Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Psychiatry

In the Department of Psychiatry, our comprehensive model combines compassionate, culturally sensitive care with state-of-the-art treatment for mental health conditions, addiction, trauma, and more.


617.414.4238

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Welcome to the Boston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. We provide addiction treatment, emergency psychiatric services, child and adolescent services, adult services, integrated behavioral health services and global and local research programs. Our faculty, clinicians and staff are deeply committed to providing excellent care to the diverse populations served by Boston Medical Center, the Boston Veterans Administration Health System, and our community health center partners.

Our psychiatric programs focus on mitigating the social determinants of health and providing culturally sensitive care, training, and research. Explore our department's outstanding psychiatrists, clinical services, and world-class research and training opportunities below.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health-related crisis reach out to the BEST 24hr call center: 1-800-981-HELP (4357). Telehealth is also available!

A full list of BMC's mental health resources in all departments is available here. 

Contact Us

801 Massachusetts Ave Boston, MA 02119
1st Floor
Crosstown Center 617.414.4238

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m; Tuesday, Thursday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Specialty Clinics

Criminal Justice Mental Health Programs

Boston Medical Center’s Criminal Justice Diversion programs include three mental health court sessions, the Boston Outpatient Assisted Treatment program, and a growing Boston Police Co-Responder program. BMC’s Emergency Services Programs also support improved outcomes for individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice system, through partnerships such as one with the Town of Winthrop’s Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR) program and regular participation in mental health trainings for police, court staff, and other first responders.

Integrated Behavioral Health

Our integrated behavioral health (IBH) service provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive, evidence-based behavioral health services to patients seen in outpatient medical practices. The IBH team, a diverse group of social work clinicians, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists, works in general internal medicine, family medicine, OBGYN, geriatrics, infectious disease, nutrition, transplant, neurology, pulmonology, the Center for Digestive Disorders, and the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery.

Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis (WRAP) Program

The WRAP's Clinical Program offers a variety of services for patients with psychosis due to an underlying psychotic disorder: medication management, weekly group therapy, individual therapy, peer support, family support and education. Treatment is tailored to the individual. WRAP's Research Program aligns with our clinical care – the research we do is conducted with the goal of improving care for our patients and reducing disparities and inequities in specialty psychosis care.

Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis (WRAP) Without Walls

The Wellness and Recovery After Psychosis (WRAP) Without Walls (WWW) Program is a new clinical program funded by the Jack Satter Foundation targeted towards adolescents and young adults with frequent substance use and psychosis symptoms. WWW is made up of a multidisciplinary team providing community-based services including individual therapy, family psychoeducation, medication management, peer support, advocacy, and patient navigation. Our model for WWW is an adaptation of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model. WRAP Without Walls is led by psychosis and substance use disorder experts who are leaders of specialized programs at BMC.

Our Team

Leadership Team

Adult Psychiatrists

Nurse Practitioners

Adult Psychologists

Adult Therapists and Clinical Social Workers

Claire M Madden, LICSW

Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist, Adult Outpatient Behavioral Health, Geriatrics Integrated Behavioral Health
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Child Therapists

Child Psychiatrists

Child Psychologists

Department News

Research Overview

Through research, the Department of Psychiatry seeks to advance our understanding of the causes of and risk factors for psychiatric illnesses; to facilitate the development of more effective diagnostic, treatment, and prevention strategies for a wide array of psychiatric disorders; and to improve the quality and accessibility of our mental health services. We conduct a wide range of research that include:

  • basic science
  • clinical trials
  • implementation science
  • health services research
  • qualitative and mixed-methods research
  • epidemiologic research
  • epigenetic research
  • community-based participatory research
  • biobank initiatives

Our research initiatives encompass a wide variety of specialties, including maternal and child mental health, veterans’ health, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction psychiatry, Alzheimer’s disease, refugee health, global psychiatry, depression, and serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

We apply a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the complex mental health needs of our patients, in both global and local contexts. We are engaged in research projects in more than 15 countries in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.  

Global & Local Center for Mental Health Disparities

The Global & Local Center for Mental Health Disparities aims to improve the mental health of global communities through clinical, research, and training initiatives. The Center works both locally in Boston and globally to build the capacity of our partners to provide mental health care, conduct research, and build the next generation of mental health professionals, all while ensuring our work is culturally informed.

Africa Global Mental Health Institute (AGMHI) 

The Africa Global Mental Health Institute works to equip mental health professionals in Africa with the tools they need to effectively care for those with mental illnesses, through training and education programs, research, and partnerships with key stakeholders.

Residency and Fellowship Information

The Department of Psychiatry is deeply committed to providing education for the next generation of psychiatric and clinical care providers. With our exceptionally diverse patient population and wide array of clinical services and research, we offer a unique place for providers to learn. We provide training opportunities for:

Learn more about the educational programs by clicking on the links above and by visiting the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine website.

Instagram Takeover

Tune in for a day in the life of Dr. Natasha Nazari, one of our star psychiatry residents!

Dr. Nazari introduces her fellow residents and answers questions on all things psychiatry and residency.

Boston Medical Center Instagram page