ABOUT DR. BATSON

Dr. Batson completed her residency training at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, receiving dual-training in internal medicine and psychiatry. Having always believed that the mind was as important as the body in health and well-being, this was a natural path for her to follow. During her career she has had the opportunity to work in adult primary-care, inpatient psychiatry consult-liaison services, and outpatient community mental health care settings, taking care of those with severe and persistent mental illness.

However, it was not until Dr. Batson herself developed chronic pain that she really began her journey in understanding how the mind interacts with the body in the creation of both pain and healing. With over 20 pain and “pain-equivalent” symptoms from repetitive strain injury, dizziness, hyperacusis, neck, shoulder and knee pain, her 10-year odyssey took her through many conventional and alternative treatment realms with either no or short-term benefits. As she developed new pains, she also developed more fear and anxiety, resulting in a vicious cycle of pain, fear and more pain.

On the advice of her physical therapist and in desperation, she found the website, www.unlearnyourpain.com, Dr. Howard Schubiner’s website about Mind Body Disorders (MBS), also known as Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), Psychophysiologic Disorders (PPD) or Stress Illness. She knew within a few minutes of reading the pages that she had found what was wrong all this time, and that her healing was just a few steps away. And, in fact, that was true. Within a few months of treatment, her pain resolved and she was able to eventually complete her first triathlon, a life-long goal and a personal milestone for her recovery.

Dr. Batson creates chronic pain educational programs for doctors, psychotherapists and patients and is on the Scientific Advisory Team of www.curablehealth.com , an app-based chronic pain recovery program. She is the Chief Psychiatry Officer and co-founder of OvidDx, a mobile-first digital health platform for the education, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic pain and other neural circuit disorders.

When not working, Dr. Batson spends most of her time with her husband on their farm near Nashville or in the Tennessee mountains.