My path to become a holistic psychiatrist could fill a book, and I may write it some day! For now, I'll stick to the key points that can help you understand what I'm about as a person, and as a physician.

 

One of the most important things to know about me is that everything I do is born out of my own experience. As a medical student and resident, I struggled with stress, anxiety, burnout, and multiple stress-related physical conditions (headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, constant colds, fibromyalgia, and more). Because of my own challenges and the failure of traditional western medicine to completely alleviate them, I began to expand my education to include holistic alternatives.

 

I changed my diet and started taking herbal teas and supplements. I began meditating and practicing yoga. I read books on holistic healing, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, mindfulness, energy medicine, and more. I learned to calm my nervous system with breath-work, time in nature, music therapy, acupuncture, and massage therapy. I attended workshops on sound healing, dance therapy, herbalism, and biofeedback. I made time for art, writing, spiritual explorations, and fun. 

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I learned that I am more sensitive than many people, and this is an asset as well as a liability. Primarily, it is an asset, especially regarding empathy, intuition, and perceiving subtle details of others' struggles. Regarding medical training, it was a liability, as my sensitivities made me much more prone to burnout than most of my colleagues.

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Although integrative medicine is my speciality, I have a strong background in traditional western medicine. I have been board-certified in psychiatry since 2012 and recently renewed my certification. I am an alumni of Duke University, where I graduated with honors and a 3.7 GPA. My undergrad degree is in biology (minor: art history). I attended the University of Michigan Medical School, which, at the time of my attendance, was the 6th or 7th best medical school in the country. I scored highly on my three "step" exams (nation-wide physician certification), in the top 3-5% of test-takers. I took the Psychology GRE, as well (I considered getting a PhD in psychology after medical school), and I scored 98% on that exam, which was unusually high, especially for a non-psychology major. ​

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I did my internship (one year) in family medicine at a very competitive program in Seattle (Swedish Hospital). Because of this strong general medicine training, I feel comfortable addressing a range of physical illnesses holistically, especially as they relate to mental illnesses. Mind and body are connected. If there is a problem in the mind, there is usually inflammation and dysfunction in several physical systems, as well. 

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I completed my residency (three years) in psychiatry at the University of Arizona. I chose that program because it was the most holistic/integrative psychiatry residency in the country at that time. I received a very well-rounded education at the University of Arizona. I worked in private and public adult psych wards, pediatric psych wards, geriatric psych wards, psychiatric ERs, outpatient child and adult psychiatry clinics, and addiction treatment wards. In addition to my standard training, I sought out and received holistic educational experiences at the renown Canyon Ranch resort and with several local healers. I completed electives with parapsychology researcher Gary Schwartz, PhD and with the UAz Program in Integrative Medicine (directed by Andrew Weil, MD). 

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After residency, I was invited to join the teaching staff of the Program in Integrative Medicine. I taught "Holistic Approaches to Psychiatry" and various other elective courses at the U of Arizona for eight years. I mentioned on the home page that I also owned and operated a healing center when I lived in Tucson. It was called Mystic Mandala Medicine and was a lovely space in the historic heart of downtown Tucson. After leaving Tucson, I lived in Hawaii for a few years and then joined the staff of the world-famous Chopra Center in San Diego. I was one of five physicians working under the Center's founder, Deepak Chopra. The Center focused on Ayurvedic retreats and integrative medicine, including herbal approaches, nutrition, yoga, meditation, massage, classes, and more. All the doctors at the Center were board-certified western physicians. It was important for our role that we be masters of traditional and integrative medicine. I was the psychiatrist of the group. 

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Since the Chopra Center closed at the end of 2019, I have primarily been working online. I did some traveling in Central America and now live in Laguna Beach, CA, between LA and San Diego. I have an office in Laguna Hills/Mission Viejo. I am physically located in SoCal, but I am licensed to practice medicine in CA, AZ, and CO and can work with patients from any of those states online.

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Some interesting facts about me are that I am an artist, as well as a writer/poet. I painted the watercolor mandala and flowers on this site. If I hadn't felt called to become a doctor, art school might have been an alternate path for me. In addition to making things, I also enjoy surfing, snow skiing, reading, travel, gardening, animals, and yoga. Teaching and mentoring children, teens, and adults are a few other favorites. I love helping families understand each other, couples experience more closeness and connection, and individuals reach their potential. I have written several colorful ebooks that are for sale on this website (and on Amazon). I have a few full-length books (one on holistic psychiatry) in progress, as well. I came close to having a reality television show produced in 2020. The concept was that I would provide holistic health and spiritual/psychological advice to families (on screen, in their homes) to help the parents better understand and parent their children. The show didn't get made (yet!), but TV, film, and podcast consulting remain an interest and side-project. 

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I consider my work an honor. It is beautiful and heart-opening to hold space for another's growth and healing. If any of this resonates, I would love to meet you! 

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​It is my mission to help others ​​embrace their gifts, find their paths, 

heal their hearts, and live their happiest, most fulfilled lives.