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In Castle Connolly's estimation, Dr. Norman Alessi is among the
top 1% in the nation in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.
Doctors listed in U.S. News Top Doctors are determined to be in the top 10% in their region.
"When a patient needs a doctor with specific expertise-a heart specialist, for example-his current doctor may suggest one. If she doesn't have the name of a trusted cardiologist at the tip of her tongue, she'll probably turn to her colleagues for their input. Such is the nature of how patients and doctors often find top medical specialists. And it's the guiding principle behind the peer-nomination process used to compile Top Doctors." -US World News
Since it's Top Psychiatrists publication in 2003, Dr. Alessi has been acknoledged by the CRC as one of the nations top psychiatrists. The CRC's process of selection is upon Board Certification, Experience in the field, Activity in Professional Associations, and Training.
"I don't know why they selected me, I simply love what I do...
I think people should love what they do. It's what gets me up
and to work in the morning. It's my guide in choosing our mental health team. " -Dr. Norman Alessi
"America's trusted source for identifying top doctors, invites ALL licensed physicians to participate in the nomination process, which will help Castle Connolly to identify regionally and nationally outstanding top doctors.
The doctors included in Castle Connolly's Top Doctor listings were selected after peer nomination, extensive research and careful review and screening by our doctor-directed research team. Doctors do not and can not pay to be listed as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor."
Clinical Services
NalessiMD is a private psychiatric practice specializing in the identification and treatment of a broad range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral conditions found in children, adolescents and adults. The services are offered in an atmosphere that is welcoming and comfortable for all regardless of race, sex, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender expression or disability.
Recent Onset of Difficulties
Including those needing immediate evaluation for school or legal issues.
For those who find themselves struggling with a recent onset of problems,
we can provide evaluations and assessments. Treatment interventions including pharmaceutical management, indivdual psychotherapy, individual and family interventions are available. When necessary we can contact the school the child or adolescent is attending to provide therapeutic recommendations.
Second Opinions
Second opinions are available when there are diagnostic questions, or concerns about medical management. These may include not only assessment in our office but other specialties with whom we collaborate.
Long Term Consistent Care
In the managed care insurance world we live in, patients are often seen by a rotation of clinicians. This model provides no consistency or infrequent visits which contributes to little progress. We provide consistent care tailored to each persons individual needs.
Follow-Up Care
Many students have conditions for which they receive ongoing care. For those individuals, we can offer ongoing and continuity services through contact with their home based therapist or psychiatrist.
Cognitive Training
COGMED, a 5-week, coach-supported, computerized memory training program designed to help children of all ages with attention deficites is available.
Evaluations For Psychiatric Conditions
Depressive disorders; Bipolar Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorders; Anxiety Disorders, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, and Impulse Control Disorders. Education, speech and language conditions can be evaluated through affiliates
Working memory is used for controlling attention and deficits in working memory capacity can lead to attention problems. Working memory is a key function necessary for many cognitive tasks.
We use our working memory every day: to remember what we should do next, to solve problems and to pay attention. Working memory is the ability to keep information in one's mind for a short period of time while using it to carry out a task.
When people have deficits in working memory, it is often experienced as inattention problems such as having problems focusing on reading a text or memory problems which makes individuals unable to finish an activity according to a plan.
Cogmed Working Memory Training improves working memory capacity and helps build concentration.
It used to be thought that an individual's working memory capacity was fixed. Current research has shown that the brain is more trainable than that. Everyone can improve his or her working memory through correctly designed and intense training. For people with serious attention deficits, improved working memory translates into tangible and measurable improvements in daily life.
This method was developed in collaboration with the brain researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. The effects of training are scientifically validated and the results are published in peer-reviewed academic journals such as The Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and The Journal of Child Neuropsychology. Additional research is being conducted at the University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, New York University, Stanford University and other respected academic institutions.
