Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Johnson.
Hi Peter, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Throughout my childhood, I remember my dad telling everyone that I was going to be a physician, so that planted the seed. In middle school, I was invited to be trained as a peer counselor for students that were struggling. As a resident assistant at Bowdoin College, I was the go-to drama de-escalator at our dorm. After graduating with a degree in neuroscience, I trained as a lay counselor through my church before starting medical school. As an aside, the instructor of that course told me she had a daughter around my age, but that we’d never get along since we were too much alike. Her daughter and I have been married now for 22 years and have two amazing teenagers!
After attending Baylor College of Medicine, inspired by my lay counseling experiences and supported by my background in neuroscience, I felt called to pursue a psychiatry residency. I have been in private practice now for the past 17 years, and 6 years ago I founded LifeSpring Behavioral Health. It’s neat to see God’s hand in it all.
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?
The road hasn’t been without its challenges. In addition to struggling with OCD, my difficulty with reading comprehension required me to take the SAT and MCAT twice and spend far more time studying than my peers. Throughout college and medical school, I had virtually no social life. In fact, I was once accidentally locked in the Bowdoin library on the biggest party night of the year because the security guard assumed everyone had already left! Retaking the MCAT meant taking a gap year before medical school, but that year became a blessing because it is when I met my beautiful wife. God’s timing is perfect.
As you know, we’re big fans of LifeSpring Behavioral Health. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At LifeSpring Behavioral Health, we help people more effectively manage stress and anxiety, turn despair into hope, heal from trauma, and find freedom from addictions to alcohol, drugs, gaming, gambling, and food. We also help restore relationships of every kind and guide people toward living in their true identity.
We provide:
1. Holistic medication management for mental health, ages 13 and up
2. Genetic testing to personalize treatment
3. Nutrigenomic testing to optimize wellness and supplementation
4. At-home computerized ADHD testing
5. Medical treatment of substance use disorders, ages 13 and up
6. Individual counseling for all ages
7. Couples and family counseling
8. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
9. Addiction Counseling for both chemical and behavioral dependences
10. Executive Coaching through ProdéoCoaching.com
We believe lasting transformation requires an integrated approach that cares for the whole person, including the mind, body, and spirit. By evaluating factors such as genetics, personality, relationships, and lifestyle, we create comprehensive and individualized treatment plans that meet the unique needs of each patient.
Having psychiatry, addiction medicine, and counseling all under one roof allows us to collaborate closely and offer truly coordinated care. Our vision is to see lives changed, relationships restored, and addictions broken.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
In retrospect, I was an average kid. I played trumpet in the band, which comprised my primary group of friends. I was always the worst kid on every team sport, but I loved solo sports like slalom waterskiing and eventually high-altitude mountaineering. I never really got in trouble, though I did accidentally almost sink our ski boat (it wasn’t my fault- really!).
I did well enough academically, but not exceptionally and not without effort, a few math tutors, and some reading comprehension courses. I was more extroverted than I am now, though I still enjoy making people laugh with my dry sense of humor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://LifeSpringBehavioral.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/LifeSpringBehavioral
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/LifeSpringBehavioralHealth
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/lifespring-behavioral-health-the-woodlands
- Other: https://ProdeoCoaching.com
Image Credits
Christie Muhle
Nectar Tyson
