For Referring Clinicians

A psychiatrist who
speaks your language.

Dr. Rai is one of a small number of practicing psychiatrists with formal advanced training in both biological psychiatry and depth psychotherapy. For therapists, psychologists, PCPs, OB/GYNs, and social workers referring patients for medication or combined care, that training shapes how he collaborates with you — and is why referring clinicians keep sending patients his way.

Most therapist-to-psychiatrist referrals fail in predictable ways.

The prescriber doesn’t understand the therapeutic frame, undermines the therapist’s formulation, shifts the patient toward a medication-only model, or simply doesn’t communicate. Dr. Rai trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy for two years at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute — and that training, alongside his University of Michigan psychiatric residency, makes him fundamentally different to work with.

He understands transference, countertransference, and the therapeutic alliance as primary clinical realities, not as abstractions to be dismissed. He knows when a medication decision will support the therapy and when it risks collapsing it. He respects the therapist as the primary relationship holder and sees his role in split care as supportive, not central.

For PCPs and concierge primary care physicians, the calculus is different but the result is similar: patients come back to you more stable, with clear communication about what was done and why — and without the medication-first, evaluation-last experience that too often defines psychiatric referral.

Dual training, rare in private practice
Adult psychiatric residency at U-M plus a two-year fellowship in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. Also trained in CBT and DBT.
Respects the therapeutic frame
Does not attempt to take over therapy, re-formulate the case from scratch, or shift patients into medication-only care. The therapist’s work is protected, not competed with.
Thoughtful prescribing
Conservative, evidence-based medication choices with clear rationale. No reflexive polypharmacy, no stimulants on first visit without a proper evaluation, no benzodiazepines for patients where it would destabilize ongoing therapy.
Accessible to discuss cases
Referring clinicians can reach Dr. Rai directly by phone or email to discuss fit before sending a patient, or to coordinate mid-treatment when something comes up.
What referring clinicians can expect

Concrete commitments, not vague promises

01
A note back within one week
Initial evaluation summary and treatment plan sent to the referring clinician within seven days of the first visit — with patient consent, of course.
02
Clear clinical reasoning
Notes focus on formulation and rationale, not a list of DSM criteria and medication names. You’ll understand what he’s thinking and why.
03
Your patient stays yours
Dr. Rai does not poach therapy patients. If a referred patient asks about adding therapy, he redirects them back to their existing therapist.
04
Ongoing coordination
Brief email updates when meaningful changes happen — new medication, significant clinical shifts, safety concerns — so you’re never out of the loop.
05
Honest assessment of fit
If a referred patient isn’t a good match for the practice, he’ll tell you directly and help point toward a better-fitting colleague rather than taking on care that won’t serve the patient.
06
Warm handoffs when needed
If a patient needs a higher level of care — IOP, PHP, inpatient, specialized neuropsychological testing — coordination happens with you in the loop, not around you.
Have a patient you’d like to refer?
Call or email to discuss fit — a five-minute conversation often saves a poor match on either side.
Call (734) 203-0117 Email Dr. Rai
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Common questions from referring clinicians

How the details work

Referred patients remain your patient. Dr. Rai handles the psychiatric piece — medications, formulation, communication — without attempting to re-formulate the case, shift the patient into medication-only care, or provide parallel therapy that competes with yours. If the patient asks about adding therapy here, he redirects them back to you. Existing therapy is discussed only when clinically relevant to medication decisions. The For Referring Clinicians section above details the full set of commitments.
With patient consent: a summary note within one week of the initial evaluation (diagnosis, formulation, plan), and brief email updates when meaningful changes occur — new medications, significant shifts, safety concerns. Reachable by phone or secure email for mid-treatment coordination. A quick call before referral to discuss fit is always welcome.
Adults with depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, executive burnout, or athletic performance concerns who benefit from private-pay care. Less appropriate: severe bipolar I, active eating disorders, schizophrenia, dementia, autism evaluations, or court-related work. A brief call before referral helps clarify fit.
Either works. Some referring PCPs prefer to send a note or make a warm introduction before the patient calls; others simply give the patient Dr. Rai’s information. Dr. Rai is happy to have a brief conversation with a referring PCP about a potential patient, and often appreciates the context. Concierge and DPC practices in particular tend to find that pre-referral conversation useful.