South Chesapeake Psychiatry

11/04/2025

In 2021, I took a leap of faith and opened South Chesapeake Psychiatry. On April 19th, we saw our very first client. Then, in October of 2022, we expanded and launched Transforming Minds Interventional Psychiatry, our Spravato Treatment Center focused on helping those battling treatment-resistant depression.

It has not been easy. It has been 80-hour weeks, long nights, early mornings, and more than a few tough calls along the way. I have had to make hard decisions, including letting people go who did not align with our mission or our values. Those moments never get easier, but I have learned that is part of leadership, protecting the vision even when it is uncomfortable.

Along the way, we have been honored as a Neighborhood Favorite, Best of COVA, and more. But the real reward has always been seeing our clients heal, find hope again, and start living their best lives.

Now, as our lease comes to an end, it is time for the next big step. We are not leasing anymore. We are buying our own building.

It is a major investment and nearly double the space we have now, but it represents something much bigger than square footage. It is a commitment to our team, our mission, and this community that we are so proud to serve.

Am I nervous? Absolutely. But I am also incredibly excited. Growth does not happen in comfort zones. So, just like we always have, we will embrace the suck, lean in, and stay comfortable being uncomfortable, because that is where progress lives.

Here is to betting on our team, our future, and the people we are lucky enough to serve every single day.

10/17/2025

🌿✨ We’re honored to be a Platinum Sponsor once again! ✨🌿

South Chesapeake Psychiatry is proud to support NAMI Coastal Virginia’s 2025 Mental Health Hero Ball this Saturday, October 18th 💚

This marks our third year in a row as the top sponsor — and every year, we’re reminded how powerful it is when our community comes together to support mental health awareness, advocacy, and hope.

We believe in breaking stigma, building connection, and making quality mental health care accessible to all.

We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone this weekend! 💫

08/03/2025

South Chesapeake Psychiatry Ranked #1 in Chesapeake

We’re proud to share that South Chesapeake Psychiatry has been ranked #1 out of 32 mental health clinics in Chesapeake, VA by BusinessRate. This ranking is based on verified Google reviews over the past 90 days, and our practice earned a perfect 5.0 BusinessRate score.

This award adds to a growing list of recognitions, including being voted the #1 Psychiatry Practice in Coastal Virginia in both 2024 and 2025 (CoVa Biz Magazine), and being named Best Neighbor on Nextdoor for three consecutive years (2022–2024). We also maintain a 4.8-star average on Google, based on over 90 client reviews.

While we’re honored by this continued recognition, all credit goes to our exceptional staff. Their dedication, professionalism, and genuine compassion are what make this practice what it is. From the front desk to the clinical team, every person here plays a critical role in delivering the kind of care that earns the trust—and appreciation—of our community.

We remain committed to our founding pillars of Quality, Expertise, Excellence, Accountability, and Availability, and we thank our clients for continuing to place their confidence in us.

View the full BusinessRate listing here:

Explore detailed information, reviews, and rankings for this business on BusinessRate. Find out what customers are saying and how this business ranks among its competitors to make informed decisions.

07/13/2025

We did it again!

I have the best team on the planet and am thankful for them every single day! It’s clear that our clients feel the same way—South Chesapeake Psychiatry has been voted Best of Coastal Virginia GOLD for the 2nd year in a row!

To everyone who took the time to vote for us: THANK YOU. Your support means the world to us, and we promise to continue doing everything we can to earn your trust, provide the highest level of care, and stay true to the values that got us here—Quality, Excellence, Accountability, Availability, and Expertise.

Let’s keep raising the bar—together.

06/17/2025

Is Osavampator the Future of Depression Treatment?

We just published a new blog exploring a promising new antidepressant currently in development—Osavampator (NBI-845).

Unlike most medications for depression, Osavampator doesn’t touch serotonin or dopamine. Instead, it works by enhancing glutamatergic activity through the AMPA receptor—offering a completely different path to relief for those struggling with treatment-resistant depression.

What makes it stand out?

✔️ Once-daily oral dosing
✔️ No sedation or dissociation
✔️ Clean safety profile
✔️ One of the strongest effect sizes seen in recent adjunctive trials

In our article, we compare Osavampator to other popular add-on treatments like Caplyta, Rexulti, and Abilify—and break down the results from the Phase 2 SAVITRI trial.

This could be a major turning point in how we treat depression.

Read the full blog post here:

The Rise of Osavampator: A New Contender in Adjunctive Depression Treatment

06/15/2025

Of the many things June represents, it is also Men’s Mental Health Month. And on this Father’s Day, the message hits even closer to home.

We celebrate dads today — for their strength, sacrifice, and steady presence. But we must also recognize what too often goes unseen: the emotional burdens they carry silently.

Here’s what we know:

Men die by su***de nearly 4 times more often than women.

Nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety, but fewer than half will seek treatment.

Men aged 45–64 have the highest rate of su***de among all age groups.

Among veterans — many of whom are fathers — 11–30% develop PTSD, depending on their service era.

Yet men are taught from a young age to suppress emotion, avoid vulnerability, and carry on without complaint. That message doesn’t just affect their mental health — it endangers their lives.

Fatherhood doesn’t erase the need for support — it amplifies it.
The pressure to be the provider, protector, and emotional rock can leave little room for struggle, sadness, or seeking help.

