Dr. Santosh Pillai is a board-certified psychiatrist proudly serving central Alabama and the surrounding area. Born in Kerala, India, Dr. Pillai grew up in Warren, Michigan. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and his master’s degree in Basic Medical Science from Wayne State University. He then attended medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. After medical school, Dr. Pillai’s training included a rotating medical internship, followed by his residency in psychiatry at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit; during this time, Dr. Pillai also completed a fellowship in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute.
Dr. Pillai moved to Orlando, Florida in 2013, where he mainly worked in outpatient psychiatry. He also has significant experience working in inpatient psychiatric settings and performing consultation liaison services on medical units. Dr. Pillai has extensive training and experience in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Spravato (nasal Ketamine) treatment, and genetic psychotropic medication testing interpretation. He is Board Certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and holds licenses to practice medicine in both Florida and Alabama.
When not in the office, Dr. Pillai enjoys spending quality time with his wife and family.
Dr. Pillai’s treatment philosophy emphasizes the importance of open communication and working dialogue with his patients. At the core of this approach, Dr. Pillai believes that carefully listening to his patients is essential to providing superior care and collaboratively reaching treatment goals. He also places an emphasis on natural ways of healing the mind and body in a holistic approach. As such, Dr. Pillai has been successful in treating a broad range of mental health issues and is committed to providing patients with the compassionate and effective care that they deserve.
Dr. Pillai treats adolescents 16 and up, adults and geriatric clients by providing evaluation, consultation and psychotropic medication management for the following symptoms and diseases:
- Mood & Anxiety Disorders: Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, OCD, PTSD, Anger/Rage, Mood Swings, Bipolar Disorder, Cyclothymia, PMDD
- ADHD
- Impulse Control Disorders: Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Eating Disorders, Substance Abuse Disorders
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders: Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
- Trauma-Related disorders including PTSD
- Any other DSM-V listed diagnosis
