ShaMynds Healing Center

My past is my story. My future is a possibility. The only thing that is real is my present. To be truly present with whatever comes before me. I am a physician, mother, professor, educator, researcher, and learner (for life). My journey as a healer and medical doctor is focused on treating the most needful populations. I witness the effects of complexity and social disparate conditions has on illness in the US and even while practicing medicine overseas. I realize our health care system even with its “technological” advances has great barriers to true healing. People’s health is more digitized and dehumanized than it has ever been. Yet throughout my medical career, I continue to pursue better ways to help children and families in their most needful states. My career as Clinical faculty at Baylor College of Medicine to Univ. of California, San Francisco, ranges in implementing and teaching better ways to caring for children and their families. I founded programs for children with special needs, Down syndrome, obesity, complex care consultations services, and narrative medicine, only to emphasize “whole” person care. More importantly, it is a provider’s presence and connection that is mandated to help people in their struggle. I am galvanized to prove, be it by academic pursuits or the art of medicine to demonstrate thriving health can be achieved, holistically. I harness the methodologies of my master’s training in Narrative Medicine from Columbia Univ. to teach caring with compassionate-based inquiry to illness and peoples’ lives. With Narrative Medicine, the arts and creative explorations are the fountainhead to connect to people in their illness, community, and social constructs. Even greater means to healing, naturally and holistically are possible with integrative and psychedelic medicines and therapies. I have obtained accreditation and certification in psychedelic assisted therapies, Ketamine therapy and fellowship trained in Integrative psychiatry from IPI, (Integrative Psychiatry Institute). I aspire to enrich my learning and practice from the Guru’s in the field of psychedelic medicines and integrative medicine. My mantra is healing the self and others with empathy and with the respectful fusion of self-wisdom, ancient, and novel therapies.

“Psychology” is “psyche”+”soul” in Latin or “the study of the soul”. As a depth oriented psychotherapist specializing in trauma, I feel therapy is a collaborative, relational and soul centered experience that empowers the client as the expert of themselves and their innate capacity to heal and evolve. Being a yoga and meditation teacher since 2000 helps me to bring a wholeistic approach to therapy that integrates the development and embodiment of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Some of my formal trainings include a Masters in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, Ca., EMDR certification through the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, and Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Certification through Integrative Psychiatry Institute.

Dr Smith is a UCLA trained California native with over 40 years of experience in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry in the US and Canada. He has spearheaded the initiation of ketamine in a local clinic for treatment of resistant depression. David is eager to assist in complimenting the unique services of ShaMynds as our consulting Psychiatrist. Background Education Medical Degree David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Residency San Jose Medical Center Stanford University Hospital Faculty University of Auckland, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science Center University of California-Davis Sutter Hospital

Since graduating vocational nursing school in 2018, my career as a nurse has been a challenging, yet extremely rewarding, experience. My time working in a mental health/addiction rehab facility in Malibu and then moving to an outpatient surgery and oncology center in northern California, has allowed me to learn so much about nursing and about myself; more than I could have ever imagined. One of my favorite things about being a nurse is the relationship I build with my patients. Being a part of their journey/transformation in life is an honor that I cherish every day. My favorite parts from each position I’ve held, including support for mental health, direct patient care, and administrative responsibilities, have led me to current employment with ShaMynds. My capacity for empathetic, compassionate, and accepting behavior toward others made it clear to me that I want to improve the lives of those who want or need support. Outside of my career as a nurse, I enjoy making macrame plant hangers, crocheting, acrylic painting, interior designing, and taking care of the jungle of plants in my house. I also enjoy spending time with my 2 kitties Callie and Kiki, going to the farmers market with friends, and visiting my family/hometown in Southern California. I feel very honored to be a part of such a heart-forward practice like ShaMynds. I look forward to growing with this center as well as growing in my career and spirituality.