Dr. Carl Fleisher M.D.
Adolescent Psychiatrist | Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
204 S Beverly Drive Suite 107 Beverly Hills CA, 90212About
Dr. Fleisher is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist with particular expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of borderline personality disorder. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA, where he sees children and adolescents for evaluation and medication management. He also maintains a private practice in Beverly Hills. Dr. Fleisher works with parents and patients to create an evidence-based, conservative treatment plan with clear and measurable goals for improvement. Dr. Fleisher graduated from Harvard Medical School and then completed both residency and fellowship training at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience/Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital. After fellowship, Dr. Fleisher joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School with a position at the prestigious McLean Hospital. There, he worked with adolescents struggling with severe anxiety. In addition, he served as a peer supervisor in the adult clinic for Mentalization-Based Therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). *Please note the disclaimer on my Expert Blog regarding answers to posted medical questions.
Education and Training
Harvard Medical School MD 2008
Board Certification
Psychiatry and NeurologyAmerican Board of Psychiatry and NeurologyABPN- 2012
Psychiatry and NeurologyAmerican Board of Psychiatry and NeurologyABPN- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry- 2014
Provider Details
Dr. Carl Fleisher M.D.'s Expert Contributions
Can yoga help my son improve his concentration?
Yoga can have many benefits - for focus, for relaxation, for physical strength/health, for sleep, for personal meaning, for social connection, for self-care and self-confidence, and more. People must usually be willing to participate in yoga to experience these benefits, of course. Difficulty concentrating may also be a sign of mental ill health for various reasons; hence, consultation with a licensed mental health professional may shed light on the problem as well. NB: This does not constitute medical advice, please see the disclaimer in my Expert Blog for details. READ MORE
Is my child having panic attacks?
All children and adults have healthy anxiety; some also have unhealthy anxiety. Unhealthy anxiety typically will not go away when parents provide reassurance, whereas healthy anxiety will. Parents may not be equipped to manage unhealthy anxiety on their own. Rather, consultation with a licensed mental health professional could help provide a detailed plan of treatment. NB: This does not constitute medical advice, please see the disclaimer in my Expert Blog for details. READ MORE
Why doesn't my son want to make friends?
Children have two equally important "jobs": learn in school, and have fun with friends. Isolating, or simply preferring to be alone, may be concerning and more than a "phase" if it interferes with a child's function or his happiness. Certainly, social isolation lasting more than 2-3 months deserves inquiry. Children 12 or older may have developed enough self-awareness to tell a parent why they are not engaging socially. For example, children may be grieving, may anticipate being teased/bullied, may be depressed, may lack interest in social contact. If the explanation provided by the child is not reassuring or does not add up, consultation with a licensed mental health professional may help sort out what is going on. NB: This does not constitute medical advice, please see the disclaimer in my Expert Blog for details. READ MORE
Why is my child all of a sudden losing interest in his schoolwork?
Children may appear to lose interest, or focus, in schoolwork for many reasons. You could try asking the child, though unfortunately, children younger than 10 often have difficulty explaining why their behavior is the way it is. They simply haven't developed the ability to observe and describe themselves. Sometimes events or major changes in family relationships - e.g. divorce, move, teacher on maternity leave - clearly link to a change in a child's behavior. Sometimes children have always had a particular difficulty (inattention, anxiety, etc.) that only become visible as schoolwork gets harder. Consultation with a licensed mental health professional may help distinguish among these or other potential causes. NB: This does not constitute medical advice, please see the disclaimer in my Expert Blog for details. READ MORE
My daughter is prone to hormonal depression. What can I do?
Mood changes in the days before (or during) menstruation are common. When girls first begin menstruating, it may take time for them to recognize their own mood changes, rather than blame family members for causing conflict. Once people recognize their vulnerability to over-reacting, they may be able to learn coping skills from many sources - family, friends, trusted adults from school or a religious organization, primary care provider, women's health websites, etc. Severe, impairing mood changes may lead families to seek evaluation by a licensed mental health professional. Such a person may determine that treatment is appropriate, either with medication (i.e. antidepressants), or psychotherapy. Alternatively, some girls/women may benefit from consultation with their local primary care provider or gynecologist. Either of those providers could evaluate whether an oral contraceptive pill might, on its own, limit mood swings. NB: This does not constitute medical advice, please see the disclaimer in my Expert Blog for details. READ MORE
Can I do anything to stop my child from wetting the bed?
Bedwetting that starts, or continues, after age 7 may be a sign of either urinary, other medical, or psychiatric problems. A pediatrician should first evaluate for urinary or other medical problems. If those are absent, behavioral treatment and/or medication can be used. Behavioral treatment consists of 1) pre-bedtime water restriction, and 2) an alarm (sound + vibration) triggered by a moisture sensory - traditionally referred to as the "pad and bell" method. This is highly effective; cost varies. Medication makes the kidneys produce less urine overnight. Some causes of bedwetting may instead improve with psychotherapy. NB: This does not constitute medical advice, please see the disclaimer in my Expert Blog for details. READ MORE
My daughter is addicted to her phone. What can I do?
This is a complicated and now basically universal problem for parents. In the absence of inappropriate phone use (e.g., sexting), or any serious psychiatric illness, or problematic family conflict, often the first place to start is a discussion with the teenager in question. It is crucial for teenagers to connect with their peers, yet for the most part they still want to please their parents. Hence, teenagers may be able to participate in negotiating a compromise between needed socialization and appropriate limits of phone (or screen) use, especially if they hear that parents are in favor of social connection, in principle. Teenagers, like the rest of us, are more willing to take advice or follow commands from someone who is curious and will acknowledge their point of view (parents need not agree, or disagree, just listen and show understanding). Thus, it appears pertinent that you say you do not know who she is anymore. Consider getting to know her, assuming she will let you, before trying to change her phone use. For further discussion of sexting, see the recent posts on my blog: https://www.drcarlfleisher.com/single-post/2018/05/22/ChildMindorg---How-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-sexting and https://www.drcarlfleisher.com/single-post/2018/01/02/Sexting-the-other-side NB: This post does not constitute medical advice, please see the disclaimer in my Expert Blog for details. READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Assistant Clinical Professor UCLA Health 2016 - 2018
- Instructor Harvard Medical School 2014 - 2016
Awards
- Rising Star 2018 SuperDoctors
Professional Memberships
- American Psychiatric Association
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Fellowships
- UCLA Semel Insitute For Neuroscience/Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital Child/Adolescent Psychiatry 2014
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