I wanted to become a psychiatrist since early high school because since then I was fascinated by how the mind works. I attended a talk on Freud when i was 14; did not understand anything, but i was attracted to the field. I eventually became a psychiatrist, having done a great job, but found the profession too narrow. I started looking at other medical and spiritual traditions found in my home in Tibetan medicine and Tibetan Buddhism.

I always believed in an holistic approach having grown up in a family that encouraged it, and seeing it practiced first hand (father is a family doctor and acupuncturist/homeopath; mother is a nurse and naturopath). Throughout my life, I was fortunate to meet many mentors in both Western medicine, as well as in the sciences of traditional medicines (Aztec, Tibetan, acupuncture) and in spiritual traditions (Franciscan monk, healers, Tibetan lama’s).

I decided in 2005 after completing my specialization as a psychiatrist, that I would begin to conduct my own first research on the use of CAM in psychiatric patients. I met Prof Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, who became a dear friend and also mentor with colleagues. I then organized a conference on integrative psychiatry (first one in Holland) and it was a huge success, more then 1200 participants and 10% of all psychiatrists on the country were there and I learned about the American Academic consortium for Integrative medicine.

Western psychiatry: if needed medication or herbal medicine, always psychotherapy (psycho-analytic, systemic, client-centered), often creative expression (drawing, painting, journalling), and lifestyle change, such as nutrition, exercise, relaxation, sleep, meditation, spirituality.

Majority of people very positive, happy, grateful,

5-10% of doctors/scientists are critical/negative.