Psychiatrist in Virginia Beach, VA
Abbot Lee Granoff, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist with a solo private practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia, serving patients from across the Hampton Roads area and beyond. For four decades, Dr. Granoff has specialized in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety and panic attacks, phobias, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and sexual problems.
A solo practice means you see the same physician at every visit. Dr. Granoff does the evaluation, makes the diagnosis, manages any medication and provides therapy himself, so your care is private, consistent and personal.
Conditions Dr. Granoff treats
- Panic attacks and panic disorder, including the fear of "dying" or "going crazy" that often comes with them
- Generalized anxiety disorder and chronic worry
- Phobias, agoraphobia and social phobia
- Depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) with emotional symptoms
- Sexual problems in marriage, through a seven-week couples sex therapy program
One physician for evaluation, medication and therapy
Many people today see a psychiatrist for a brief medication check and a different provider for therapy. Dr. Granoff believes that splitting care this way lowers its quality. In his practice, one highly trained physician handles every part of your treatment, which he finds makes care more effective in both time and cost.
Treatment starts with a thorough first appointment of about 45 to 50 minutes. Dr. Granoff takes a complete history: your current symptoms, past episodes and treatment, medical problems, family history of mental illness and your developmental history, followed by a mental status examination. As he puts it, diagnosis is the key to treatment. An accurate diagnosis leads to the right plan, whether that is medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both. See the full list of services provided.
What to expect when you call
- Call the office at 757-461-7571. Dr. Granoff builds time into his schedule for new patients, so the wait is minimal.
- Complete the paperwork using the new patient forms, and bring a list of your current medications and any past treatment records.
- Attend your evaluation. The first visit is a full history and mental status examination that leads to a diagnosis and a treatment plan made for you.
- Follow-up care. Visits continue with the same physician for medication management, therapy or both, at a frequency that fits your condition.
Why see a psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed medical school and at least four more years of specialty training in psychiatry. That medical training matters, because some emotional symptoms have physical causes, and many conditions respond best to a carefully chosen medication. Dr. Granoff's specialty within psychiatry is psychopharmacology, the use of medication to treat emotional and behavioral disorders, and he is also well trained in psychotherapy. Learn more in common questions about seeing a psychiatrist.
Dr. Granoff is board certified in psychiatry. He has served as an instructor and associate professor of psychiatry at Eastern Virginia Medical School, as president of the Tidewater Academy of Psychiatry, and as a board member of the Psychiatric Society of Virginia. Read his full background.
A psychiatrist who has been there
At 36, only a few years into his practice, Dr. Granoff woke at 3:24 in the morning with crushing chest pain, a pounding heart, numb fingers and the certainty that he was dying. The emergency room found nothing wrong with his heart. Weeks later it happened again on the expressway. A colleague finally named it: two panic attacks.
That experience shaped his career. He went on to treat thousands of patients with anxiety disorders and wrote the book Help! I Think I'm Dying! Panic Attacks and Phobias: A Consumer's Guide to Getting Treatment That Works. Read Dr. Granoff's own panic attack story, meet five of his patients in real panic attack stories, or read his article on anxiety and panic treatment.
Marital sex therapy with Dr. and Ann Granoff
Dr. Granoff and his wife Ann, a therapist, are both graduates of the Loyola University Medical School Sex Therapy Clinic in Chicago. Together they offer Seven Weeks to a Better Sex Life: seven consecutive weekly 50-minute sessions for married couples, with private "loveplay" homework between visits.
Fees, insurance and scheduling
Dr. Granoff is an independent, solo practitioner. He does not participate in HMOs or insurance programs, although your insurance may cover part of his fee. Cash, check, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. See rates and insurance for payment and cancellation details, and download the new patient forms before your first visit.
Office location and hours
The office is at 1604 Hilltop West Executive Center, Suite 309, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For an appointment, call 757-461-7571 or use the appointment request page.
Common Questions
Does Dr. Granoff accept insurance?
Dr. Granoff does not participate in any HMO or insurance program, but your insurance may cover a portion of his fee. Cash, check, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. See rates and insurance for details.
What happens at the first appointment?
The first session lasts about 45 to 50 minutes. Dr. Granoff takes a complete history and does a mental status examination to reach a diagnosis and plan treatment. Complicated histories can take more than one session.
Does Dr. Granoff prescribe medication and provide therapy?
Yes. As a psychiatrist he can manage medication and provide psychotherapy, and he does both himself rather than splitting care between providers.
Ready to take the next step? Call 757-461-7571 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Granoff. The office is at 1604 Hilltop West Executive Center, Suite 309, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.
If you are in crisis: call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (available 24/7), call 911, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.