In this enlightening episode of The Mindful Haven, host Layla welcomes Dr. Nadia McFarlane — Chief Medical Officer at Impireum and a child and adolescent psychiatrist — for a deeply personal and professional conversation. From her upbringing in a Jamaican-American household in Queens to her transformative work with young people and families, Dr. McFarlane opens up about the path that shaped her holistic, science-driven approach to mental health. She shares her day-to-day realities as a clinical leader and mother, dispels myths about psychiatry, and explains why mental health care must go beyond diagnoses to consider every part of a person’s life. Whether you’re new to therapy, curious about holistic psychiatry, or supporting someone through a mental health journey, this episode delivers honest insights, heartfelt stories, and a refreshing perspective on what true healing looks like, grounded in science, compassion, and community.
Whether you’re personally navigating mental health challenges or supporting someone who is, this episode offers meaningful reflections and practical takeaways to remind you: you’re not alone.
Too often, psychiatry is misunderstood as something vague or optional, a last resort when “everything else has failed.” Dr. McFarlane is working to change that narrative. She emphasizes that psychiatry is grounded in rigorous science, much like cardiology or endocrinology. “Mental illness isn’t imaginary. It’s rooted in biology, genetics, environment, and brain chemistry,” she explains. Her mission is to elevate psychiatry to its rightful place in healthcare, not as a mystery, but as medicine.
This reframing is especially important when working with children and teens, who are still developing and whose symptoms are often misread or dismissed. When treated early and correctly, she notes, young people have an incredible capacity to heal and thrive.
Dr. McFarlane’s compassionate style is deeply influenced by her upbringing in a hardworking, tight-knit Jamaican-American family in New York. Her parents weren’t in medicine, yet both she and her sister became physicians. She credits their values — resilience, humility, community — for her desire to help others heal.
Her story also resonates with immigrant families who straddle two cultures. Growing up navigating identity, expectations, and systemic challenges gave her a natural understanding of the pressures many of her young patients face today.
Originally aiming for OB-GYN, Dr. McFarlane had her heart set on supporting women and families through life-changing moments. But one psychiatry rotation changed everything. “It was the underdog specialty,” she recalls — misunderstood, overlooked, but deeply human. She was captivated by how psychiatry allowed her to connect with people’s stories in a way no other specialty could.
Her decision to focus on child and adolescent psychiatry was driven by a desire to catch mental health issues early — and to walk alongside young people as they built healthier futures.
Holistic mental health care isn’t just about prescribing the right medication — it’s about understanding the whole person. At Impireum, Dr. McFarlane and her team take a multidimensional approach that weaves together:
By looking at how kids function at home, in school, and in their social lives, she’s able to build a complete picture — and design a treatment plan that supports not just the child, but the ecosystem around them.
Time and time again, Dr. McFarlane has seen families wait until they’re in crisis to seek care. The stigma of “needing help” often silences both parents and kids. But she urges families to be proactive. “Mental health is like any other health issue — the earlier we intervene, the better the outcome.”
Her work shows how family patterns, generational trauma, and parenting dynamics often contribute to a child’s emotional world. Healing, therefore, has to include everyone, not just the child. By involving families, the changes she sees are not only deeper but also longer-lasting.
Dr. McFarlane also offers a glimpse into her daily life, balancing her leadership role at Impireum with patient care and raising a family of her own. Her days often start with early workouts for mental clarity, followed by team meetings, hospital rounds, and time with patients. She’s candid about the emotional toll, but also the joy of witnessing real transformation in kids who once felt hopeless.
It’s this blend of clinical excellence and personal empathy that makes her such a trusted figure in her field.
More than anything, Dr. McFarlane wants listeners to know they’re not alone. Whether you’re a parent noticing changes in your child, a teen feeling overwhelmed, or someone unsure where to start — reaching out is a sign of strength.
“Help is available, and healing is real,” she says. “You don’t need to wait for a crisis. Support is out there — and you deserve it.”
