Meet Your Physician
Shikha Verma, MD, DFAACAP, FAPA
Dr. Shikha Verma is triple board certified in General Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. With extensive clinical experience, she effectively manages various mental health disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance use disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disabilities.
As the founder of Synergy Psychiatry Centers, Dr. Verma deeply believes that healing begins from within and around us. She is committed to transforming the mental health field by integrating traditional psychiatric and psychotherapeutic approaches with holistic treatments such as Ayurveda, mindfulness, yoga-based practices, and lifestyle interventions.
Philosophy
She passionately advocates for advancing mental health education and supports vulnerable populations, including children, adolescents, women, and individuals with disabilities. Her philosophy embraces a holistic approach, emphasizing patient-centered care as essential. It is vital to address an individual’s larger holding environment—such as family, friends, school, and work—to foster their growth and overall well-being, especially in the context of mental health disorders.
Dr. Verma strives to make a difference and act as a catalyst in mental health by contributing to medicine and education. She envisions positively impacting lives and helping individuals build resilience as they navigate the complexities of life, including challenges related to addiction medicine.
As an active member of the complementary and integrative committee for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, she strongly advocates for the inclusion of parallel treatment approaches alongside traditional medications and psychotherapy to effectively address mental health disorders.
Education and Training
Dr. Verma received her early medical training at Lady Hardinge Medical College from the University of Delhi in Delhi, India. She completed her residency in Psychiatry at Hennepin-Regions Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she gained experience in treating various mental health disorders. Following her residency, she pursued a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, further enhancing her expertise in this crucial area of addiction medicine.
Experience and Affiliations
Right after training, she was a practicing psychiatrist specializing in addiction medicine for inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs at Rogers Behavioral Health in Wisconsin.
She also worked on multiple program development initiatives in the past, including dual diagnosis programs for mental health disorders and substance use treatments. Her experience includes providing medication-assisted treatments and exposure-relapse prevention programs for anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Additionally, she supervised cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based programs for mood and anxiety disorders as well as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) based programs for severe mood disturbances, self-injurious behaviors, suicidal thoughts, and complex personality traits.
Currently, she serves as the Medical Director of Northern California and the Vice President of Medical Training and Development at Evolve Adolescent Behavioral Health.
As an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, as well as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Illinois, she has a deep interest in teaching and is actively involved in the education of residents and fellows.
She continues to enhance her teaching interests through national, state, and local presentations at various conferences and events.
In 2023, she was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (DFAACAP) by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). She was also honored as a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA) in 2021 and received a Faculty/Teaching award for the year 2018-2019 from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
Dr. Verma is committed to the growth of our society and actively participates in community events. She is a board member of the Golden State Obesity Society, contributing her expertise in child adolescent psychiatry and mental health disorders.
Recognitions and Awards
1. Awarded Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (DFAACAP) by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) in 2023, recognizing expertise in child adolescent psychiatry.
2. Became a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (FAPA) in 2021, demonstrating commitment to advancing knowledge in mental health disorders.
3. Received a Faculty/Teaching award for the year 2018-2019 from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, highlighting excellence in education related to addiction medicine and mental health.
4. Featured as a Top Psychiatrist in the 2020 Top Doctor list for Gurnee, Illinois, showcasing dedication to treating various mental health disorders.
5. Awarded the 90% + Achievement Award in the Psychiatry Resident-In-Training Examination from the Hennepin Regions Psychiatry Program in 2010, reflecting high proficiency in the field.
Memberships and Associations
1. American Academy of Preventive Medicine, Active
2. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Active - focusing on child adolescent psychiatry and mental health disorders.
3. American Psychiatric Association, Active - dedicated to advancing the field of addiction medicine and mental health disorders.
4. Member, Complimentary and Integrative Medicine Committee, AACAP, Active - promoting holistic approaches in child adolescent psychiatry.
5. Member, IDD subcommittee of Autism and Intellectual Disability Committee, AACAP, Active - addressing mental health disorders in children.
6. Northern California Regional Organization, AACAP, Active - supporting initiatives in child adolescent psychiatry and mental health.
7. American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Active - contributing to addiction medicine and mental health practices.
8. American Associates of Physicians of Indian Origin, Active - engaged in discussions on addiction medicine and mental health disorders.
Research and Publications
News and Media
Television
1. https://cbs58.com/news/dealing-with-social-isolation-during-the-covid-19-pandemic March 18, 2020
Newspaper
1. Interview on Live Hindustan epaper: https://m.livehindustan.com/health/story-lockdown-adversely-affecting-the-health-of-children-parents-should-take-care-of-them-3419116.html, August 14, 2020
Radio
2. Kenosha chambers podcast on adolescent mental health, focusing on child adolescent psychiatry, Nov 22, 2019
3. Happening Q and A, discussing mental health disorders in children and adolescents, Jan 7, 2020
4. Expert Comments in Smart Reader Magazine and Happening Q and A (WLIP 1050): Providers insight about teen's risk for depression related to addiction medicine, Tribune Content Agency, Feb 6, 2020
5. WLIP Interview on COVID-19 Pandemic, addressing mental health issues, May 8, 2020
6. Podcast: Substance use disorders and Medication Assisted Treatments in the context of child adolescent psychiatry, August 20, 2020
7. 1050 WLIP, Happening Q and A: Children and adolescents, school and Covid 19: August 28, 2020
Other Interests
Outside her clinical work in addiction medicine and child adolescent psychiatry, Dr. Verma enjoys spending time with her family. She studies a classical Indian dance form, Kathak, through the I-Radha foundation and takes pleasure in hiking, yoga, and painting, all of which contribute positively to her understanding of mental health disorders.