About Dr. Bernard Kim
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Adults (25-64)
Individuals
Identity
Gender
MaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know Dr. Bernard Kim
I am Bernard Kim, MD, founder of Pondworks Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. I am Dartmouth-trained and a Boston Psychoanalytic fellow, with more than twenty years in practice.
I built Pondworks as a deliberate alternative to the 15-minute med check. Modern psychiatry has drifted toward fast, transactional care and absentee supervision, and I do not believe patients are well served by it. My work is grounded in Psychodynamically-Informed Medical Care: I treat the whole person - history, relationships, and what you carry inside - rather than a symptom list to be matched to a prescription.
That orientation shapes how I practice and how I lead. Our team invests more than 500 hours a year in dedicated clinical supervision and case discussion, so that the thinking behind your care reflects far more than one person working in isolation.
My care and the care at Pondworks is not a refill counter. We build longitudinal treatment relationships, usually measured in many months and frequently in years…rarely less than three to six months. Our aim is to be your provider through the chapters of life, adjusting course as you change. If what you are looking for is a one-time, fast transaction, we are likely not the right fit, and we would rather tell you that honestly now than disappoint you later.
If this approach fits what you have been looking for, I would welcome the chance to meet you.
What should a new client know about working with you?
When you work with me, you will find that my questions are not only about symptoms. They are about the story that led to the problem. I do not ignore what brings you in, whether it is worry, low mood, sleeplessness, or something else entirely. I take it seriously, and I address it. But I also treat it as a doorway. Often we can ease the symptoms fairly simply, find some real relief, and then arrive at a kind of fork in the road.
At that fork there is usually a conversation. Sometimes it’s, "Thank you, this is what I came for," and the work is done. Sometimes it’s, "Let’s roll up our sleeves and go deeper." Either way, a chapter closes. We have done good work and finished it, or we close one chapter and open another, this one less about the original symptom and more about building resilience for whatever comes next.
Throughout, I think out loud. I will offer you my read and my suggestions, and you will be right there with me, helping to make the choices about your own care. This is not something done to you. It is something we do together.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
My work holds two things at once: relieving what hurts and understanding what sits underneath it. The two are not in competition. When someone is drowning, my first job is not to ask why they are not floating. It is to help if I can. So I attend to your symptoms directly and look for relief that is real and reasonably quick, while I also begin to learn the larger story, your history, your relationships, and the patterns that brought you here.
How the early visits unfold depends on you. Sometimes the picture comes clear quickly and we can begin treatment with little delay. Sometimes it takes longer, and I would rather give it the time it needs than force a conclusion before it is sound. Either way, easing your distress does not wait on the deeper understanding. The two move together, and I will tell you where we are as we go.
My orientation is psychodynamic. In practice, this means I pay attention to how your inner life and your relationships shape what you feel and the choices you make, and I bring that same attention to any decision about medication. When medication has a place, and often it does, it is one instrument within a relationship, not a substitute for one.
People often ask whether I practice talk therapy. The answer is an unequivocal yes. Therapy is not a separate service I refer out by default. It is woven into how I work, and for many patients our visits are psychotherapy and medical care in the same room. Two situations change that. When my practice is full, or when the context calls for it, as when you already have a therapist you value, I move to split treatment. I manage the medical care while your therapist carries the therapy, and I coordinate closely with them, because care delivered in concert is care done well.
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In-network insurances
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Office location
Dr. Bernard Kim, MD also offers online video visits for patients
Education and background
Practice names
Board certifications
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Education and training
- Medical School - UTMB Health - University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Doctor of Medicine
- Dartmouth College, Residency in Psychiatry
Professional memberships
- American Medical Association
- American Psychiatric Association
NPI number
1528074952
How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Bernard Kim?
Generally, Dr. Bernard Kim has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Kim's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. Bernard Kim accepting new patients?
Dr. Bernard Kim generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Kim's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. Bernard Kim accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Kim is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. Bernard Kim online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Kim using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. Bernard Kim work with?
Dr. Bernard Kim works with Pondworks Psychiatry & Psychotherapy.
Where is Dr. Bernard Kim's office located?
Dr. Bernard Kim has 2 office locations, including in Broaddus and Austin, view full addresses on Dr. Kim's profile.
Which board certifications does Dr. Bernard Kim have?
Dr. Bernard Kim is certified by American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
What languages does Dr. Bernard Kim speak?
Dr. Bernard Kim speaks English.