Dr. Valerie L. Augustus, MD, Psychiatrist
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Dr. Valerie L. Augustus, MD

Psychiatrist | Psychiatry

4/5(43)
2205 WEST STREET GERMANTOWN TN, 38138
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Rating

4/5

About

 
Christian Psychiatric Services is the private practice of Dr. Valerie Augustus and is located in Germantown, Tennessee, where we proudly serve the greater Memphis metropolitan area, which includes the neighboring cities of Little Rock, Arkansas; West Memphis, Arkansas; Southaven, Mississippi; Olive Branch, Mississippi; and Tupelo, Mississippi. We are committed to providing excellent mental health care and improving patients' quality of life. We were recognized as the #1 Mental Health Practice in Memphis by the Commercial Appeal and Memphis Most in 2017. Additionally, Dr. Augustus has been elected a Top Doctor in 2018, 2019 and 2020. For more about CPS, check out their website at www.christianpsychiatric.com.
 
Dr. Augustus has over 20 years of experience in adult psychiatry and 18 years in private practice. With a calling to holistically address the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of people, she emphasizes a healthy diet and regular physical activity, while optionally integrating her spiritual beliefs and principles into each patient's healing process. In 2011, Dr. Augustus began offering TMS as a proven and effective alternative to traditional medication for patients dealing with depression and unfavorable reactions to antidepressants. FDA-cleared in 2008, TMS is a non-medication, outpatient treatment option generally tolerated well by patients; find out more about TMS at www.christianpsychiatric.com/about-tms.
 
 

Education and Training

Louisiana State University Medical Center/Shreveport

La State Univ Sch of Med In Shreveport, Shreveport La 1992

Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans 1992

Provider Details

Female English
Dr. Valerie L. Augustus, MD
Dr. Valerie L. Augustus, MD's Expert Contributions
  • Which antidepressants help with pain?

    Duloxetine or Cymbalta is one antidepressant that has been shown to be helpful in reducing pain in some individuals. READ MORE

  • How can I lower my social anxiety?

    Systematic desensitization is a therapy technique in which a person exposes themselves to problematic situations until they become comfortable with them. When done with a therapist, the person is challenged to place themselves in situations that cause anxiety, starting with a mildly uncomfortable situation and over time placing themselves in more challenging situations. This therapy is best done with the assistance of a therapist. READ MORE

  • What are the symptoms of a manic depression?

    I will give a very broad, general answer. Classic bipolar I disorder is a disorder of extremes of mood. One extreme is very serious depression in which the individual can become suicidal and will pose a danger to themselves. The other extreme is called mania. When manic a person can be very irritable, happy, grandiose about their abilities, they may overspend or engage in other high risk behavior that is not characteristic for them. This behavior can lead to some very serious consequences for the individual as well. If you suspect that your father has this illness, he should be evaluated by a mental health professional and receive appropriate treatment. READ MORE

  • Can certain foods help with depression?

    I am unaware of a specific food that helps with depression. In general good nutrition is important to mental health overall. The Mediterranean diet is a good diet for most individuals. In general I recommend to my patients that they consume a more plant based diet consisting of fruit and vegetables, low in animal protein, and high in salmon and other fish that are high in omega 3 fatty acids. For diabetic patients, it is important that they consume fruit that is low in sugar, ex. blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Along with a healthy diet, I suggest regular exercise as tolerated by their health. I usually suggest thirty minutes per day of something aerobic, outdoors when possible to take advantage of getting vitamin D. READ MORE

  • Why does a person become aggressive?

    Since I do not know any specifics about your friend, my answer is a general one. For most people aggression is an unhealthy avenue for expressing anger or frustration. When a person does not acknowledge that something or someone is bothering them appropriately, it will show itself in some form. Counseling is a good way for a person to learn healthy ways to express their emotions in the right context and to the right person in a way that is not destructive. READ MORE

  • What is best medication for anxiety?

    Anxiety is common to some degree in many people. Some people worry more than others. Anxiety that interferes with daily functioning in work and interpersonal relationships should be addressed by a professional. Counseling may be the first avenue to pursue . There are several medications available to treat anxiety as well. The class most commonly used as a first line is called SSRI, (selective, serotonin, re-uptake inhibitor). READ MORE

  • How long does a psychologist appointment last?

    In general an initial appointment can last one hour or longer. Follow up appointments can last 45 minutes to one hour. READ MORE

  • What is the difference between manic depression and bipolar disorder?

    These are two names for the same disorder. READ MORE

  • How can I help someone with manic depression?

