Episode 127
Finding Healing: A Conversation with Dr. Uejin Kim
Dr. Uejin Kim joins Rev. Keith for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of mental health and spirituality. As a Christian psychiatrist, Dr. Kim emphasizes the importance of focusing on what is right with individuals rather than solely on their struggles. He shares insights from his own journey, highlighting the significance of addressing trauma and the necessity of removing self-blame associated with painful experiences. The conversation touches on how spiritual health can be integrated into mental health care, fostering a holistic approach to healing. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on overcoming feelings of inadequacy and the transformative power of understanding one's worth as a child of God.
The dialogue between Dr. Keith and Dr. Uejin Kim offers listeners an insightful perspective on the convergence of mental health and spirituality, providing a rich tapestry of ideas to foster healing and personal growth. Dr. Kim, who identifies as a Christian psychiatrist, brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience to the conversation, emphasizing the importance of recognizing what is right within individuals rather than focusing solely on their issues. This refreshing approach serves as a foundation for discussing the myriad ways in which people can navigate their mental health journeys with faith and resilience.
Throughout their exchange, Dr. Kim shares poignant anecdotes from his clinical work at Restore Psychiatry, illustrating the transformative power of addressing both mental and spiritual health. He recounts stories of patients who have made significant strides in their healing, not merely through medication but through a deeper understanding of their personal narratives and their relationships with God. This dual focus on spiritual and psychological well-being allows for a more comprehensive approach to healing, one that is particularly relevant in today's society where many struggle with feelings of isolation and despair. Dr. Kim encourages listeners to look beyond societal expectations and to embrace their unique stories, reinforcing the idea that healing is a multifaceted process that encompasses both the mind and the spirit.
The conversation also delves into the complexities of discussing trauma and healing within a faith context. Dr. Kim addresses the common feeling of abandonment many experience when faced with suffering, urging listeners to reconsider their perceptions of God and the nature of faith. He asserts that God is present in their pain and is actively working toward redemption, a message that resonates deeply in the hearts of those grappling with difficult questions about their existence and worth. By the conclusion of the episode, Dr. Kim leaves the audience with a powerful message about the importance of community and support in the healing process, encouraging them to seek out connections that foster both mental and spiritual growth.
Takeaways:
- Dr. Uejin Kimemphasizes the importance of recognizing what's right in ourselves rather than focusing solely on what's wrong.
- Spiritual health and mental health can be intertwined, and both are essential for overall well-being.
- One's healing journey should encompass more than just medication or therapy; it involves personal growth and community support.
- Many individuals struggle with feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome, even those in professional roles.
- It's crucial to alleviate the burden of blame from those who have suffered trauma, affirming that it was not their fault.
- Using biblical stories can provide a unique perspective on mental health, helping patients feel understood and validated.
Transcript
Well, Dr.
Dr. Keith:Kim, welcome to the podcast.
Dr. Keith:How you doing today?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Thank you so much for having me, Keith.
Dr. Keith:It's a pleasure to be.
Dr. Keith:I'm looking forward to this conversation.
Dr. Keith:You have an interesting mixture of things that I think are really helpful for today's society.
Dr. Keith:We have a lot of people that are struggling with a bunch of things, so it should be a fun conversation.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yeah, people struggle is my specialty.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I like to say that I'm a Christian psychiatrist that looks for what's right with you and not what's wrong with you.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I'm excited.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yes.
Dr. Eugene Kim:That's a little tagline that I created recently because, you know, I know that, you know, but as we mature and get older, we're constantly reframing what we already know, you know, with the new information that we're maturing.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I just love that tagline because I think we all need to hear what's right with us more than what's wrong with us.
Dr. Keith:Right.
Dr. Keith:Because we always get the negative, don't we?
Dr. Eugene Kim:We sure do.
Dr. Keith:So I'm gonna start out with my favorite question for my podcast.
