Practitioner Profile

Douglas B. Woodruff, M.D.
WHOLE PSYCHIATRY/BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE

Background & Experience

Dr. Woodruff has been in private practice from 1976 to the present.  In addition, he provided inpatient treatment at Sinai Hospital for approximately six years.  Until the breakup of AT&T, he did psychiatric consultation at Western Electric with a focus on employee assistance.  Since 1985, Dr. Woodruff has served as Staff Psychiatrist at Harford-Belair Community Health Center one day a week.  He was Psychiatric Editor of Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, the 27th edition, and is acting in the same capacity for the present edition in progress.

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Treatment Philosophy

I have a strong interest in psychopharmacology combined with an interest in the impact of hormones on behavior and well-being.  I approach psychotherapy from both a traditional psychodynamic perspective , and from the perspective of healing as a journey in spiritual growth.  This expanded psychotherapeutic perspective includes the following ideas: The personality is under the dominion of the soul, or the wise voice within. The mind, the emotions and the body are under the care of both the personality and the soul.    For physical and psychiatric difficulties, there is a natural healing process within each of us. A physician or healer can nurture and bolster that healing process through a cooperative alliance with the person seeking help.

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Education

Dr. Woodruff obtained his A.B. in Chemistry from Dartmouth College in 1969.  He received his medical training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and was awarded the M.D. degree in 1973.  He completed his psychiatric residency at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behavior of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1976.