Over the course of my training, I felt my heart most pulled towards psychiatry and the exciting intellectual explosion that the field was experiencing at the time, particularly in the neuroscience of mindfulness. (It was, in fact, yoga and meditation that helped me stay afloat in medical school – and now there was a growing body of research on how mindfulness practices benefit us!) I became very interested in the brain-body connection and its societal relevance and took a break from the clinical world after medical school (between 2010 and 2012) to explore this and seek experiences in public health.

In 2012, I started my psychiatry residency training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Over the next seven years, I deepened my understanding of the brain-body connection as I worked with people facing dual crises (in mental and physical health) at our hospital. My clinical experiences were given powerful context with academic mentorship from the pre-eminent evolutionary neuropsychiatrist Gregory Fricchione, to whom I am eternally grateful. It was during this time that I began to really understand the connections between early life experiences, brain development, brain-body stress physiology, and our propensity for well-being (or health conditions) later in life. I would solidify these connections as I became involved in various public health collaborations, including a University of Exeter and WHO Collaborating Center-funded project focused on early life trauma and resiliency in Eastern Europe. I also regularly consulted for the WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, eventually joining their inaugural Brain Health Unit in Geneva, Switzerland in 2020 and leading the position paper “Optimizing Brain Health Across the Life Course.”

Though I initially moved to Switzerland for work (which I loved), I ended up staying for my husband and our young family (whom I love infinitely more)! I think many people can relate to the experience that their lives completely change the moment they become a parent. That certainly was the case for me, and all of a sudden everything I had been drawn to intellectually about brain development, adversity, resilience, and the brain-body connection held more depth, meaning, and purpose. There was theory, and then there was practice (this is also where I’ve eaten quite a lot of humble pie)! I found the theory so fascinating, and yet it was no replacement for consistent, honest practice within myself and for our family. There is perhaps no experience more humbling than becoming a parent, and also few experiences more motivating for ego-busting and self-reflection. Practicing mindfulness (and grace) has been an invaluable aspect of my parenting journey and incredibly rewarding. It is my honor and deepest passion to share my experiences through the Lotus Parenting Approach and support you as you raise healthy, secure, and resilient children in your home!

I so look forward to working with you,

Kavitha Porchet