Dr. Keith:Guess what's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Dr. Eugene Kim:I think the best advice is I do this thing with God where we really have a frank conversation with God.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that's something that I really picked up from my grandma, who was so approachable.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, she was very cerebral and analytical, and I can ask her anything.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And if, you know anything about, you know, Asian culture, like, I was dating this guy when I went study abroad in Africa, and my parents were, like, so against it.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It was a little bit delusional because he was in Africa and I was in the United States.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But she let me talk about it, you know, and she's a Cold War, you know, World War II grandma.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that really embodies how I talk to God.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And you know me as, like, a blossoming public speaker, podcast host, and private practice entrepreneur.
Dr. Eugene Kim:All of that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Sometimes it kind of gets discouraging, you know, like, I see other people, like, getting more likes or most more subscriber or they're on stage and I'm not, and.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I'm just kind of like, you know, Brandon Brown is kind of saying the same thing that I'm saying, and I just kind of asked God, like, God, why do you need me to talk?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, there's so many people saying the same thing.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Who am I to say that?
Dr. Eugene Kim:And he told me two things.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It was.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Number one was you.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yeah, Eugene, everyone who's wise speaks the Same.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Because wisdom is the same, and there's no new wisdom out there.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, wisdom is finite, but at the same time, I'm the author of wisdom.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So you don't need to listen to other people to get more wise.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You just need to talk to me.
Dr. Eugene Kim:That was first thing.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And the second thing that I'm trying to still practice right now is there was one Asian American speaker.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And, you know, when you can kind of relate to the speaker, you kind of.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It's like you're happy for them, but at the same time, it's like, why not me?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Kind of question, you know, And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I was like, well, she's my age, she's Asian American, all that stuff.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And God really challenged me, like, what would it take for you to not compare yourself to other people, but, like, celebrate that they're doing.
Dr. Eugene Kim:They're, you know, they're living out their calling.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that's, you know, Dr.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Keith, like, if I were to be honest, like, I'm here as a psychiatrist and an expert in a sense, but I'm also a human being with same imposter syndrome, same doubt, same.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, like, what was so stupid?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, what am I doing?
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, there's always that kind of self doubt.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But that's something that I'm really working on right now, is kind of stay in my lane and use my gifts and use my story.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I know that he's gonna do great things.
Dr. Keith:Yeah, and that's important because the important thing about that, too, is other people may be saying the same thing, but no one says it quite the way.
Dr. Keith:You can and doesn't have the impact on the people's lives that you connect with.
Dr. Keith:So while it may be the same message, because wisdom is, you know, like you said, finite, but coming from you as opposed to coming from me.
Dr. Keith:What the audience you have versus my audience, they still need to hear it and need a messenger to give that to them.
Dr. Keith:So you have a unique place that.
Dr. Keith:And a connection other people don't.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yeah, absolutely.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I say that because I love being vulnerable, you know, as somebody who's on the podium or as a provider, like healthcare provider.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But I'm on the other side too, you know, sometimes.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I like being authentic and vulnerable with my stories.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And you're right, because there are.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Sometimes I'm really excited about my story because now it makes sense that the trauma that I endured, you know, like a childhood, maybe attention def.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, attention neglect, sexual trauma that I went to, you know, medical school, psychiatry, being a child psychiatrist, not being a mom you know, being married and a human being, all that is like a full circle.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So it's a very unique every.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I think everybody's in a unique advantage point when it comes to living out your story.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So, yeah, definitely, I agree with you 110%.
Dr. Keith:That's true.
Dr. Keith:So who are some people in your life who served to be a mentor for you or maybe inspire you along your journey?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Definitely God touching all aspects of my story.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that was a power of therapy and very introspective work that I had to do where no stone was left unturned, you know, and I'm.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I'm that kind of intense person that when it comes, if I said I'm gonna know my story, like, I'm gonna know my story.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know what I mean?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I'm not afraid to go to the dark places.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And God was really with me, just guiding me every single one, you know, step of the way.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I, I110.
Dr. Eugene Kim:He was that fatherly voice that I never had who went to the dark places with me.
Dr. Eugene Kim:In Dark Stories, I mentioned my grandma.