Social Symptoms Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders
In contrast, most children with ASD seem to have tremendous difficulty learning to engage in the give-and-take of everyday human interaction. Even in the first few months of life, many do not interact and they avoid eye contact. They seem indifferent to other people, and often seem to prefer being alone. They may resist attention or passively accept hugs and cuddling. Later, they seldom seek comfort or respond to parents' displays of anger or affection in a typical way. Research has suggested that although children with ASD are attached to their parents, their expression of this attachment is unusual and difficult to read. To parents, it may seem as if their child is not attached at all. Parents who looked forward to the joys of cuddling, teaching, and playing with their child may feel crushed by this lack of the expected and typical attachment behavior.
Communication Difficulties
Some children diagnosed with ASD remain mute throughout their lives.
Those who do speak often use language in unusual ways. They seem unable to combine words into meaningful sentences. Some speak only single words, while others repeat the same phrase over and over. Although many children with no ASD go through a stage where they repeat what they hear, it normally passes by the time they are 3. Some children only mildly affected may exhibit slight delays in language, or even seem to have precocious language and unusually large vocabularies, but have great difficulty in sustaining a conversation. The give and take of normal conversation is hard for them, although they often carry on a monologue on a favorite subject, giving no one else an opportunity to comment. Another difficulty is often the inability to understand body language, tone of voice, or phrases of speech. They might interpret a sarcastic expression such as Oh, that's just great as meaning it really IS great. While it can be hard to understand what ASD children are saying, their body language is also difficult to understand. Facial expressions, movements, and gestures rarely match what they are saying. Also, their tone of voice fails to reflect their feelings. A high-pitched, sing-song, or flat, robot-like voice is common. Some children with relatively good language skills speak like little adults, failing to pick up on the kid-speak that is common in their peers.
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities caused by a problem with the brain. Scientists do not know yet exactly what causes this problem. ASDs can impact a person's functioning at different levels, from very mildly to severely. There is usually nothing about how a person with an ASD looks that sets them apart from other people, but they may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most people. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary from gifted to severely challenged. Autistic disorder is the most commonly known type of ASD, but there are others, including "pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified" (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Syndrome. People with ASDs may have problems with social, emotional, and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and might not want change in their daily activities. Many people with ASDs also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. ASDs begin during early childhood and last throughout a person's life.
A child or adult with an ASD might:
*have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in
other people at all
*avoid eye contact and want to be alone
*have trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking
about their own feelings
*prefer not to be held or cuddled or might cuddle only
when they want to
*appear to be unaware when other people talk to them
but respond to other sounds
*be very interested in people, but not know how to talk,
play, or relate to them
*have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions
*repeat actions over and over again
*have trouble adapting when a routine changes
*have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste,
look, feel, or sound
In addition, over three years Dr. Alessi provided care to juvenile offenders at Baypines training school in Escanaba, Michigan. This involved the evaluation and treatment of over 40 juvenille offenders, ages 13-19, who had committed crimes that resulted in their placement in a medium security facility.
Dr. Alessi has presented results of this experience at the American Telemedicine Association, American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and in several academic settings. Particular emphasis has been placed on "Telepharmacology" and its safety.
Telepsychiatry is the use of information technology to facilitate the delivery of clinical services. It can be as simple as telephone based care or as advanced as teleconferenced based assessments and treatment.
With John Bennett, ACSW, Dr. Alessi started the first Telepsychiatry program at the University of Michigan and had one of the first commercial contracts. This first project involved the delivery of psychiatric services to children and adolescents at Hiawatha Behavioral Health, a community mental health agency in the eastern upper pennisula of Michigan. This project was begun in 2003 and except a short hiatus continues as a project thru Nalessimdccc. Each week psychiatric services are provided to over 100 children and adolescents, ages 3-17 years of age. These youth have a broad range of psychopathology including ADHD, bipolar disorders, depression, anxiety, autistic spectrum disorders and other conditions.
