Erik Petersen, MD

Dr. Erik Petersen is a medical doctor and a board-certified psychiatrist.  Dr. Petersen’s treatment approach consists of gaining a comprehensive understanding of his client’s unique challenges, life experiences, hopes, and Dreams. Drawn to the field of psychiatry by a lifelong interest in understanding human behavior, Dr. Petersen is passionate about helping his clients achieve optimal mental health and functioning. Dr. Petersen prioritizes the therapeutic relationship with his clients and offers individual therapy alongside medication management. 

 After high school, Dr. Petersen went on to college and earned a degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Molecular Biology. He completed his Medical Degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Psychiatry was a natural fit for Dr. Petersen, as he realized early in medical school the importance of selecting a specialty that would allow him to sincerely get to know his clients and to better help them heal and achieve their goals.  After graduating from medical school, Dr. Petersen started his residency in psychiatry. While a psychiatric resident, he had the opportunity to train under many of the top researchers and leading authors in the field of psychiatry. He received comprehensive training in psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and the best evidence-based treatment options while treating all varieties of psychiatric illnesses. Dr. Petersen was selected as the program’s Chief Resident during his last year of residency. 

Dr. Petersen has more than a decade of experience treating clients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He has expertise in diagnosing, treating, and preventing a wide range of mental health disorders including mood disorders, psychotic disorders, cognitive disorders, addiction disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, sleep disorders, phobia-related disorders, addiction disorders, eating disorders, and hoarding disorders among others. Dr. Petersen is a published author and the recipient of multiple scholastic and achievement-based scholarships including the Williams Research Fellowship, Sigma Gamma Chi Scholar, M. West, and Golden Key Scholar among others.