Hi, my name is Michelle To MD (my last name is pronounced Toe).
I’m passionate about helping people heal from the bottom-up.
My work is informed by my prior experience working as a psychiatric consultant for medically ill patients in the hospital setting, where I learned first hand about the strong connection between illness in the body and illness in the brain. My own personal experience healing from chronic medical problems through nutrition and lifestyle changes led me to pursue additional training in functional psychiatry. This training has given me more tools to help my patients feel better with fewer medications.
My therapeutic approach emphasizes the importance of authenticity, warmth, compassion, flexibility, and the healing power of being witnessed and understood. With each patient, I gather a comprehensive history and use in depth lab testing to create a holistic treatment plan that recognizes each person’s biochemical individuality. Treatment may include medication, if necessary, but centers around addressing the root causes of mental illness such as poor nutrition, metabolic disease, environmental toxins, relationships, trauma, sleep, stress, and lifestyle.
I truly love my job because I’m always learning, and I get to witness people feel better on a regular basis. I currently live and practice in my hometown – Los Angeles. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and restoration gardening with California native plants.
Training and Professional Background
University of Southern California, Biological Sciences BA, Fine Arts-Painting Minor, graduated with Honors
WiSE (Women in Science and Engineering) Research Fellow
Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Medical School and Adult Psychiatry Residency Program (Board Certified)
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) ACGME Accredited Fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center (Board Certified Subspecialty)
Former Chief of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry at the Greater Los Angeles VA Hospital
Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, UCLA-GLA Psychiatry Residency Program
Psychiatry Redefined Fellowship Training Program in Integrative & Functional Psychiatry – Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, Faculty Community Mentor
Member, National Association of Environmental Medicine (NAEM)
Member, Tend To Her Practitioner Community – Integrative Women’s Mental Health Training Program
Real Patient Feedback
“Dr. To took the time to get a deep understanding of what was going on with our son. He had been in treatment for disabling depression with various doctors for years, but was not getting better. After a few months with Dr. To, we witnessed our son come out of his shell. He started making a plan for his future, went back to school, and started exercising again. Our son has a hard time trusting doctors, but felt very comfortable with Dr. To. We can’t recommend her highly enough.“
— Parents of a 36 year old male with bipolar depression
“Not only is my mood better, but I’m not running to the bathroom all day anymore. And my pain has gone down a lot. I still get some symptoms but I’m much better than where I was before.”
— 27 year old female, musician, with fibromyalgia
“You were the first doctor that I felt truly listened to every detail of my story. I’ve had all these random health problems and now I understand they are all connected with what I’ve been going through mentally. You helped me connect the dots. I have my life back now. I can’t thank you enough.”
— 33 year old female, graphic designer, with autoimmune disease
Brain Body Psychiatry 