Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Childress.
Hi Meredith, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Meredith — founder and owner of Sedona Med. I’m a dual-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), board-certified by both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
My journey in healthcare began 15 years ago as a Registered Nurse. I loved my work deeply, but I began to notice something unsettling — despite doing everything “right,” many of my patients weren’t truly getting better. Their symptoms were managed at best, but the healing wasn’t happening.
Then one day, a patient shared a documentary with me — Forks Over Knives. I watched it, and it changed my life. I began to see health and healing through a whole new lens. My family and I shifted our nutrition and lifestyle, and the results were transformational. I watched health return in ways that medicine alone hadn’t been able to achieve.
Then one day, one of my patients shared a documentary with me — Forks Over Knives. I watched it, and it changed everything. I started learning about the power of nutrition and lifestyle in preventing and reversing disease. My family and I made changes together, and I watched as our health transformed before my eyes. I began gently sharing what I learned with my patients — simple nutrition and lifestyle adjustments, small steps toward wellness — and I saw something incredible happen: they started truly healing.
That experience was a turning point. I knew I wanted to be able to do more — to look deeper, go further, and help people achieve complete, lasting wellness. So I went back to school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, believing it would allow me to expand my reach and help more people. But even after graduating, new restrictions made it difficult to provide the kind of whole-person care I believed in — especially in the mental health space, which had always been close to my heart. I didn’t want limits. So I went back to school again and earned my Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification, determined to care for both body and mind without restriction.
Somewhere in the middle of that journey, I visited Sedona, Arizona — a place of beauty, energy, and transformation. Standing among the red rocks, I felt everything come together. The name Sedona Med came to me instantly — it embodied the balance, healing, transformation, and renewal I wanted to bring to others.
But for a while, fear held me back. I had the vision, but I doubted myself — all the “what-ifs” crept in. What if I fail? What if I’m not ready? So I waited.
Then came a family trip to the Bahamas, where a simple conversation changed everything. My husband’s brother and his wife, both entrepreneurs, listened to me share my dream and said, “Why not now? You’re ready. Just do it.” Something in me clicked. I came home from that trip with clarity and fire — and within 30 days, Sedona Med was born.
On November 21, 2024, I opened my doors.
“For a very long time, I’ve been quietly building my dreams, pouring my heart into creating a space where healing, balance, and transformation come together. Every moment spent planning and building this practice has been fueled by my unwavering belief in the power of healing, connection, and transformation.”
Now, as Sedona Med approaches its first anniversary, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. Taking that leap of faith changed my life. Every day, I get to walk into a space I created from pure vision and heart — and help others heal from the inside out.
At Sedona Med, we bring together functional medicine, integrative psychiatry, and holistic lifestyle medicine — a true fusion of mind-body healing. Here, we don’t just treat symptoms — we restore balance, vitality, and connection to the whole person. Because healing isn’t just possible — it’s your natural state when you’re supported, understood, and empowered. 🌿
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to creating Sedona Med has been anything but smooth — but every challenge along the way has shaped me into the provider, business owner, and person I am today.
In the beginning, fear was my biggest obstacle. After my trip to Sedona, the vision for my practice was crystal clear — I could see it, feel it, even name it — but I couldn’t bring myself to take the leap. I battled self-doubt and the endless “what ifs”: What if I fail? What if I’m not ready? What if it doesn’t work? For a long time, those thoughts kept me stuck in planning instead of doing.
Then there were the systemic challenges — the restrictions that limited what I could do as a nurse, and later even as a nurse practitioner. I knew I was capable of helping my patients in a deeper, more holistic way, but the system didn’t always make room for that. Instead of giving up, I used those limitations as motivation to grow, learn more, and expand my scope — eventually earning dual certifications so I could provide truly comprehensive care.
Starting a practice from the ground up also came with its own set of struggles. From navigating the logistics and legalities to designing a space that reflected my vision, there were countless late nights and moments of doubt. I had to learn everything — from business operations to marketing — while still staying true to my purpose as a healer.
But every challenge taught me something vital: growth doesn’t happen in comfort. It happens when you choose to move forward anyway — even when it’s hard, even when you’re scared, even when the outcome isn’t certain.
When I finally decided to go for it — coming home from the Bahamas and getting Sedona Med off the ground in less than 30 days — I realized that the very obstacles that once scared me were the same ones that built my strength, resilience, and faith.
Today, when I walk into Sedona Med, I see more than a business — I see proof that fear can turn into freedom, and that healing begins the moment you believe in what’s possible.
We’ve been impressed with Sedona Med, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sedona Med is more than a clinic — it’s a space where healing, balance, and transformation come together. Founded on the belief that true wellness means caring for the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — Sedona Med blends functional medicine, integrative psychiatry, and holistic lifestyle care into one cohesive approach.
We look beyond symptoms to uncover the root causes of imbalance — whether physical, emotional, or energetic. From hormone support and anxiety care to peptide therapy, GLP-1 treatments, and personalized wellness packages, our focus is helping you restore harmony, vitality, and confidence in your health and life.
What truly sets Sedona Med apart is the fusion of psychiatry and functional medicine — an integrative model that treats both mental and physical wellness together. This allows for deeper, more lasting transformation.
Our care doesn’t stop with medicine — we also offer life coaching and mindset support, empowering clients to realign their health, habits, and purpose. One of my favorite success stories is of a client who came to me for coaching with the goal of finding a career that allowed her to be more present with her family. Within just 60 days, she landed her dream job — a powerful reminder that when we heal and align the mind, new possibilities unfold in every area of life.
Sedona Med meets you where you are — whether you’re seeking symptom relief or full transformation. Our mission is to guide you toward rediscovering balance, vitality, and the power to heal from the inside out.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Favorite Books, Apps & Podcasts
I’m constantly inspired by resources that combine science, compassion, and practical tools for better living — both personally and professionally. These are just a few of my favorites that have shaped the way I approach health and healing:
Books:
How Not to Die — Dr. Michael Greger
The Carlat Psychiatry Series — insightful, evidence-based resources that continually expand my psychiatric practice and perspective.
Apps:
Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozen — a simple, powerful tool for staying mindful of nutrition and lifestyle choices that support long-term wellness.
About Herbs — an incredible evidence-based guide for understanding herbal medicine, supplements, and their role in integrative care.
Documentaries:
Forks Over Knives — the film that first changed the way I view food, medicine, and healing.
The Game Changers — an inspiring look at performance and plant-based nutrition.
Code Blue — a powerful reminder of what’s possible when lifestyle medicine meets modern healthcare.
Podcasts:
The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast — one of my go-to listens for staying current, clinically sharp, and inspired in the mental health space.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sedonamed.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sedonamed
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SedonaMed/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sedonamed/
- Other: https://care.headway.co/providers/meredith-childress
