Debra Lopez, M.D. CONSULTATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Debra Lopez, MD

Consultation for Mental Health Professionals

Clinical Consultation for Mental Health Professionals
- Special interest in helping clinicians better understand and plan treatment for individuals with suicidal ideation and risk
- Expertise is grounded in ongoing study of national best practices and evidence-based approaches
Consultation to Professional Groups
- Focus is to improve clinical treatment services for people at risk of suicide.
SEEKING A PSYCHIATRIST?
- Dr. Lopez is not seeing new patients or providing direct patient care at this time. Click here for Referral Information and Resources

about

Credentials, Experience and Training Background

Board Certified Psychiatrist and Current Vermont Physician License
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Vermont (UVM) Larner College of Medicine, 1984 to present.
Private Practice in Adult Psychiatry, Burlington, Vermont, 1984 to 2015.
Trained in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), 2018 and ongoing. https://cams-care.com/about-cams/the-evidence-base-for-cams
Trained in the Safety Planning Intervention with Drs. B. Stanley and G. Brown, 2018. https://suicidesafetyplan.com/
Trained in Crisis Response Planning, with Dr. Craig J. Bryan, 2019. https://suicidepreventiontherapy.com/
Extensive training and experience in the treatment of trauma-related conditions, including dissociative disorders.
Advanced, Practitioner Level training in Mentalization-based Treatment (MBT), McLean Hospital, 2013
Certified in Contemporary Psychoanalysis, The National Institute for the Psychotherapies, 2004

Memberships and Awards

Life Member, American Psychiatric Association
Bruce A. Gibbard Award for Clinical Excellence, Vermont Psychiatric Association, 2015
Member, Vermont Medical Society
Past President, Vermont Association for Psychoanalytic Studies

Current Consulting Work

Clinical Consultant, Riverstone Counseling at Spectrum Youth and Family Services, 2017 to present https://www.spectrumvt.org/what-we-do/counseling/
Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families, University of Vermont Medical Center, Suicide Care Committee, 2019 to present.
Private consulting to psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, 2003 to present.
Advisor to Suicide Prevention Programs, Vermont:
- Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC) – CAMS Training Project and Emergency Department Suicide Prevention Quality Improvement Initiative – See https://www.vpqhc.org/cams-foundational-online-training
- Vermont Comprehensive Suicide Prevention/CDC Grant Program, Vermont Departments of Health and Mental Health. See: https://facingsuicidevt.com

Personal Experience

Debra Lopez lives in Burlington, Vermont with her husband, Bill Gottesman. Their son, Alan Lopez Gottesman, died by suicide in 2015, at the age of 25. Alan died during an admission to a nationally recognized psychiatric hospital, where he was being treated for suicidal depression. Since Alan’s death, Debra and Bill have dedicated themselves to work that expands the training of mental health professionals in evidence-based, suicide-specific treatments, and aims to improve systems of care for individuals who are struggling with suicidal ideation and risk.

References

Dastagir, Alia E. (February 27, 2020). We tell suicidal people to go to therapy. So why are therapists rarely trained in suicide? USA Today.
Jobes, David (2023). Managing Suicidal Risk, A Collaborative Approach, 3rd Edition.
Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D, LCSW books: Books
Konrad Michel, MD. – See https://konradmichel.com for helpful information and excellent framework for understanding and working with suicidal thoughts/feelings.

For additional references, contact Debra at: debralopezmd@gmail.com

Referral Information and Resources

Crisis Services, Helplines and Suicide Prevention Resources
If you are concerned about your own safety, or that of anyone in your family, and need immediate assistance, call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. If you or anyone in your family is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts, here are some services and resources to call upon.

Click Here to print a PDF of this information - Crisis
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
- 24/7 Crisis Line. www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- Calls are directed to a trained crisis counselor in the state or region where you live.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1
National Crisis Text Line: 741741 (VT: Text VT to 741741 – NY: Text NY to 741741)
- Free, 24/7 crisis support by trained crisis counselor.
- You get an automated text response first, and then a response from a counselor. They work with you until you feel calmer and have a positive plan for next steps.
- https://www.crisistextline.org
The Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386
- Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth.
- Text: 678-678
- The Trevor Project: www.thetrevorproject.org
Vermont Crisis Services
- Chittenden County: First Call of Chittenden County: 802-488-4777
- Vermont Suicide Prevention Center – Resources: https://vtspc.org/get-help/
211 Help and Referral Service
- Provides live referral help to public and private, state, and community health and mental health services.
- Vermont: Dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in Vermont.www.vermont211.org
- New York: Dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in New York state.www.211nys.org
Information from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention https://afsp.org
- Risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs
- Teens and suicide: What parents should know
Accessing Non-urgent Psychiatry Services
Primary Care Providers (PCP)
- Ask your doctor if there is a psychiatrist they know or who is affiliated with their practice who they can refer you to.
Community Health Centers of Burlington (CHCB) – 802-864-6309
- If you don’t have a PCP, consider establishing care at CHCB. CHCB providers include primary care and mental health clinicians, including psychiatrists. See their website: https://www.chcb.org
Otter Creek Associates – 802-865-3450
- Otter Creek is an affiliation of psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists. There is an Intake Coordinator on staff who can help you find an affiliated psychiatrist, if one is available.
UVM Medical Center Outpatient Adult Psychiatry (UVMMC): 802-847-4560
- UVMMC has a variety of services for adults that might work for you. Their Intake Coordinator might be able to help you schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist. There is often a long wait for appointments and you might need a referral from your PCP in order to get an appointment.
Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families (at UVMMC) – 802-847-4563
- High quality mental health services for children and adolescents. To make an appointment, a referral from your PCP or pediatrician is required. Psychiatrists on staff. There is often a long wait list for appointments.
Howard Center for Human Services – 802-488-6000
- Howard Center provides a broad range of mental health services. You can request an appointment with one of the psychiatrists on staff. See https://www.howardcenter.org
Your Insurance Company
- If you are insured, the Customer Service Line for Mental Health and Substance Abuse on the back of your insurance card may be able to provide you with names of psychiatrists who are covered by your insurance plan.
Psychiatrists in Private Practices (Chittenden County, Vermont)
- Here are a few well-respected, local psychiatrists who might be able to offer an appointment or provide further referral help: Green State Psychiatry - Harris Strokoff, MD and associates:https://greenstatepsych.com/ - 802-489-5552. Lizabeth Pontzer, MD -802-654-7607. D. Scott Allan, MD -802-651-7743.Kyle Monehan, MD -802-636-4545. Smita Lahoti, MD -201-417-0389. Mark McGee, MD -802-310- 9127 mcgee@alpinetelehealth.com

Click Here to Open a PDF of the Referral Information And Resources. You can then print it.

To Schedule a Consultation

Contact Information

Call802-373-1946 and leave a confidential voice message, or

Emaildebralopezmd@gmail.com with “Consultation” in the subject line.

If there is no reply within 48 hours, please resend the message or call.

Please do not send personal or confidential information by email.

NOTE: Dr. Lopez is not seeing new patients or providing direct patient care at this time. Click here for Referral Information and Resources

Debra Lopez, M.D.

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