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide are all higher in this group. Providing mental health support and counseling to those in transition is critical. Finally, transgender patients who are undergoing gender affirmation require sensitive medical health care, including surgical and hormonal treatment.
Sexual violence can be defined as any unwanted or non-consensual sexual activity. It ranges from sexual harassment to touching to rape. It affects women more than men and is widespread: 1 in 4 women report being victims of sexual violence at the hands of a partner, and as many as 1 in 3 girls report their first sexual contact as being violent. Sexual violence has lasting physical and emotional consequences for victims, but educating both girls and boys can prevent violence. Care for those who have endured sexual violence includes counseling and mental health support, medical care, and legal support.
Sexuality is more than a reproductive requirement -- it is a form of expression and identity. Sexual health blends all these aspects of experience together and helps people lead sexually fulfilling lives.
He has a state license in New York.
Licensed In: New York
Dr. Jonathan Leigh Sulkin, PHD appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA PPO, Aetna, Blue California, Magellan Health Services, United Healthcare and OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions (United Behavioral Health).
According to our sources, Dr. Jonathan Leigh Sulkin, PHD accepts the following insurance providers:
Dr. Jonathan Leigh Sulkin, PHD has a high overall rating with an average of 3.67 out of 5 stars based on 3 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Jonathan Leigh Sulkin, PHD from all over the web to help you find the right in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Prior to seeing Dr Sulkin I read through all of the reviews I could find. All of the positive ones used the word "challenging" and most of the negative ones referred to his "ego". After months of sessions I found the latter to be true. The environment was anything but challenging. It all had to do with his ego. "Challenge" was just another key word, like "development" and "resonate", that many of his more devoted followers would frequently use without truly understanding what it meant. Our sessions were all about feeding his ego and listening to him talk endlessly. He often would push his own agenda, like politics, open marriages (polygamy), advocating sex with other patients (including patients in group therapy together), sleeping around one's workplace (and without the use of protection), and drug use. If I ever disagreed he would get very upset like a juvenile. He would then insult me by referring to me as a "Norm" or thinking like a "Norm". What he calls progressive thinking I call throwing live grenades into one's life.
I adore Dr. Sulkin. He doesn't mince words or waste your time. He works at getting to the heart of an issue as opposed to treating symptoms, and his direct approach can be really uncomfortable and hard. I totally understand how some people would dislike him, but it's because I understand that some people are looking for an easy way out of their issues. If you want to actually get somewhere with a therapist, I recommend Dr. Sulkin.
I have been seeing Dr. Sulkin for several years and also participate in Group Therapy with Saratoga Center for Social Therapy. Dr. Sulkin has been extremely helpful in helping me finally get a grip on past trauma and abuse and recognize how it effects my interactions with all people in my life today (including negative self-talk). He has been a great life coach and has been supportive in my desire to connect more fully with the world around me. His approach is non-traditional, and he isn't afraid to call you out on behaviors that are non conducive to building full and meaningful relationships with the people around you. This might some offputting for those "social norms" that like a more traditional approach, but Dr. Jonathan's approach worked very well with me!
Dr. Jonathan Sulkin is a specialist in psychology in Saratoga Springs, NY. Dr. Sulkin's clinical interests include depression, attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), and meditation. His average patient rating is 3.5 stars (out of 5). He seems to honor several insurance carriers, including Magellan Health Services, Blue California, and Cigna.
