About Dr. Thanupakorn | Sleep Psychiatrist in NC
Pichit Thanupakorn, MD
Founder and Psychiatrist
Welcome to Abide Psychiatry. I am Dr. Pichit Thanupakorn, though my patients know me as "Dr. T." My goal is to provide attentive, holistic, and deeply personalized telehealth care to every patient I see across North Carolina.
The Professional Journey
I earned my medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine before moving to the Research Triangle to complete my psychiatry residency at Duke University Medical Center. During my time at Duke, I had the distinct honor of serving as Chief Resident in Emergency Psychiatry.
My clinical experience spans emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care. It was in these diverse settings that my core treatment philosophy was born: recognizing the critical link between chronic sleep disruption and mental health struggles.
My Three Pillars of Care
Today, my clinical expertise is built on three core pillars designed to treat both the mind and the body:
Behavioral Sleep Medicine: Utilizing gold-standard Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) to treat chronic sleep issues.
Clinical Sleep Apnea Management: Ordering diagnostic Home Sleep Apnea Testing (HSAT) and managing CPAP therapy, with a special focus on mask anxiety and treatment compliance.
Comprehensive Psychiatry: Providing conservative, evidence-based medication management alongside dedicated psychotherapy (including ACT, CBT, and Psychodynamic approaches).
The Foundation
While Abide Psychiatry is a medical practice grounded in rigorous science, my personal approach to care is deeply informed by my Christian faith. Over the years, I have actively integrated my faith with my medical calling, serving in leadership roles within the Christian Medical and Dental Association at both the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and Duke University School of Medicine. My dedication to service has also taken me on medical mission trips locally and abroad, including to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Haiti.
My practice is inspired by 1 John 4:11-12:
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." (ESV)
For me, psychiatry is a way to make that love tangible. My extensive background in Christian ministry, leadership, and service forms the bedrock of my compassion. Whether we seamlessly integrate prayer and faith-based principles into our sessions or stick strictly to evidence-based clinical modalities, my goal is to offer patient, compassionate care that helps you find true restoration and peace. You will always receive care that respects your personal worldview.
Life Outside the Office
When I am not seeing patients, I am an active leader in my local church community, serving on the worship team and leading young adult groups.
I love exploring innovative ways to support mental wellness, including the therapeutic use of music, 3D printing, and spending time outdoors. On the weekends, you can usually find me playing the guitar or ukulele, rock climbing, swimming, or visiting the North Carolina Zoo, Busch Gardens, or Topgolf.