Dr. Alessi has worked in the same training school both in the delivery of direct care to these youth, but also to help in the development of an integrated system of care that deals with both the criminality of these youth and their psychopathology. Not surprisingly their are few programs to our knowledge that can successfully deal with these issues at the same time. Whereas the first hurdle was the identificantion of the conditions in the youth, the most significant issue is the development of integrated treatment plans that can be implemented by the youth specialists that work directly with the youth. Dr. Alessi has worked with the staff but most importantly he has worked with Dr. Tony Rome and Ms. Diane McGhee both veterans in the criminal justice and juvenile justice fields. Together they have developed new integrated standard operating procedures (SOP) that facilitates the integration of care through a new behavioral health record, integrated comprehensive clinical review meetings and staff education about mental and developmental conditions in these youth.
Service
Our sustained interest has spanned over thirty years. We understand often the expertise we have to deal with this problem is not readily available. For those agencies interested we can provide a review of your program and work to develop an integrated state of the art program. It is clear that after 30 years the problem has not gone away. We hope to provide a bridge for your agency to move forward and form a foundation
that will allow you to keep pace with the future direction of
mental health
Of the more than 120,000 incarcerated youth (ages 13-20) over 40% have been shown to have identifiable mental disorders. These disorders include not only psychiatric conditions ie., Axis I conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD but developmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disoders (ASD) and mental impairments (diminished capacity due to cognitive impairment). This has become of concern due to the lack of adequate care provided to these youth during their incarceration which results in these youths being held accountable for behavior they are unable to control. This can result in violent youth commiting more and more seriously violent crimes they are unable to clearly understand or stop. Youth with ASD being unable to successfully participate in PPC treatment because of limited social skills.
Experience
Dr. Alessi has been involved with juvenille offenders and mental health issues for over 25 years. His interest started when he was a fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry and he functioned as a consultant at a local training school. Susequently he participated in a study to characterise the psyhcopathology among these youth versus those in a state hospital. This study carried out with Mike McManus MD, Lex Grapentine MD and Arthur Brickman PhD between 1981 and 1982 resulted in a number of scientific publications and presentations showing the frequency of psychpathology, the degree of neuropsychological impairment and how this compared to a psychiatric institutional population. The psychopathology was more severe in the training schools and yet they received less care. Since that time many studies using
the same strategies have demonstrated similar findings.
Social Thinking Mentors use strategies to assist their clients to consider the points of view of others focusing on emotions, thoughts, beliefs, prior knowledge and intentions. They determine ones social learning ability, or "social mind profile", then determine the best treatment modalitiy to develop new social skills.
The specific interventions are based on M.G. Winners Social Thinking theory to facilitate the development of social cognition in individuals who exhibit social skill deficits.
As an educational Consultant we help parents and children work toward a future full of promise which includes the opportunity for healing and
emotional growth.
Parents are often overwhelmed by a barrage of emotions associated with having a troubled child or teen. They may not be aware of their options, or may be overwhelmed by the variety of programs available. An educational consultant helps families determine which alternative best meets the unique needs of their child. Educational consultants address the following, and other concerns: When is intensive treatment necessary? What type of intervention is best for our child? How do we choose a residential program? Would a wilderness therapy program be a good choice? What is an emotional growth boarding school? Is this REALLY necessary?
We specialize in helping families with at risk teens and have extensive experience with crisis intervention, oppositional behaviors, and other emotional/behavioral difficulties. Finding the most suitable solutions requires "hands on" knowledge, therefore, substantial times if spent visiting and evaluating programs. Through these site visits consultants understand a facilitys strengths, therapy options, and staff expertise.
Matching each individual with specialized treatment options maximizes the therapeutic impact. This profesional and confidential assistance can bring long-awaited direction to troubled families.
Nalessimd provides consultations in several areas for both individuals, clinical and professional, and for corporations.
Individuals - Clinical
Second opinions: We offer consultations who are looking for second opinions about diagnoses made on themselves or their children. Why might someone want a second opinion? You might not agree with the opinion, diagnosis or treatment offered by your care provider. Possibly you have seen them for a long time and there is no progress and they do not have any new ideas?
