Dr. Kristin Budde began as a lover of stories. She studied English literature at the University of Michigan, then earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, ultimately graduating with honors and also earning a Master of Public Health. She completed her psychiatry residency at Yale University, where she served as chief resident for diversity, received excellent training in psychotherapy, pharmacology and neuromodulatory therapies, and also began to appreciate the importance of the stories we tell ourselves, and the power these narratives have to shape our outlook and life. Dr. Budde has mentored and taught medical trainees at all levels, and served on the teaching faculties of Yale University, Harvard University, and the University of Washington in both inpatient and emergency-department settings. She remains passionate about teaching and public engagement, even as she continues to write, consult, lecture and occasionally participate in storytelling events. She also maintains a private practice in psychotherapy and pharmacology, for which she takes a holistic approach to well-being that includes diet, exercise, social connection and even a bit of storytelling. Her steadfast goal is for clients to receive superb care in an environment in which they feel understood and supported, and to help them find moments of joy and humor along the way.