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Episode 97

Holistic Psychiatry Beyond Big Pharma: Faith, Culture & Informed Care with Dr. Tzvi Furer

with Dr. Tzvi Furer

47:29

In this powerful episode, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP sits down with Dr. Tzvi Furer, MD, FAPA, DFAACAP, a dual-board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist and founder of Palm Tree Psychiatry. Together, they break down myths about psychiatry,…

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Educational content only; this podcast is not therapy, diagnosis, or medical care.

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Show notes

In this powerful episode, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP sits down with Dr. Tzvi Furer, MD, FAPA, DFAACAP, a dual-board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist and founder of Palm Tree Psychiatry. Together, they break down myths about psychiatry, explore the importance of deprescribing and informed consent, and discuss how cultural competence and compassion must guide mental-health care.

Dr. Furer shares his journey from training at NYU Langone Health / Bellevue Hospital to building a concierge practice that goes beyond the 15-minute "med check." His approach combines psychotherapy, medication management, medical root-cause testing, and narrative medicine—helping patients feel truly seen, not labeled.

Diana and Dr. Furer dive into:

  • The difference between psychiatry, psychology, and therapy

  • What "go low and go slow" prescribing really means

  • Why faith, biology, and psychology belong in the same conversation

  • How to advocate for yourself in a rushed or insurance-limited system

  • The role of storytelling and narrative medicine in healing

  • Root-cause assessment, labs, and integrative collaboration with therapists

  • Practical advice for those who can't afford concierge care but still need hope

If you've ever felt disillusioned by medication-only psychiatry or you're craving a faith-informed, science-based approach to mental health, this episode will challenge your perspective and leave you encouraged.

Referenced Resources & Links

Connect with Dr. Tzvi Furer & Palm Tree Psychiatry: Website: palmtreepsychiatry.com Alternate: palmtreepsych.com Facebook: facebook.com/palmtreepsychiatry Instagram: @palmtreepsychiatry X: x.com/palmtreepsych Threads: threads.com/@palmtreepsychiatry LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/palmtreepsychiatry

Books & Mentions:

  • The Body Keeps the Score – Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

  • Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond – Judith S. Beck, PhD

  • Love's Executioner – Irvin Yalom, MD

  • The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat – Oliver Sacks

  • The 5 Second Rule – Mel Robbins

Related Episodes on The Holistic Counselor Podcast:

Episode Highlights Time Topic 03:00 Dr. Furer's journey from NYU Langone to Palm Tree Psychiatry 08:00 Cultural competence and working with diverse communities 13:00 Psychiatry vs. psychology vs. therapy explained 18:00 "Go low and go slow" – rethinking medication management 19:00 Root-cause care and medical workups in mental health 24:00 What concierge psychiatry really means 27:00 Narrative medicine and the power of story 32:00 Deprescribing and self-advocacy in the system 39:00 Practical books and tools for hope and healing 44:00 Final encouragement: take your mental health seriously About the Host

Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP is the founder of Through the Valley Therapy and Transformed Mind Consulting & Coaching. As host of The Holistic Counselor Podcast, Diana bridges faith, neuroscience, and whole-person healing through authentic, stigma-breaking conversations with experts and advocates.

Join the Movement

If this episode encouraged you, please rate, review, and share it with a friend or colleague. Your support helps others find faith-integrated, evidence-based mental-health content that brings hope and healing.

Follow Diana on: Instagram | @theholisticcounselorpodcast

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