Persian-Speaking Psychiatrist in France

Who is Dr. Farhad Farnaghi?

Dr. Farhad Farnaghi is a medical specialist in psychiatry who, on his profile, describes himself as a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychoanalyst with more than thirty years in medicine, around twenty of them in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Sessions are in Persian or English.

The areas of clinical work listed on his profile include anxiety and depressive disorders, OCD, personality disorders, relationship and marital difficulties, sleep disorders, emotion regulation, and psychiatric assessment, treatment and medication management. See the public profile for approaches and specialties.

When is a psychiatric consultation appropriate for someone living in France?

Many Iranians in France, especially in the first years after arriving, find a psychiatrist hard to reach because of language or long waiting times. An online consultation in Persian can help in situations such as these:

• You want your mental health reviewed by a doctor who speaks your first language.
• You take psychiatric medication, whether prescribed in France or brought from Iran, and want the list and how you take it reviewed.
• You are seeing a psychotherapist who has suggested a medical assessment.
• You are unsure about seeing a psychiatrist within the French system and want to understand which path fits you.

Psychiatry and psychotherapy: the difference

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine: a psychiatrist is a physician, considers physical and medication-related causes, and manages medication within the scope of their licence. Psychotherapy is a set of talking-based methods that a psychotherapist, a psychologist or a psychiatrist can deliver. The two complement each other, and many people use both.

Article: Psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist, what is the difference?

What does an online psychiatric session involve?

The session takes place over video inside Emotral’s secure platform. In a first session the doctor asks about current symptoms, physical and mental health history, medications and life circumstances. The outcome may be a recommendation for psychotherapy, psychiatric follow-up, further medical investigation, or a combination.

Before the session, prepare an exact list of medications (name, dose, how long you have taken them) and any previous medical reports. If you have a treating doctor in France, bring their name and the outcome of your last visit so coordination is easier.

Article: What happens in an online psychiatry session?

How a medication review differs from issuing a prescription

A medication review looks at what you already take: whether the combination makes sense, whether the side effects you notice are expected, which interactions are possible, and which questions to raise with the doctor who prescribed them. This can be done online.

Issuing a prescription, changing a dose or stopping a medication is a separate medical act. Whether it is possible depends on the country you live in, the professional licensing rules that apply to the doctor there, and the doctor’s clinical assessment. Emotral makes no promise about it. If a change looks necessary after a review, the path for it is coordinated with the prescribing doctor or your treating doctor in France.

Article: What is a psychiatric medication review and when is it needed?

Where this session sits alongside the French health system

In France, medical care is usually coordinated through a treating doctor (médecin traitant), and referral to specialists and reimbursement follow the rules of the health insurance system. Emotral sessions are booked and paid for privately, outside that framework, and no insurance coverage is claimed for them.

An online session does not replace your treating doctor. It is advisable to share the outcome, with your permission, with your médecin traitant so that your medical record stays in one place.

How to book

Booking happens entirely within Emotral:

• Open the profile and see available times, shown in French local time.
• Choose a time and complete payment; the video link is emailed to you.
• You can move the session up to 48 hours beforehand.