Jingna Zhao, MD

Hello! I'm Dr. Jingna Zhao, a board-certified psychiatrist and family medicine physician with special training in nutrition and women's mental health. In my experience working with medically complex patients, I am intimately aware of how emotional stress directly impacts physical health and how certain diseases can cause psychiatric symptoms. I specialize in translating the science and research on the brain-gut and mind-body connection into bringing relief for physical and emotional symptoms. While finding the right medications can be life changing for many people, I find that people with the worst physical symptoms tend to be the most sensitive to medication side effects. Nobody wants to rely on medications for the rest of their lives, which is why I am enthusiastic about using psychotherapy, behavioral modification, nutrition, and other alternative therapies. Reproductive Psychiatry I have personally experienced the grief, anger, and despair that comes with infertility and recurrent miscarriages and want to support women who are still struggling. It is not your fault. You did not do anything wrong to cause this. There is hope. I understand the fear, stigma, and judgment that pregnant women and mothers experience when they feel like they are struggling. Society likes to blame mothers and place the wellbeing of their children above the women they depend on. However, I believe it is essential for children to have emotionally healthy parents to thrive. Medications taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding require extra expertise to manage safely, which may require dose adjustments, medication changes, or pausing medications at crucial times. The benefits and risks to the baby and mom must be carefully considered because uncontrolled depression/anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum also damages children’s development. Healthcare and other professionals Your career is important but it is not more important than your happiness, and you should not have to choose. Becoming a professional is comes with immense sacrifice, but it does not mean you have to suffer anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and burnout on your own. You deserve treatment and you will be a better doctor, a better therapist, a better helper when you are supported. Treatment does not only mean medication. It can mean exploring options you may not be aware are available to you, discovering and addressing the various sources of your distress, and using your strengths to your advantage. I offer extra privacy measures upon request. Do not be afraid of damaging your career by seeking mental healthcare. In my experience working with medically complex patients, I am intimately aware of how emotional stress directly impacts physical health and how certain diseases can cause psychiatric symptoms. I specialize in translating the science and research on the brain-gut and mind-body connection into bringing relief for physical and emotional symptoms. While finding the right medications can be life changing for many people, I find that people with the worst physical symptoms tend to be the most sensitive to medication side effects. Nobody wants to rely on medications for the rest of their lives, which is why I am enthusiastic about using psychotherapy, behavioral modification, nutrition, and other alternative therapies. Reproductive Psychiatry I have personally experienced the grief, anger, and despair that comes with infertility and recurrent miscarriages and want to support women who are still struggling. It is not your fault. You did not do anything wrong to cause this. There is hope. I understand the fear, stigma, and judgment that pregnant women and mothers experience when they feel like they are struggling. Society likes to blame mothers and place the wellbeing of their children above the women they depend on. However, I believe it is essential for children to have emotionally healthy parents to thrive. Medications taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding require extra expertise to manage safely, which may require dose adjustments, medication changes, or pausing medications at crucial times. The benefits and risks to the baby and mom must be carefully considered because uncontrolled depression/anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum also damages children’s development. Healthcare and other professionals Your career is important but it is not more important than your life. Becoming a professional is not easy and comes with immense sacrifice, but it does not mean you have to suffer with emotional distress, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction on your own. You deserve treatment and you will be a better doctor, a better therapist, a better helper when you are supported. I offer extra privacy measures upon request. Do not be afraid of damaging your career by seeking mental health care.