Amber Lerma, M.D.
Hello!
Welcome to my website. I am a board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist. My education and life experiences help me appreciate the strong link between physical and emotional well-being, and the important ways in which psychotherapy and sometimes medication can optimize health. My role in your, and/or your child's, care will involve assessment and treatment recommendations, which may or may not include medication. Starting medication for a child is often a difficult decision for a parent or guardian. I base my recommendations on the best available medical evidence so that such decisions can be made in an informed manner. To formulate an appropriate treatment plan, I work collaboratively with parents/legal guardians, the child, and when necessary, third parties who may contribute to improving the quality of care for your child.
I grew up in northern California, obtained my undergraduate education at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. I left the west coast to complete residency and fellowship training at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a community hospital system with a strong reputation for training in psychotherapy, and a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate. Prior to starting my current solo private practice, I acquired experience working in a variety of settings which have included academic hospital-based and community-based systems of care, the department of public health, health maintenance organization (HMO), as well as insurance-based private group practice. Buddy, my hypoallergenic therapy dog, often joins me in the office. I enjoy providing respectful, collaborative, evidence-based care, and look forward to hearing from you.