    Most people are able to accept help from someone that they know loves and cares about them. It is important that you share your concerns with your sister in a loving way and reassure her that you will be there to support her in any way that you can. If your sister truly is bipolar, she should be seen by a professional to substantiate this diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment options. READ MORE

  • Is anxiety disorder curable?

    Anxiety is a very treatable disorder but it is chronic in nature. Appropriate treatment can help individuals live full lives without being unduly burdened by symptoms of anxiety. READ MORE

  • What are the best anti-anxiety medications?

    There are many medications that are used to treat anxiety. One primary class of medications are known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. Medications in this class include Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. There are others as well. A type of counseling that is also helpful is cognitive behavioral therapy. READ MORE

  • Is generalized anxiety disorder different from just anxiety?

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder is the formal name used by professionals for what a layperson would possibly call just regular anxiety. READ MORE

  • What are the treatment options for schizophrenia?

    Medications known as antipsychotics are the primary choice for treating schizophrenia. Latuda, Geodon, and Quetiapine are members of this class of medication. READ MORE

  • How do you treat major depressive disorder?

    Counseling combined with medication is often recommended for the treatment of major depressive disorder. READ MORE

  • Is obsessive-compulsive disorder curable?

    Obsessive compulsive disorder is a chronic condition. Medication can be helpful along with a type of therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention. It is important to find a trained therapist if you have been diagnosed with this condition. READ MORE

  • What causes manic depression?

    I would suggest you seek out a complete evaluation by a qualified mental health professional if you think you may have bipolar illness. The only way to know with certainty what is causing the symptoms you've shared is to have someone do an evaluation, which will include but not be limited to: looking closely at all of your symptoms, your family history of mental illness, as well as current stressors affecting you. I would reach out to someone as soon as possible. READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Adult Psychiatry

Awards

  • #1 Mental Health Practice 2017 Commercial Appeal and Memphis Most 
  • Top Doctor 2018 Findatopdoc.com 
  • Top Doctor 2019 Findatopdoc.com 

Treatments

  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Anxiety
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (ptsd)
  • Adjustment Disorder

Dr. Valerie L. Augustus, MD's Practice location

Christian Psychiatric Services

2205 WEST STREET -
GERMANTOWN, TN 38138
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New patients: 901-372-0914
christianpsychiatric.com

Dr. Valerie L. Augustus, MD's reviews

(43)
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Patient Experience with Dr. Augustus


4.0

Based on 43 reviews

Dr. Valerie L. Augustus, MD has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on the reviews from 43 patients. FindaTopDoc has aggregated the experiences from real patients to help give you more insights and information on how to choose the best Psychiatrist in your area. These reviews do not reflect a providers level of clinical care, but are a compilation of quality indicators such as bedside manner, wait time, staff friendliness, ease of appointment, and knowledge of conditions and treatments.

Media Releases

Get to know Psychiatrist Dr. Valerie L. Augustus, who serves the population of Germantown, Tennessee. Valerie Augustus, MD, is a highly trained and qualified psychiatrist with over 20 years of practicing medicine. With a holistic approach to psychiatry, she utilizes her extensive expertise to provide emotional, physical as well as spiritual counseling to her patients. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree in microbiology at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, she went on to attend Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport and obtain her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1992. After completing her residency at Louisiana State University Medical Center of New Orleans in 1996, Dr. Augustus relocated to Memphis, Tennessee. Here, she worked at Charter Lakeside before deciding to branch out and establish her own private practice – Christian Psychiatric Services, PLC. In 2011, Dr. Augustus made a landmark decision within psychiatry and became the first physician in Memphis to begin offering an FDA-approved, non-invasive, and non-medication treatment for depression called transcranial magnetic stimulation – or TMS. With a great success rate and proven results, she has treated well over 50 TMS patients. As a licensed physician board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult Psychiatry, Dr. Augustus treats a wide range of conditions – from anxiety and depressive disorders, to panic attacks and bipolar disorders – and continues to serve the greater Memphis metropolitan area at her office in Germantown, Tennessee. Psychology is the science of behavior and mind, including conscious and unconscious phenomena, as well as feeling and thought. It is an academic discipline of immense scope and diverse interests that, when taken together, seek an understanding of the emergent properties of brains, and all the variety of epiphenomena they manifest. As a social science it aims to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles and researching specific cases.

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BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITALl

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2205 West St, Germantown, TN 38138, USA
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6029 Walnut Grove Road Medical Plaza #3, Suite 404, Memphis, TN 38120, United States

4.8 miSee direction

DELTA MEDICAL CENTERl

3000 GETWELL RD MEMPHIS TN 38118

2205 West St, Germantown, TN 38138, USA
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5959 PARK AVE MEMPHIS TN 38119

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5959 Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38119, USA

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