If you're a dad quietly battling depression or trauma: you are not alone. Your health matters.
If you know someone who is: check in. Ask twice. Listen without judgment. If you’re a provider: create spaces where men feel safe opening up.

This Father’s Day, let’s honor the men who show up for others by showing up for them. With awareness. With empathy. And with a collective push to change the narrative around men’s mental health.

06/10/2025

Why can’t Americans access one of the most effective antipsychotics for negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Just published an article on our website that takes a closer look at amisulpride—a medication widely used in Europe, Asia, and Australia, but notably absent from psychiatric treatment in the U.S.

While the IV formulation is FDA-approved for nausea, the oral version for psychiatric use remains unavailable here. That’s despite its unique, dose-dependent mechanism and consistent evidence showing benefit for negative symptoms—something most antipsychotics struggle to address.

The article dives into:

Why amisulpride is worth paying attention to

What makes it pharmacologically unique

How financial disincentives may be blocking access in the U.S.

And what it might take to bring it into American psychiatry

It’s time to rethink access to evidence-based medications—especially when they could improve outcomes for those with schizophrenia, depression, and other serious mental illnesses.

Read the full article here:
https://www.southchesapeakepsychiatry.com/article/amisulpride-the-antipsychotic-americans-cant-have-but-maybe-should

Would love to hear your thoughts—especially from colleagues in psychiatry, pharmacy, or mental health policy.

Amisulpride: The Antipsychotic Americans Can’t Have (But Maybe Should)

06/02/2025

This one is personal.

June is PTSD Awareness Month, and as someone who served from 1993 to 2015 in the Navy and now works on the front lines of mental health care, I’ve seen the cost of war up close — and the scars it leaves behind.

PTSD isn’t some rare disorder. It’s a human response to inhuman situations. And too many of our brothers and sisters are still suffering in silence because our systems are broken or slow to act.

I wrote this from the heart — not just as a provider, but as a veteran. It’s a message for our leaders, our communities, and our fellow warriors. Because even though I’m not in uniform anymore, I’m still in the fight — through South Chesapeake Psychiatry and TRIP.

If you know someone who needs to hear this, please share it with them.

Read it here:

PTSD Awareness Month

05/31/2025

What. A. Month.

As Mental Health Awareness Month wraps up, I’ve been reflecting on how much happened in just 31 days.

At South Chesapeake Psychiatry, we served 477 clients. Over at TRIP, our Spravato treatment center, we completed 61 treatments. The ACT Team had just shy of 1,000 encounters—we’ve been moving with purpose!

I had the chance to attend the NEI Congress, where I loaded up on new knowledge, met with amazing people from Alkermes, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Teva, and learned about a new Olanzapine LAI coming down the pipeline (ACT team... get ready).

We also hosted a student for the week and signed a collaborative agreement with Old Dominion University—making it our 10th school partnership for training the next generation of psych providers. That one felt special.

And in true “no rest for the passionate” fashion:

I lectured on Auvelity in Alexandria (with compliance in the room—felt like I was giving a TED Talk while being audited by the IRS 😂),

Gave a Vraylar presentation to a room full of fellow professionals,

And spoke about Spravato to a bunch of colleagues at Leva Psychiatry—one of the baddest practices in the land.

I also met with the VCNP Richmond Chapter Education Chair to prep for my fall psychopharm conference talk and checked in with my local VCNP crew during our monthly meeting.

But none of this—truly none of it—would be possible without the incredible team around me:

My right hand and office manager Sarah Stankavich
Our patient coordinator Lauren Lannigan
My wife Katherine Ray and daughter Alivia Ray
Our powerhouse NPs Alysha Cunningham and Amanda Snow
And our amazing ACT team: Amanda AJ Williams, Don Artis, Roberta Marshall, Mattie Freeman, Clair Holden, Margaret Waldron, Mitzi Armstrong, Kailee Daniels, Patricia Mitchell, Brandon Spinner, and Joanne Skinner.

You all are the engine behind everything we do.

Mental Health Month may be ending—but the mission definitely isn’t. We’re just getting started.

05/23/2025

Could a medication originally developed for diabetes help treat depression, bipolar disorder, and cognitive decline?

At South Chesapeake Psychiatry, we’re always exploring the latest research that could make a difference in our clients’ lives. One of the most promising areas right now involves GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications, used to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity, are now being studied for their potential to improve mood, motivation, cognition, and overall brain health.

Many individuals living with serious mental illness also face metabolic challenges like insulin resistance and obesity. The emerging science suggests that GLP-1s may help address both, opening the door to a more integrated and possibly disease-modifying approach to psychiatric care.

We’ve just published a blog that explains what GLP-1s are, how they work, and why they may represent a significant step forward in mental health treatment.

Read the full article here: https://www.southchesapeakepsychiatry.com/article/the-metabolic-mood-connection-could-glp-1-receptor-agonists-reshape-psychiatry

If you’re interested in the future of psychiatry and how physical and mental health are deeply connected, this is worth your time.

The Metabolic-Mood Connection: Could GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Reshape Psychiatry?

05/22/2025

Another client showing us some love! Shout out to our practice manager, Sarah, our patient coordinator, Lauren, and practice owner Justin…AKA the dream team! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❤️

05/14/2025

https://www.southchesapeakepsychiatry.com/article/esketamine-and-the-prevention-of-postpartum-depression-a-promising-step-forward-in-maternal-mental-health

Prevention of Postpartum Depression