Psychiatry at Living Mind
We combine western medicine with complementary therapies
We are an independent organization dedicated to providing personalised mental health assessments and treatments, with confidentiality and safety as our top priorities. Our team of highly qualified and experienced Consultant Psychiatrists offers a comprehensive range of psychiatric assessments, diagnoses, and treatments tailored to meet your individual mental health needs.
At Living Mind, we address a wide spectrum of disorders and illnesses through psychiatry, including stress, PTSD, anxiety, depression, psychosis, memory problems, addiction, bipolar disorder, and OCD. Access to our treatments requires a referral from a GP, Psychotherapist, or Psychologist.
We take an integrated approach to psychiatric treatment, combining conventional methods with elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal therapies, supplemented by complementary therapies such as Mindfulness when appropriate. Additionally, we provide cutting-edge drug-free treatments, such as repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), for conditions like Depression, eating disorders, and personality disorders.
Our services are available at our Harley Street Clinic in London and The Crushes Manor Clinic in Brentwood, Essex.
Our Lead Consultant
Dr. Arghya Sarkhel has over 25 years of experience within Mental Health services.
Our lead consultant - Dr. Arghya Sarkhel
Dr. Sarkhel has worked both for the NHS and privately. He is a professional, accommodating and sympathetic doctor who is passionate about the integration of complementary therapies with orthodox treatments. Dr. Sarkhel is on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council and a member of The Royal College of Psychiatrists. He has also been awarded a Fellowship by The Royal College of Psychiatrists for his contribution to Mental Health.
His professional memberships include:
General Medical Council
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council
Conditions We Treat Through Psychiatry
Psychiatry is an incredibly useful therapy for a number of conditions including:
Phobias
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Dementia and Alzheimers Disease
Mania
Low Moods
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Personality Disorders
Schizophrenia
Anxiety
Your Journey To Recovery
Many people find their journey to recovery a particularly challenging one, it isn’t always linear and there can be many setbacks. The reward of recovery is always worth the setbacks involved. Here are the four steps you’ll take on your path to recovery:
1) Initial Assessment
Assessments can take up to one hour and its purpose is to gather information about your mental health in order to diagnose you.
2) Diagnosis
Our diagnoses which may be provisional or definite depending on the case. Sometimes, it might take more than one session to complete the diagnosis.
3) Formulation of a Care Plan
Care plans can include: the prescription of medications, psychological interventions, physical investigations ie. blood tests, ECG and advising on social interventions
4) Discharge to your GP
Once we are satisfied that you have stabilised and you have a care package in place we will discharge you back to your primary care practitioner.
Psychiatric Assessments
Every patient journey starts with a psychiatric assessment
Our Consultant Psychiatrist will warmly welcome you into the clinic making sure you are comfortable before your appointment starts. We will then take consent from yourself and anybody else who would like to attend the appointment with you as confidentiality is incredibly important to us. You will then be invited into the treatment room and our consultant will explain the format and approximate duration to you. You will be allowed to stop at any time you would like, especially if you feel uncomfortable or distressed.
A thorough history will then be noted – starting from currently presenting problems, past psychiatric and medical history, personal background information including childhood, education, occupation, and any habits you may have. We will then undertake a mental state examination and a risk assessment. At the end of the appointment our Consultant Psychiatrist may then offer you a diagnosis and start formulating a care plan in collaboration with you, meaning you are in control of your treatment every step of the way.
A psychiatric assessment at Living Mind can take up to an hour and its purpose if to gather information about your mental health in order to diagnose you. It includes a thorough history of your physical and mental health, taking corroborative information from carers, family members, and friends (with patient’s consent) as and when appropriate. A follow up appointment can last between 30 mins and one hour. For dementia, ADHD and personality disorders, the initial assessment can take up to two hours as these conditions are more complex. Every assessment, initial or follow up, is followed by a letter to your GP (with patient’s consent). This letter contains a thorough account of the session, diagnosis and details of the care plan. We pride ourselves on our comprehensive care plans, we care not only about medications but psychological and social interventions.
Psychiatry For Dementia
Our Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Arghya Sarkhel has specialist training in Old Age Psychiatry. This type of psychiatry requires special skills for assessing cognitive functioning and prescribing appropriate pharmacological interventions. Old Age Psychiatrists are often requested to conduct specialist capacity assessments for patients suffering from Dementia regarding managing their property, finances, writing their wills etc.
Information for Carers of those with Dementia
We offer information to the carers at the time of assessments and in the follow up sessions. This is more about giving information about disorders, treatment options, coping strategies, signposting to various statutory and non-statutory organisations as and when appropriate.
Psychiatry For ADHD
Psychiatry for ADHD is primarily treated with medications and psychological interventions. Our Consultant Psychiatrist is trained to assess, diagnose and prescribe appropriate medications and monitor responses of such medications. Living Mind offers specialist assessments for adult ADHD. This condition is commonly associated with other mental illnesses so seeing a Psychiatrist is the best option as they can effectively manage multiple mental health conditions.
What our Patients Say:
“I had a course of Psychiatric treatment with Dr Sarkhel which I can honestly say has changed my outlook on life. Along with the sessions he has introduced me to mindfulness meditation which I enjoy and feel really helps. He is very professional and accommodating with dates and times. I would have no hesitation recommending him to anyone.”
Fees for Psychiatry at Living Mind
Frequently Asked Questions about Psychiatry
► What does a psychiatrist do?
A Psychiatrist is a medical practitioner who has initially trained as a doctor and has later gone on to specialise in Psychiatry – a branch of medicine that deals with Mental health. Typically in the UK, Psychiatrists go through a basic training programme accredited by The Royal College of Psychiatrists for three to four years. Essentially - a psychiatrist is a mental health expert with a wider medical training that also includes various psycholgical interventions i.e CBT, Psychotherapy etc.
► Do I need a psychiatric assessment before treatment?
Everyone who we offer psychiatric sessions need an initial assessment. We also make sure that we rule out physical health conditions by advising on relevant blood tests, scans etc. For our patients’ convenience, we are able to organise these investigations privately. Most of the routine blood tests, we organise, we get the results within 24 hours and send the results to out patients. The only exception is if someone is already diagnosed by another psychiatrist and they come for rTMS, they can start the treatment straight away after a very brief consultation with our Consultant Psychiatrist.
► What does a care plan include?
A care plan is a detailed document that outlines the proposed care moving forward, which practitioners follow to support you in your mental health journey. It typically includes details such as medication specifics, including dosage and monitoring schedules, identified support needs and timing, recommended psychological interventions and treatments tailored to your individual requirements, and instructions for accessing emergency assistance.
► I feel low and stressed, do I need a psychiatric assessment?
If you're experiencing feelings of low mood or stress, it's important to undergo a comprehensive assessment before beginning treatment. These symptoms could stem from various causes, including physical illness or different psychiatric disorders. Therefore, it's crucial to explore and understand the underlying factors before determining the appropriate course of action.