During medical school, Dr. Daniel Irby wrote his master’s thesis on the various forms of stigma felt by patients with HIV who were receiving care at a clinic in Oakland, CA. He interviewed patients and explored how the health care system may perpetuate stigma and shame felt by these patients. It was this exploration and listening to their stories that led him towards psychiatry, where he knew he would have the opportunity to spend time with patients, listen to them, and help them with their various struggles.

In working with patients, he seeks to collaborate with each individual in a manner that centers upon their unique needs and values. For Dr. Irby, mental health care is contingent upon each individual’s unique story. He loves thinking about how the mind works and learning from each patient in a collaborative approach to enhance mental and physical well-being. He especially appreciates patients who ask questions, are committed to change, and are willing to teach him about their individual experiences and needs.

Dr. Daniel Irby was first exposed to interventional psychiatry and to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in his residency. It interested him because it is a flexible and powerful treatment that has few adverse effects and offers the possibility for recovery to individuals for whom medications have not been as helpful as hoped and those who have been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. Dr. Irby believes it can also be an excellent component of integrated treatment with psychotherapy and/or medication.

He joined Mindful Health Solutions in the Fall of 2020.