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 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 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 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 a wide variety of holistic alternatives. Once I fell down the "alternative medicine" rabbit hole, I never came out! ​

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Although integrative/holistic psychiatry is my speciality, I have a strong background in traditional western medicine, including pediatrics and family medicine. My initial internship placement after medical school was in pediatrics. I switched to family medicine and then psychiatry as I continued to evolve and focus my skills as a physician. I never lost my interest in working with young people and families, however.

 

I am from Georgia (near Savannah), though I have lived out west for many years. I am an alumni of Duke University and the University of Michigan Medical School. ​​I completed my internship (one year) at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. I completed my residency (three years) in psychiatry at the University of Arizona. I am board certified in psychiatry and recently renewed my certification. 

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Early in my career, I owned and operated a five-room healing center in Tucson, AZ called Mystic Mandala Medicine. I then moved to an 8-acre botanic garden in Hawaii, where I ran an eco-psychology practice. I eventually joined the medical staff of the world-famous Chopra Center (founded by Deepak Chopra) in San Diego. At the Chopra Center I became very knowledgable about Ayurveda (the traditional medical system of India).

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Since the Chopra Center closed (at the end of 2019), I have primarily been working online. I now live in Laguna Beach, CA, between LA and San Diego. I have an office in Laguna Hills/Mission Viejo. I am physically based 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.

 

Teaching has been a big part of my career. I taught "Holistic Approaches to Psychiatry", "Resiliency", "Art as Medicine", and multiple other classes at the University of Arizona (with Andrew Weil, MD's Program in Integrative Medicine), UCSD Med School, and UCLA/Cedars Sinai over the past fifteen years. In 2024 I taught a semester-long course on Psychological Disorders at Soka University in Aliso Viejo, CA.

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A unique thing about me is that I am an artist, yogi, and writer, in addition to my work as a physician. I painted the various mandalas and flowers on this site and love graphic design, as well. I received my yoga teaching certification over twenty years ago while living at a yoga ashram. I am also a long-time (25+ years) meditator. I still practice yoga several times a week and teach occasionally. I am a co-author of the Handbook of Wellness Medicine (Cambridge University Press, 2020) (Chapter 28 - Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga). I have written several ebooks that are for sale on this website (and Amazon). I have been featured several times on Vogue.com and am a contributor to MindBodyGreen and Chopra.

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I consider my work an honor. I love to help individuals reach their potential, couples deepen their connections, and families experience more harmony. If what you've read here resonates, reach out! I would love to meet you!‪