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UKIAH, CA — MCHC Health Centers continues to expand its provider team to meet local behavioral health needs. In January, MCHC welcomed Dr. Katie Freeman, who has practiced pediatric psychiatry for more than 20 years. Dr. Freeman will see patients up to age 25 years of age at Hillside Health Center in Ukiah and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport.
As a pediatric psychiatrist, Dr. Freeman diagnoses and treats a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Her scope of practice includes medication management, therapy, and family support.
Chief Medical Officer Justin Ebert, PA-C, said, “Filling a much-needed area of specialty psychiatric care, I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Freeman to the behavioral health team.” Behavioral Health Director Ben Anderson, LCSW said, “We have been without a full time pediatric psychiatrist in our communities for over a decade. We are thrilled that Dr. Freeman has chosen to share her talents with us.”
Born in California and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Freeman grew up in a family of physicians. Her father was a psychiatrist and her grandfather was a gastroenterologist. Pursuing a medical career felt natural given her interests and family background, and she has always loved working with children. Dr. Freeman says that early on, she thought she would become a pediatrician. However, her experience working with adolescents during her medical studies influenced her decision to pursue psychiatry, which she acknowledges “is in my DNA.”
After graduating from Wellesley College with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature, Dr. Freeman earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University. She completed her medical residency at the University of Utah and is board eligible in pediatrics and board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. “I’ve worked with kids since day one of my residency,” she says.
She sees patients for a broad array of concerns including mood disorders, behavioral challenges, and developmental and learning disorders. Sometimes families seek support for issues that interfere with school attendance and performance, such as anxiety and sleep disturbances. Other common challenges include depression related to trauma or disruptions in the home environment, and conditions like Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Dr. Freeman says today’s social and political environment can heighten stress for everyone. “We live in a complicated time, with uncertain political environments, different judgments put upon kids, social media, and the world moving at a fast pace. I think this has heightened angst for kids and adults,” she says.
One way medical providers can support their patients, she explains, is by talking with families about their experiences and symptoms, helping them to determine what is part of typical development and what might require additional support. Then, if necessary, providers can identify helpful interventions.
Although seeking help from a psychiatrist or behavioral health therapist is more common than it once was, some people remain hesitant. “I think there’s sometimes a perception that going to see a psychiatrist means something is very wrong,” Freeman says. “I try to normalize the positive aspects of taking control of your mental health and emphasize to kids that this is an opportunity to find some relief.”
In addition to working directly with children and young adults, she sees her role as supporting the environment around them. This can include conversations with parents, teachers, and other providers involved in their care.
Dr. Freeman believes that relationships are built on trust and that trust takes time to develop, so initially, she likes to have frequent visits, both for medication management and to learn what is going on in her patients’ lives.
She also notes that child and adolescent mental health can be complex and sometimes misunderstood. Anxiety, for example, may present as gastrointestinal or cardiac symptoms. Changes in behavior might stem from challenges at home or school, or there might be a physiological cause. Taking time to understand the full picture allows her to partner with caregivers and other medical providers to offer thoughtful, comprehensive care.
Outside of work, Dr. Freeman loves to spend time outdoors, often running and hiking. She also enjoys cooking and entertaining with friends.
MCHC Health Centers includes Hillside Health Center and Dora Street Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits, and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport. It is a community-based and patient-directed organization that provides comprehensive primary healthcare services as well as supportive services such as education and translation that promote access to healthcare.