Today we’d like to introduce you to Laila Contractor
Hi Laila , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
About 5.5 years ago while working for Kaiser in East LA, I became ill to the point where I was no longer able to work. I had extensive medical workups and while my impairment was obvious, physicians were at a loss as to why I was so impaired. Despite going to various prestigious medical institutions, doctors were perplex to understand what was causing my illness. One day, I posted my case on Physician Mommy Group on Facebook. So many wrote back and I followed every lead. However, I also kept getting direct messages from Integrative Medicine doctors who kept telling me that my case was typical for what they see and I should pursue treatment. I begrudgingly went to see someone but felt it was costly. However, my illness progressed and at the urging of one of the women on the Physician Mommy Group I went ahead and took the herbal remedy that was supposed to help me. To my own surprise, it halted the progression of my illness and now this form of medicine had my attention. This really forced me to investigate Integrative Medicine as a route for possible healing. The use of various alternative Integrative treatments helped me find my way back to health. I also had to seek different therapeutic modalities to deal with traumas which had caught up to me. Determined to help others like myself, I did a yearlong certification in Integrative Psychiatry which completely transformed the way I saw Psychiatry. A chance meeting with Dr. Gabor Mate, I also partook in more intensive trauma therapy training learning his psychotherapeutic method Compassion Inquiry which taught me how to release trauma stored in the body to help people find relief. I started following Gabor Mate at different workshops which is where I stumbled upon Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy. Never having tried a psychedelic in my life, I could not believe the overwhelming scientific research demonstrated the efficacy for those suffering from trauma. In desperation to try anything that could helped my own Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, I myself turned psychedelic medicine. It was/is through Psychedelics, Integrative Medicine, as well as various newer trauma healing modalities that the traumas my being experienced started getting addressed. My own experiences have lead me to continue to help others who may not have typical presentations, those with learning challenges, attention deficient hyperactivity traits, autism spectrum traits, athletes in recovery and those with trauma.
I firmly believe that having the correct diagnosis is paramount to figuring out the right treatment plan. And medications are not the solution to everything. In fact, the longer I practice, the less confidence I have in medications to address the root cause of many ailments. My patients and I are partners in a healing journey to figure out what can be done to best support them. There is a real look at the gifts and strengths each individual and family system brings with them and how we can utilizes those to promote healing. Today, I practice as an Integrative Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist and am grateful for the journey that has brought me thus far.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think for me there was a steep learning curve working for a large organization like Kaiser and feeling that I could not always make decisions that were in my patients best interest while appreciating how difficult it is to provide psychiatric care to large groups of people. Being a patient for years has also provided me the perspective of how frustrating our medical system can be when you have an illness that does not fit the typical profile. I met with physicians who were amazing and empathic and others who dismissed me and my symptoms. As a business own now over the last two years, I am getting a quick education as to what it means to market oneself, see patients, and run a business which seems to be a 24-7 job, which I fortunately love.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist seeing patients virtually and in Irvine, California. I have been practicing for over 20 years. I specialize in Trauma disorders, ADHD, learning challenges, Autism, Mood disorders, Post-recovery for Athletes, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and the use of Ketamine and other alternative medications. What sets me a part is a spend a lot of time patient to assess what their needs are. My assessments are at least 90 minutes and prior to seeing clients I do speak to their current therapist to get an understanding of what the client is going through. I practice traditional psychiatry as well as use evidenced-based supplements and alternative treatments. Recently, I as well as review any previous evaluations. I practice traditional psychiatry as well as use evidenced-based alternative treatments like supplements. I firmly believe that having the correct diagnosis is paramount to figuring out the right treatment plan. And medications are not the solution to everything. In fact, the longer I practice, the less confidence I have in traditional medications to address the root cause of ailments. My patients and I are partners in a healing journey to figure out what can be done to best support them. There is a real look at the gifts and strengths each individual and family system brings with them and how we can utilizes those to promote healing.
I am also committed to continuously learning about the latest treatments and bringing these treatments to my patients. For the first time ever, Psychiatry has a real chance to help people heal from the wounds of their trauma through the use of medications like psychedelics. And the evidence is mounting from prestigious institutions like John Hopkins University and Stanford University. Recently, I also taught classes in Integrative Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance (affiliated with Harvard University). I am passionate about learning and continue to take classes to grow my skill set. And I want parents to know that as a mother of 3, I get how parenting can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging part of our existence.
I want people to know that I walk the walk, I see a therapist, healing practitioners, and continue to work hard on my own healing journey. I believe I can only take my patients as far as I have gone. And I believe ALL of us are always doing the best that we can.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I strongly believe that the use of psychedelic medicine to treat those suffering with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, and more will completely change how we view these disorders as well as how we look to heal those who are suffering from them. For our field, these medicines have the ability to revolutionize the field as much as typical antidepressants did decades ago. We finally have the tools that help people accentuate feelings and trauma,, process/metabolize their emotions, and come out the other side experiencing expansion, healing, and growth. I am hopeful too that we will be more accommodating and understating of those who are on the Autism Spectrum while having a better understanding of the unique needs of women during their perimenopausal/menopausal years.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://lailacontractormd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic.psych.doctor
- Facebook: Laila FM Contractor MD
