Finding My Voice -2025

For more than five decades, I have been privileged to serve as I psychiatrist - caring for patients and studying the science of the mind. Yet despite this long journey, I struggled for several years with something very personal. I wanted to blog, but what made my voice special. Why would I want to bother anybody with my written words.

I knew that I wanted to reflect and share. I lived a long life, I cared for thousands of patients, I read countless books, attended hundreds of conferences, studied for oh so many tests and examinations in medicine and psychiatry. Ok, but so what?

Then, just this week, I read a review placed on Google Reviews by Sarah, a single mother caring for two children. Her words touched deeply.

He has been seeing both of my children for years. My daughter is autistic and has sleep issues and my son has ADHD and anxiety. He is always kind, assertive and listens. Not many doctors actually do that. He genuinely cares. I will never switch providers as long as he is practicing. Give him a chance. You will not regret it.

Sarah reminded me of something that has been so important to me in recent decades. I love working with parents! I have been blessed to work with married parents, single parents, adoptive parents and foster parents. I am married for five and half decades, a parent of three, and a grandparent of seven. Sarah put it together for me.

So begins Wisdom from Psychiatry and Family. I will share reflections drawn from marriage, parenthood, grandparenthood, patients, and families. My mission is to bring together psychiatry and lived experience in my words. I will inform of psychiatry and observe of family.

I am grateful to Sarah for reminding me that I have a unique voice. I will be grateful to you if you listen. I will begin.