Dr. Devin Chun specializes in working with teens and college students who primarily struggle with anxiety, depression, and perfectionistic characteristics (obsessive-compulsive personality disorder).
How have your personal experiences helped your work with your clients?
When I was in college and then in medical school, I mentored several college students who have struggled with mental health issues. It was gratifying to be next to the person and being present in their lows and highs. That experience led me to select psychiatry as my specialty.
As a psychiatry resident at Dartmouth, I also helped Dartmouth college students and their families navigate mental health challenges. I decided to further pursue additional training in child and adolescent psychiatry to help students and families support young adults to thrive and finish college.
Thanks to these experiences, I designed my practice to focus on helping children, teens, and young adults meet their developmental goals. Instead of focusing on symptom reduction, I focus on functioning and engaging families to support patients.
What does a typical session with you look like?
An initial consultation session will last 90 minutes. I will go over your medical, social, psychiatric, and family history and conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation to rule out potential medical or psychiatric diagnoses.
Subsequent sessions will last 45 minutes. The First 2-3 follow-up sessions may be used to get to know you better beyond the diagnoses, discuss treatment options, and come up with a personalized treatment plan.
Once we decide on a plan, we may use individual therapy, family therapy, lifestyle coaching, and/or medication for future sessions.
If you could pick one or two books that influenced your approach to therapy what would they be and why?
Irvin Yalom’s The Gift of Therapy. I appreciate the power of the authentic therapeutic relationship, which Yalom demonstrated well in his book. My clinical style is being direct and straightforward.
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Dr. Chun board-certified psychiatrist and UCI Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow who offers a one-stop-shop experience for those who would like integrated psychiatric care alongside weekly therapy sessions, medication, and/or psychiatric treatments.
Short Term (Solution-focused, etc.)
Ideal for those who are coming in with a specific problem they’d like to address and gain clarity on. Typically, short term therapies are present focused and do not dive deep into your past.
Structured
Structured therapies are goal and progress oriented. Therapists may incorporate psychoeducation and a specific “curriculum.” In order to stay on track, therapists may provide worksheets and homework.
Insight-oriented (Psychodynamic, Existential, etc.)
Exploring the past and making connections to present issues can help clients gain insight. Getting to the root of the issue and finding deeper self-awareness can help with long-term change.
Non-directive (Humanistic, Person-centered, etc.)
Going with the flow and seeing where it leads.
Behavioral (CBT, DBT, etc.)
Focuses on changing potentially unhealthy or self-destructive behaviors by addressing problematic thought patterns and specific providing coping skills.
Trauma Focused (EMDR, TF-CBT, etc.)
Recognizing the connection between trauma experiences and your emotional and behavioral responses, trauma focused therapy seeks to help you heal from traumas.
