From a young age, Dr. Ames was fascinated by human behavior and the study of how to alleviate human suffering. She grew up in Washington, DC and has a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and inclusion. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she was awarded a fellowship by Stanford University, where she obtained a Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development. She went on to attend medical school at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and graduated with her M.D. in 2018. Dr. Ames completed her residency training at the University of California, Riverside, where she was selected as Chief Resident based on leadership, teaching, and clinical skills. She gained additional experience in reproductive psychiatry and women’s mental health, and she is presently a fellow at the Integrative Psychiatry Institute. Lifelong scholarship is important to her and she has published multiple book chapters.

 

Dr. Ames applies a holistic, individualized, and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and evidence-based treatment planning that centers on a person’s unique experiences and goals. She emphasizes the dynamic interplay between mind, body, and lifestyle that influences the biological, psychological, and social facets of illness and wellness.  She offers treatment that includes medication management, integrative approaches, lifestyle changes, and psychotherapy.