Thomas Scary

Greeting from Dr. Scary Hello, and thank you for your interest in my practice. While I hope that my website is able to answer any questions about the structure of my practice, including pricing, my credentials, and other information, I wanted to also write a brief note here introducing myself to anyone thinking of becoming a patient. I started this practice because I was dismayed at the state of modern psychiatry. In a world of rushed 10-minute appointments, reliance on quick fixes, and an ever-growing infiltration of algorithms and AI into psychiatric practice, I decided that the best course for me was to practice independently. In this way, I am able to provide psychiatric care at the highest level in a way that is unhurried and free of outside influence. So much of what makes psychiatry unique, and what separates psychiatrists from other mental health professionals, is that we have the training to sit with things that are uncomfortable, with the recognition that the therapeutic relationship itself can be healing. This is a far cry from how many companies operate in 2026, with rapid-fire appointments based off of self-reported symptom checklists. In addition to my practice, I teach the next generation of psychiatrists in my roles as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at both Tufts University and Temple University schools of medicine. In supervising psychiatry residents, not only do I get the benefit of mentoring others, but I am also made to stay on top of current trends in psychiatry. I bring this thoughtful and evidence-based approach into my practice every day. Thankfully, the old trope of the psychiatrist as an inscrutable figure wearing elbow patches has mostly disappeared. To that end, I will share that on top of being a physician, I am also a father, husband, classical pianist and composer, lover of languages and philosophy, and supporter of all things related to Philadelphia. I have lived in New York City, during my college years at NYU, as well as Boston during my residency training at Tufts Medical Center. I have a special affinity for all three of these cities, yet Philadelphia remains home. If you are looking for comprehensive, elite-tier psychiatric care, then I am confident that you have reached the right place. We will take as much time as is needed to understand each other and any problems that you wish to tackle. While many practices focus on one or a few diagnoses, I see the full breadth of psychiatric pathology in my practice, approach diagnosis seriously and deliberately, and indeed sometimes find that there is no “diagnosis” in the clinical sense, rather than a sense of suffering and a need to process with another human being. I am grateful for your interest in my practice, and the trust that my patients place in me every day. It is what elevates psychiatry from a “job” to a “profession” for me. Sincerely, Thomas Scary, M.D., M.A.