Dr. Ryan Kaufman completed undergraduate studies and medical school at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida as part of a combined, seven-year B.S./M.D. program. He trained in New York for five years, completing a four-year residency in adult psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital, part of the Northwell/Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University. He went on to complete a year long fellowship training in forensic psychiatry at the Montefiore Hospital/Albert Einstein School of Medicine in the Bronx to specialize in the intersection of psychiatry and the law. He is board-certified in general adult psychiatry and forensic psychiatry.

After training, he moved to western North Carolina to bring his big-city expertise to a region with a shortage of mental health care professionals. Prior to beginning his therapy practice, he worked for three years at Broughton Hospital in Morganton. There, he learned the ins and outs of the North Carolina mental health system and the availability (or lack thereof) of local resources. He comes prepared to tackle a variety of mental health conditions with a variety of tools honed by years of training.

Dr. Kaufman’s interests include OCD exposure therapy and psychodynamic therapy. However, he practices an integrative approach to therapy, utilizing a variety of techniques from psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), mindfulness, and supportive therapy/life-coaching to meet the needs of whoever is seeking treatment.

Dr. Payne is a licensed psychologist in the state of North Carolina. She completed a
Bachelor of Science in psychology at Florida State University followed by a Master of
Science in Clinical Psychology and Doctor of Psychology graduate degrees from Nova
Southeastern University. She specialized in serious mental illness during her schooling
and training. She has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient psychotherapy,
inpatient acute stabilization, and inpatient psychiatric care. Currently, Dr. Payne
provides tele-psychotherapy to adults. Her specialties are depression, mood disorders,
and trauma treatment. She has training in multiple therapeutic modalities and believes
in an integrated and collaborative approach to treatment.