Hello, I am Jim Payton and I have been helping children, adolescents and their families, as well as adults, for over 40 years.  I received my medical degree, general psychiatry residency and child [and adolescent] psychiatry fellowship at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.  At that time, it was the number one ranked medical school in the United States.

I am board certified [by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology] in Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry.  I have been honored as a Distinguished Fellow by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  Becoming a Distinguished Fellow recognizes my excellence in clinical skills and research.  I have published studies related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], Autistic Spectrum Disorders and young children's response to the death of a parent.  I have also given presentations at national meetings in psychiatry, child psychiatry and neurology.

For the past 40 years, I have focused my work on helping children, adolescents and adults who have mood disorders [mostly involving mood swings and poor responses to medications]; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD]; other chronic stress disorders; and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD].  During my training I learned the importance of listening to people who come to me for help. I have also recognized that it is critical that I understand the uniqueness of each person and individualize their treatment accordingly. I have had a lot of success helping my patients with medications and also have had excellent responses helping my patients to lower their stress levels and significantly improve the quality of their lives utilizing medications and effective stress management skills.

After more than 40 years treating children and adolescents on inpatient units, most recently on the Copestone Child and Adolescent Inpatient Programs at the St. Joseph Campus of Mission Hospitals, I have stopped so that I can devote more time to my office practice and to my writing. 

For the past 20 plus years, I have had my office in a home like setting at 64 Merrimon Avenue. 

MICHAEL A. FINCH, M.D., PLLC 

Hello, I have been a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist for nearly 20 years.  I graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biology from UNC-Chapel Hill before attending medical school at East Carolina University, then finished my residency training in Colorado at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.  I am board certified by the ABPN (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology) in both Child/Adolescent and Adult psychiatry.  I also trained for 2 years at the Denver Psychoanalytic Institute.

After training, I worked in private practice in Denver with children, adolescents and adults. Pursuing my interest in treating PTSD, I also provided care in multiple institutional settings for children and adolescents.  These included juvenile justice/ youth correctional facilities, long term residential treatment settings and inpatient acute psychiatric services.  I returned home to Western North Carolina in 2013 and have worked at Mission Hospital on the child and adolescent inpatient Copestone units before transitioning back into private practice. 

My approach to mental health care includes a strong psychodynamic understanding of the individual in the context of their family and community.  I feel that helping a person see and understand their life story is a very helpful pathway to envisioning a better future.  I also emphasize overall health and wellbeing, the importance of exercise, eating well and other venues such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga and massage.  

I am comfortable treating a spectrum of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, as well as anxiety disorders, PTSD, ADHD and others.  However, I want to emphasize that you are unique and much more interesting than any specific diagnosis.  I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to my practice.

As of FEBRUARY 2023, Dr. Finch will see in-person appointments at his new office located at 220 Broadway Steet.

Welcome to Dr. Payton and Associates, I am KILEY DAVIS and I am responsible for establishing new patients with our practice and can help you get started. I am available to answer ANY questions that you might have.

Hi, my name is Robin Cline and I am the Front Office Coordinator for our office. I’ve worked in health care for over 24 years. I’ve been with Dr. Payton since 2004.  You will see me at the front desk when you enter our practice.  I am responsible for the scheduling, collecting payments, handling prescription requests and any questions that you have for Dr. Payton and his associates.  We believe that it is important to have someone who you know [or will be getting to know] answering the phone when you call or greeting you when you come to our office.