woman talking to clinician

Patient Care

COMPASSIONATE CARE, MULTIPLE TREATMENT OPTIONS, COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH PROVIDERS, AND FOCUS ON RECOVERY ARE CRITICAL FOR PATIENT WELL-BEING

Rick Hafer, PhD, Vice Chair of Patient Care

The University of Wisconsin Psychiatry Department has a rich tradition of providing timely and effective care for the patients we serve.  Our team of skilled faculty and staff clinicians offers varied treatment options along the complete developmental spectrum from early childhood through senior adulthood.

Our mission is to understand the unique needs and problems of each patient and use current knowledge, psychotherapy and medication research, and outcome tools to develop a treatment plan leading to recovery.  Program services continue to be expanded on a regular basis and include: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused or brief therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and a wide variety of group therapy approaches.  Key specialty services include: treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, supportive psychotherapy related to depression and chronic illness, mindfulness training for both anxiety and depression, treatment of borderline personality disorder, senior adult consultation and treatment, and family and marital therapy.

Innovation in our treatment options continues to expand.  The Brief Treatment Clinic offers patients time-limited/solution focused approaches to presenting problems that can be resolved quickly.  Our Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) outpatient service provides options for patients with moderate to severe depression.  The Collaborative Care Program is expanding in various UW Health primary care locations.  Patients can receive evaluations and mental health treatment in their primary care offices.  We continue to expand our health psychologist team to treat patients with mental health and co-morbid medical problems.

All faculty and staff clinicians are part of clinical review teams.  These teams review “best practice”, discuss difficult treatment scenarios, and offer consultation when needed.  Utilizing multiple “outcome tools”, our providers offer regular and periodic review of each patient’s progress, making treatment plan adjustments when needed.

Successful and effective patient care ultimately rests with the interpersonal relationship established between our practitioners and their patients.  We never lose sight of the importance of thorough evaluation, respect, compassion, listening, and partnering with our patients.

For more information about our clinical services, providers and programs, please visit the UW Behavioral Health website.

FOR ANY INQUIRIES RELATED TO PATIENT CARE OR SERVICES:

patient consultNew Patients:
(608) 233-3575

Existing Patient Appointment:
(608) 232-3171

To leave a message for your provider, and all other clinical inquiries:
(608) 232-3171

Questions regarding the release of medical records:
(608) 263-6030 [option 3]

Emergency Helplines

SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

Call: 1-800-273-8255
Text HOPELINE to 741-741

988 NATIONAL SUICIDE & CRISIS LINE
Dial 988

LGBTQ+ LIFELINE (THE TREVOR PROJECT)

Call: 1-866-488-7386
Text START to 678-678

DANE COUNTY CRISIS HELPLINE

Call: 1-608-280-2600
Text HOPELINE to 741-741