Educational Consulting: Ms. McCaslin can work with families and other health professionals and mental health agencies in locating placements for adolescents and young adults that need more intensive care than found in out patient settings, day treatment programs or short term hospitalizations. She can work with you to find the best placement in emotional growth programs, therapeutic boarding schools, and/or residential treatment settings. She works closely to find the setting and with the family after the adolescent is placed and if requested after they return home. A psychiatric evaluation can be provided by Dr. Alessi and psychiatric follow-up care for medications can be provided by Dr. Alessi as well.
School consultations: We can provide for a family an assessment of the child or adolescent in their classroom. This can be as simple as a call to their teacher and school special education program, or someone can visit the school and observe the child or adolescent in their classroom. A meeting with the school professionals can result from this assessment.
Individuals - Professional
Second opinions: We offer second opinions on difficult cases where you have not seen progress. Medication regiment may not be effective or there may be a lack of clarity concerning a diagnosis or symptom. Any of these situations warrant a second opinion.
Supervision: We offer supervision to all mental health professionals in the areas of individual and family psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and parental guidance. Also, offered to psychiatrists is career and professional development guidance.
Corporations
Juvenille Offender Program: AlessiCEBS has a team that can work with a juvenille offender program to assess there level of functioning in regard to the integration of mental health services . The team includes Dr. Tony Rome, over 25 years experience involved with the administration of mental health services in correctional institutions; Ms. Diane McGhee, over 30 years of experience in the development and administration of juvenille correctional programs in the state of Michigan; and, Dr. Norman Alessi, over 30 years of experience in academic child and adolescent psychiatry and was the director of the child and adolescent inpatient program for over 20 years. Working as a team we can review your program and provide recommendations about the current functional operation to a complete evaluation and recommendations including procedures, standards of operation and training for the personnel.
Telepsychiatry: Dr. Alessi can provide an institutional consultation to
any mental health system as to the best approach of starting a
telepsychiatry program. This can involve a single practitioner or a complete healthcare system. Issues of technology, reimbursement, integration with other care strategies can be dealt with.
Presentations
AlessiCEBS offers for a wide range of topics that be presented as either lectures/presentations, small or large group seminars or half or full day work shops.
Topics:
*Mental disorders in juvenile offender populations (Can include either Tony Rome,MD and/ or Diane McGhee).
*Telepsychiatry in the delivery of mental health care for children and adolescents.
*Psychopharmacological strategies for violent and aggressive youth.
*Autistic Spectrum Disorders in outpatient child and adolescent populations.
Identification and treatment strategies. (Can include Sally Burton-Hoyle, Ph.D.)
*Cognitive, emotional and behavioral manifestations of child and adolescent conditions. How to identify.
*Adult ADHD.
*Parent guidance in todays child and adolescent psychiatry. (Can include Ms.McCaslin, ACSW).
Dr. Sally Burton Hoyle
PHD
Dr. Burton-Hoyle is a Professor
of Special Education at Eastern Michigan University, the coordinator of the Masters of Autism Spectrum Disorders Program and a member of the Autism Collaborative.
Dr. Burton - Hoyle brings to the position years of experience in working with persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. She is well grounded in the diagnostic and therapeutic trends of the day and has a balanced view of the history of the condition and how therapeutic trends have evolved. Dr. Burton-Hoyle will work with other members of NalessiMD to provide comprehensive evaluations and services for those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and associated co-morbid mental conditions such as mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorders), thought disorders, anxiety disorders
and behavioral disorders.
Norman E Alessi
MD
Dr. Alessi is a board certified adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist with over 30 years experience. After completing medical school at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, he completed his residency in general psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship and research fellowship at the University of Michigan. He joined the staff there in 1983 and became a full professor and the division director of child and adolescent psychiatry.
During his tenure he pursued interests in depression and panic disorders in adolescents and children, mental disorders among juvenile offenders, psychopharmacological interventions among children and adolescents, telepsychiatry, and applications of information technology and virtual reality
in psychiatry.
He retired from UM School of Medicine in 2005 and started his private practice. He remains a Professor Emeritus at the UM Department of Psychiatry.
