Dr. Marni Chanoff
Photo by Jessica McDaniel
A Harvard-affiliated psychiatrist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and Mclean Hospital, Dr. Marni Chanoff practices and teaches Integrative Psychiatry.
She completed residency at Harvard’s MGH/McLean Psychiatry Training Program, receiving the Mel Kayce Award for Excellence in Psychotherapy. She attended the University of Miami School of Medicine, where she graduated with research distinction and was honored as the most distinguished graduate in psychiatry. She completed her Ayurvedic studies at the Kripalu School of Ayurveda. And she is certified as a culinary coach by Harvard’s Institute of Lifestyle Medicine.
She completed fellowships at The MGH Center for Psychoanalytic Studies and Harvard University Health Services. Following her training, she joined the clinical faculty at McLean Hospital as Psychiatrist-in-Charge of the Schizophrenia and Bipolar Program. She then served as an Ellenhorn PACT Team Psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer. She has been in private practice and consulting for several years and has founded Joy In Health to share what she has learned over the last two decades with a broader community. She leads with warmth, science and creativity.
Why I founded Joy In Health
To fully explain, I’d like you to know a little about me.This is personal, but here goes -- my story: I was obsessed with an anatomy picture book when I was five, flipping the pages to overlay the transparent photos of bone, skin, and muscle. A deep desire to understand how the human body works and to heal those who suffer drove me to medical school. Through my training, yoga helped to ground me during those long hard days and overnights at the hospital. I trained at Harvard to become a psychiatrist and joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital.
When my mom, who was one of the most joyful people I’ve known, got sick and passed away, I needed a way to anchor my life. I turned back to yoga, and then found Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical and healing practice, and trained as an Ayurvedic health counselor. I love food and cooking, for my family and others, and became a certified culinary coach too. Along with that I’ve done a deep dive into the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry. The impact food can have on our mental health is huge. In my practice I’ve brought these lessons together, combining Eastern and Western approaches and new emerging fields.
So many people I care for tell me that they can’t find joy in their life. Anxiety and depression and other challenges can turn joy into a distant memory. This is especially true for so many today. 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 is an effort to help people find joy again. I’ll share what I’ve learned over many years, and bring in some inspiring colleagues and teachers to join me.
Also, my mom gave me my middle name—Joy. The name helps bring this all back home for me.
I hope you’ll join us on this new journey.