Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Sugar.
Hi Jonathan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After working as a community organizer and in health policy, I chose to become a physician. I longed for the personal contact and communication being a doctor provides. I trained as a psychiatrist and child psychiatrist and psychoanalyst and embarked on an academic career. I worked with medically ill children and adults and as an educator for over 5 years, then left for my solo private practice in psychoanalysis, psychiatry, and psychotherapy.
Through all these endeavors, I have been impressed by the potency of mindfulness and the practices of meditation. I’ve been progressively incorporating these practices into my work, and seeking to help other health professionals see the worthiness of these practices for themselves. I’ve recently focused almost primarily practices for mindful awareness, and on supervising and consulting with other mental health and health professionals, I also value consulting mindfulness and meditation teachers. I’m currently working on projects involving the intersections of psychiatry and psychology and Buddhist practices.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I learned academic medicine was not for me, and that practicing in a large institution did not allow the flexibility I craved. My colleagues in psychiatry and psychoanalysis have largely been supportive, though there’s historically been only sporadic interest in mindfulness and its potential in Western psychiatry. Sometimes I’ve felt alone in my interests and beliefs about the field. As I moved more into the mindfulness/zen/and meditation communities, my previous beliefs were often tested, and I’ve had to modify them. I’ve become much more collaborative with my patients, and much more communicative, and this has sometimes conflicted with traditional medical ideas. I’ve tried to avoid the many ideological silos in psychiatry and in mindfulness and have continued to embrace authenticity and creativity.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In my teaching and supervision of psychotherapists and psychiatrists, my experiences in anthropology, community work, and mindfulness offer unique perspectives and wisdom in their work with patients and clients. My working knowledge of professional relationships and the intensely personal world of psychotherapy provides helpful insights to my clients who teach meditation and mindfulness, and even yoga.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
My interests are broad, including dogs and their people, nature photography, and learning from children. While I used to participate in triathlons, I now ride bicycles and motorcycles. I make mean sourdough bread. I love coffee, reading, and exchanging puns with close friends. I’ve had great fun learning from shows like the Sopranos, Kim’s Convenience, and Mare of Eastown.
Tattoos intrigue me. My past “lives” include time in Southern California, Washington DC, downtown Detroit, and Boston.
I was a terrible surfer. I was a not-so-terrible tennis player. And endurance- elite athletes number among my heroes.
My wife, kids and I have had 4 dogs in the past 25 years – from a Shar-Pei to our current Aussie.
My all-time favorite book? The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer.
Contact Info:
- Email: jasugarmd@jasugarmd.com
- Website: www.jasugarmd.com