Barbara McCaslin
LCSW, BCD
Ms. McCaslin has worked as a psychotherapist for over 30 years. After graduating from the social work program at the University of Michigan she was senior social worker at the Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Unit and team leader of the Adolescent Day Treatment program. She has maintained a private practice for over 25 years where she counsels individuals, couples and families with a broad range of conditions. Brief counseling, liason to community resources, crisis interventions, parent guidance and intensive long term psychotherapy are offered.
She is an associate member of IECA (Independent Educational Consultant Association) and works with families who need help placing troubled and under achieving teens in growth facilitating treatment programs as an educational consultant.
Barb O'Grady
Ms. Barb O'Grady has 26 years experience working in a medical office setting. She is retired from the University of Michigan.
Jacque Alessi
BS
Ms. Alessi has a Bachelors of Science in Human Geography and Mapping Technology.
She has six years of experience working in
a medical office setting.
Office Location
The office is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. On I94 Take the South Sate Street Exit 177. We are located on Eisenhower just west of State Street. The Burlington Building is a red brick and smoked glass building. Entrance 325 is covered by a smoked glass walkway. Suite 6 is located at the lower level. Patients are seenby appointment only.
Bing Directions
Gilbert J.M. Neri, M.D.
Gilbert JM Neri MD is responsible for revamping and consolidating three websites. AlessiCEBS.com NAlessiMD.com and SomeStruggle.com.
He is a former photographer, layout artist, image enhancer, corporate identity specialist and record producer.
Currently Gilbert is in a medical observership program with Dr. Alessi. He hopes one day to become a psychiatrist with a subspecialty in child psychiatry.
You can download his PGY-1 psychiatry application here.
Please send comments to him at: Neri.MD_Gmail.com
Phone: 1-734-222-6222 Fax: 1-734-222-6224 eMail: office_nalessimd.com
The Basics
All patients must make an appointment. There are no walk-ins.
If this is an emergency either go to your nearest emergency room or call 911!
No commercial third party carriers are accepted by Dr. Alessi. This means we do not accept insurance of any kind. If you or your family has insurance we can provide you with information to apply for reimbursement. We have chosen this path because it minimizes the intrusion and control that insurances often try to impose on mental health practitioners. If you need to use your insurance there may be others in your city that accept insurance.
All transactions are cash or check at the time of service.
We deal with all mental and emotional conditions and can provide a wide range
of services.
NalesssiMD Services was the first exclusive COGMED provider in South East Michigan. COGMED is a computer based educational program which has been shown to increase a person's working memory.
All information will remain confidential. It cannot be shared unless you provide us with a release of information.
If indicated we can provide recommendations for accomodations or modifications in academic expectations.
Inital Telephone Screening
When you contact our office you will be asked several questions about why you want an appointment. This will take 5-10 minutes. After this information is obtained we will contact you within 24 hours to set up an appointment. If you are calling regarding COGMED services, please indicate your interest at that time.
First Appointment
The first appointment follows a review of the telephone screening. It will occur in our offices at 325 East Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor across from Briarwood Wood Mall. Upon arrival you will be asked to complete paperwork including forms concerning your struggles. You should arrive 15-20 minutes before your appointment to complete these. Medications or other forms of treatment may be discussed at this time. Dr. Alessi has over 30 years clinical experience and continues as Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. If medications are indicated Dr. Alessi will explain the rationale and also their pros and cons.
Subsequent Appointments
Depending on your needs and the type of interventions chosen you may be scheduled for weekly sesions ranging from 30-60 minutes. In some cases you will be asked to see both Ms. McCaslin and Dr. Alessi. Having your care in one office facilitates and simplifies continuity of care.
Consultations, laboratory work and testing
In some cases we will request further assessment. This may include educational or neuropsychological testing, evaluations by a local or UM physician, or laboratory testing - blood work. Blood work is often taken prior to starting and during the course of medication administration.
Phone: 1.734.222.6222 Fax: 1.734.222.6224 eMail: office_nalessimd.com
325 East Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 6, Ann Arbor MI, 48108
