by June Portnoy
Dr. Laurie Schray is a board certified psychiatrist who offers more than 25 years of experience and expertise in a broad range of treatment modalities at her private New Hope psychiatry practice. Compassionate, comprehensive mental health care, along with customized treatment developed in collaboration with her patients, are a few of the core values that Dr. Schray brings to her practice. She completed her training in Philadelphia and after fulfilling her National Health Service Corp. obligation, returned to Bucks County.
She was in private practice and had offices in Ambler and Langhorne. Her career then began to expand, encompassing many new areas. She became involved in corporate America and earned a degree as a Certified Physician Executive while working for a national healthcare organization in the Midwest.
Over time the pull of the East Coast grew stronger and she moved to New Jersey where she served as a Medical Director in correctional healthcare and later as Medical Director for a county government agency. She has since returned to Bucks County and has opened her new private practice that incorporates her broad range of experience and knowledge into the care of her patients.
Dr. Schray’s career has provided her with diverse experiences in caring for patients with many different problems, ranging from the expected challenges of living our lives to facing the challenges of having a severe mental illness. Having taken on many different roles as a physician, Dr. Schray has come to appreciate the challenges associated with change.
“Change can be both an exciting and stressful time for people whether eagerly anticipated or totally unexpected,” says Dr. Schray. “Regardless, change is an essential part of life, yet frequently we can have trouble dealing with the transitions and need help when things become overwhelming.”
For example, in a more recent position, Dr. Schray worked with adolescents and young adults with ongoing Attention Deficit Disorders (ADHD) accompanied by drug addiction and legal issues. According to Dr. Schray, getting the help one needs when struggling with the fairly common triad of addiction, legal issues and ADHD is especially difficult if the symptoms of ADHD have not been recognized or treated.
Unfortunately, many adolescents go on to struggle with symptoms of ADHD beyond high school and into adulthood and never get the treatment necessary to cope with change and transitions in their lives.
“Patients usually seek treatment when they are at some crisis in their lives, and being able to trust that someone will really listen is paramount,” says Dr. Schray.
Being a board certified psychiatrist means that Dr. Schray not only has expertise in mental health and psychopharmacology, but also has the medical training to consider if underlying conditions and treatments may be impacting a patient’s presenting symptoms. As part of a thorough evaluation, physical illnesses and prescribed medications must be taken into consideration, just as much as information about the patient’s day-to-day functioning, along with interactions in family, social, work or school settings.
Once a comprehensive assessment has been completed, then a treatment plan can be developed in collaboration with the patient.
“Partnering with the patient and not dictating a treatment is essential for good care,” says Dr. Schray.
Dr. Schray is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call 215-375-5550. Her office is located at 9 Market Place, Logan Square in New Hope.
PHOTO CAP: Dr. Laurie Schray
