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Online psychiatric care in English
English-speaking psychiatrist, online
Private online psychiatric care with , a specialist with more than 20 years of clinical experience and a university teaching background. For expats in Ecuador and for international patients — wherever you are.Dr. Paula Vernimmen
WhatsApp is used to agree a day and time. Clinical assessment and treatment always take place inside the video consultation, never by message.
Who you will be talking to
I am , a medical doctor and psychiatrist from Ecuador with more than 20 years in practice. I qualified in Medicine and Surgery at the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil and completed my specialist training in Psychiatry at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina.Dr. Paula Vernimmen Aguirre
I trained specifically in addiction medicine and dual diagnosis at the and the . I have also completed a Specialist Update Course in Addiction Treatment at and training in Psychological First Aid at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and I am currently completing a Master’s Degree in the Prevention and Treatment of Addictive Behaviours at the Universitat de València. I taught Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine at university level for over fifteen years, at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and for six years in the psychiatry residency programme at Universidad UTE.University of MiamiUniversidad Nacional de Tres de FebreroYale University
My approach is straightforward: , at the lowest effective dose, alongside psychotherapy and proper follow-up. I treat the whole person — body, mind, history and circumstances — and I try hard to avoid over-medication.medication only when it is genuinely needed
How I can help
Most of what I see in international patients falls into these areas:
- Anxiety and panic attacks.
- Depression and low mood.
- Insomnia and sleep problems.
- Addictions and dual diagnosis.
- Adult ADHD.
- Bipolar disorder.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Eating disorders.
- Adjustment difficulties after relocating.
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis, or even with the right words. Working out what is going on is what the first consultation is for.
How online consultations work
Three steps, no travel and no waiting room.
Message me on WhatsApp with a couple of lines about what is going on and the country you are in. We agree a day and time that works in your time zone, and I confirm the fee before anything is booked.1 · Book.
A private, secure video call — one hour, unhurried, covered by the same medical confidentiality as an in-person consultation.2 · We meet by video.
A clear assessment and a realistic treatment plan, with follow-up appointments to review how you are doing and adjust as needed.3 · You get a plan.
Every consultation lasts one hour, first appointment and follow-ups alike, and is paid by bank transfer or deposit. I confirm the fee before anything is booked.
«Being far from home does not mean settling for whatever care is available. It means choosing a doctor who can actually follow you over time.»
Dr. Paula Vernimmen, psychiatrist
For expats living in Ecuador
If you have moved to and you would rather be seen in English, this is for you. Discussing mental health in a second language is harder than it sounds: nuance matters, and having to translate your own symptoms gets in the way of being understood.Cuenca, Quito, Guayaquil, Salinas or anywhere else in Ecuador
Relocating also has its own weight — losing your support network, the paperwork, the healthcare system you do not yet know how to navigate, the isolation of the first years. That is worth treating in its own right, and I see it often.
If you would prefer Spanish, or if you are an Ecuadorian living abroad, there is a page for that too: .psiquiatra para ecuatorianos en el exterior
Book your appointment
One hour per consultation. Message me and we will find a time that works where you are; I confirm the fee before booking.
For scheduling only. Clinical questions are answered inside the consultation.
At a glance
In a crisis? If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, do not wait for an appointment. Call your local emergency number. In Ecuador, here is who to call.
Who writes and reviews this content
Dr. Paula Vernimmen Aguirre
Medical doctor and psychiatrist with more than 20 years in practice. MD from the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil and specialist in Psychiatry from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, with further training in addiction medicine and dual diagnosis, including a Specialist Update Course in Addiction Treatment at Yale University. University lecturer in Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine for over fifteen years at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito and, for six years, in the psychiatry residency programme at Universidad UTE. In private practice since 2010.
Frequently asked
Before you book
Do you see international patients?
Yes, from any country. Consultations are held by secure video call and the time is arranged around your time zone, not mine.
Can you prescribe medication?
Yes. Dr. Vernimmen is a licensed psychiatrist registered in Ecuador and prescribes when it is clinically appropriate. Whether an Ecuadorian prescription can be dispensed where you live depends on local regulations, so it is checked case by case; when it cannot, you are told what you need and how to raise it with a local doctor.
Is it confidential?
Absolutely. The consultation is private and protected by medical confidentiality, exactly as an in-person appointment would be.
Will I be medicated?
Only if it helps, at the lowest effective dose and for the time needed. Some conditions improve without medication; in others the medication is what makes the rest of the work possible.
What do I need for the consultation?
A device with a camera, a stable internet connection and a place where you can talk privately.
Is there a waiting list?
No. Appointments are usually available within days, including slots that work across time zones.
First step
Wherever you are, the consultation is one message away
Tell me what is going on and which country you are in, and we will find a time. The first conversation commits you to nothing.
WhatsApp is for scheduling only. The consultation itself takes place by video call.