Areas of Expertise
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Depression – Persistent low mood, fatigue, and loss of interest. Care integrates therapy and lifestyle support with medication for significant or persistent symptoms.
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Anxiety – Excessive worry, restlessness, and physical tension. Focuses on therapy and nervous system regulation, with medication considered as needed.
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ADHD – Inattention, disorganization, or impulsivity affecting daily life. Managed through behavioral strategies and lifestyle support, adding medication if symptoms remain impairing.
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OCD – Intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Specialized therapy is the primary focus, often supplemented by medication for moderate to severe cases.
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PTSD – Trauma-related memories, avoidance, and hypervigilance. Emphasizes trauma-focused therapy and regulation skills, with medication for severe symptoms.
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Social Anxiety – Intense fear of social situations and physical anxiety. Treatment includes therapy and confidence-building, with medication used when anxiety limits functioning.
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Bipolar Disorder – Fluctuating moods, energy, and sleep patterns. Focused on mood stability through therapy, lifestyle regulation, and consistent medical management.
Meet Dr. Laurel
Dr. Laurel offers highly personalized, integrative psychiatric care as a solo practitioner. Her approach to psychiatry was shaped not just by medical school and residency, but by experiences that most physicians never have — completing a child fellowship year with an integrative track through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, and experience as a yoga instructor before entering medicine.
That background fundamentally changed how she thinks about mental health. She doesn't view psychiatric symptoms in isolation but rather at the whole person — their sleep, their nutrition, their stress load, their relationship with their body, and the biological factors that laboratory testing can reveal. Dr. Laurel's toolkit includes everything from targeted supplements and lab-based assessments to mindfulness practices and lifestyle medicine, woven together with evidence-based clinical care.
Dr. Laurel feels confident and at ease working with patients of all ages — whether supporting a young child, guiding a teenager through a difficult transition, or helping an adult navigate the complexities of life. It is a privilege to offer this kind of care right here in New Orleans.
Psychiatry Training
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Louisiana State University Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, 2022 - Chief Fellow
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University of Arizona-Tucson Child & Adolescent
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Psychiatry Fellowship, 2021 - Integrative Psychiatry Track (Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine)
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Louisiana State University-Ochsner Psychiatry Residency, 2020 - Chief Resident
Education
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Medical Degree: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, DO, 2017
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MBA Degree: Rockhurst University, Helzberg School of Management, 2017
"Dr. Laurel is exceptional! She has been with me since the beginning of my mental health journey that has taken many ups and downs over the last year. It’s easy to get discouraged in this process, but Dr. Laurel was there at every turn, encouraging me and finding the right solution that worked for me. She’s always made me feel empowered and has entertained every question I threw her way. Her approach is refreshing to see!"
"Dr. Laurel is very attentive to my child’s needs and shows high professional standard in her sessions with teenager. She is very cooperative with parents as well. We are very pleased so far. Gladly would recommend her services."
Integrative, High-Touch Care
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Whole-Person, Evidence-Based Philosophy
Dr. Laurel treats the "whole person" by prioritizing lifestyle factors like sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and stress management alongside traditional clinical care. She integrates medication within a holistic treatment plan that can include supplements, behavioral strategies, mindfulness-based approaches, and diagnostic laboratory assessment to evaluate biological factors impacting mental health.
Specialized Integrative & Yoga Training
Her clinical expertise is uniquely informed by her background as a yoga instructor and her training through the University of Arizona’s Integrative Psychiatry Track with the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.
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High-Touch, Personalized Care
As a private-pay physician, Dr. Laurel maintains a smaller caseload to ensure unhurried appointments with enhanced patient accessibility & care tailored to each patient’s unique needs. She offers the convenience of both in-office and telehealth visits.
Office Location
84 Neron Place
New Orleans, LA 70118
Dr. Laurel offers in-person adult and child & adolescent psychiatry appointments to patients from New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Algiers, and the surrounding areas, in our Uptown office:
Laurel Psychiatry
84 Neron Place
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 229 - 2368
The space was designed with intention — soft light, natural textures, and grounding tones to create a calm, welcoming environment that supports compassionate psychiatric care and promotes overall wellbeing.
All patients still have the option to meet through telehealth.
FAQs
How is integrative psychiatry different from traditional psychiatry?
Traditional psychiatry focuses primarily on diagnosing mental health conditions and managing symptoms through medication and psychotherapy. Integrative psychiatry takes a broader view — it uses those same evidence-based tools, but also considers the biological, lifestyle, and environmental factors that contribute to mental health, including sleep quality, nutrition, stress, and physical activity.
Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, an integrative psychiatrist looks at the whole person and may incorporate approaches such as targeted supplements, lab-based assessments, and mind-body practices alongside conventional treatment. Medication remains an important part of the toolkit when clinically indicated — the difference is that it is considered within a broader, more individualized plan rather than as the default first response.
What happens during an initial psychiatric evaluation?
The initial psychiatric evaluation is a comprehensive 60-minute appointment designed to give Dr. Laurel a complete picture of who you are — not just your symptoms. You can expect a thorough review of your current concerns, psychiatric and medical history, family history, medications, and how your symptoms are affecting daily life. Dr. Laurel will also conduct a mental status examination, a structured assessment of cognitive and emotional functioning standard to every psychiatric evaluation.
Following the evaluation, she will discuss her clinical impressions and begin developing a personalized treatment plan — which, given her integrative approach, may extend beyond medication to include lab testing, nutritional considerations, lifestyle modifications, sleep hygiene, or mindfulness practices. For child and adolescent patients, the initial evaluation is 90 minutes and involves both the child and their caregivers.
Are appointments in person or via telehealth?
For Louisiana patients, Laurel Psychiatry offers both in-person appointments & telehealth appointments on a HIPAA-compliant platform. The practice is located at 84 Neron Place, New Orleans, LA 70118.
Get the personalized, whole-person care you deserve
Now seeing new patients from New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Mandeville, Covington, and surrounding areas. Telehealth appointments are available for residents of Louisiana.
Looking for information on our Child & Adolescent Psychiatry specialization? Please click here.