Dr. Eugene Kim:There's so many people that got placed for a season just to say the right thing.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And maybe I'm not, you know, close with them now, but I just want, like, to thank them that they were a vessel of wisdom and comfort, you know, every step of the way.
Dr. Keith:That's great.
Dr. Keith:So tell us about your journey.
Dr. Keith:What inspired you to get into Restore Psychiatry?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yeah, so Restore Psychiatry is my private practice.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I recently started my kind of like a community education kind of online course, LLC called Eugene Kim LLC.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I don't know, Dr.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Keith, like, when you go to school and you graduate from high school and college, you leave and you hit the real world and you're like, school did not teach me that.
Dr. Keith:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I had that moment when I graduated from my child psychiatry fellowship where, so I got my first job.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, it was during then it was Covid.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So it was a telesy job.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I was serving underserved area in Virginia.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But corporate psychiatry, it was very evident earlier on that it was catering to the payee, which is a clinic.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And it was.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Even though they promised, like, hey, we'll give you autonomy, we'll let you practice the way that you want to.
Dr. Eugene Kim:The reality was that because the clinic is paying and the clinic is underserved and overstretched, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, it was making me and asking me to do things that I was not comfortable with.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Just like, like seeing a teenager and prescribing medications and giving diagnosis without parent present.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Because parents working two jobs, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I understand the concerns, but like, I was like, at least for an intake, you can show up and then I can get the fuller story, you know, so that's just an example of corporate psychiatry.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And at the same time, in my personal life, I was digging up the stones of my trauma in my childhood, and I was a patient and a client of a therapist.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Therapist.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And at that same time, I was quickly finding out as a young psychiatrist, like, oh, I don't know if corporate psychiatry is for me.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And at the same time, I was kind of finding out that my faith was such a huge part of holding my hand through going through therapy.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And God really challenged me to say, hey, if I'm such a big part of your healing journey and you're not, but you're not saying that or being open to that if the patient wants it, like, aren't you holding out on your patients by not giving that spiritual care?
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that was like, oh, yeah, I guess I will be holding back.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that really only private practice was a setting that would allow me to have that freedom to be open and available spiritually, you know, as a psychiatrist.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And a psychiatrist sharing her faith or even opening the realm of spiritual care is very unexplored at this point.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I am kind of pioneering in my own way to figure out what that means.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So private practice has been a really great avenue for me to explore how this all fits.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that's why I started the private practice.
Dr. Keith:So, Eugene, how do you meld those two things together?
Dr. Keith:Because when we think about spirituality and mental health, oftentimes those are just two totally different worlds.
Dr. Keith:So how do you meld together?
Dr. Keith:How do you bridge the gap between those two?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I loved your question because it kind of made me think about the puzzle pieces.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So we think that they're so different because mental health, we think is self care is, you know, is getting pedicures.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And it's like venting about your parents and, you know, all that stuff.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And it seems so opposite.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or taking meds, taking the happy pills.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:That's.
Dr. Eugene Kim:That's what we.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Has a connotation about what mental health care is.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And, and spiritual care is just serving church, you know, doing volunteer work or being part of the group.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But at the same time, how I visualize it is spiritual care is answering the questions of do I belong?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Where's my worth?
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, like, what's my purpose?
Dr. Eugene Kim:And these are big questions that we are all thirsty for.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And mental health really is a health of the mind.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So how I like to kind of bridge the two together is if we are all.
Dr. Eugene Kim:If our life is a car.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I'm not a car mechanic, savvy person, but how I imagine is.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Is in a car, a spiritual health is the driver.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, like you're, you're.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, your destination, you know the way around, you know your value, you know, you know how to drive, all these skills.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I think really, mental health is the condition of the engine.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It's.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Is it running well?
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, are you putting in the right gasoline for that car?
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, are the pistons working?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Is it firing?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Is it strong?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Because it's health of the mind.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I really like to bridge that too.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And when I see my patients or just talk to anybody in a community health talks, I evaluate how their mind is functioning.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, is it too fast, like out of control?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or are they grasping every single feeling, thoughts that they are having so that they can process it?
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that's one end, and the other one is like, what do they see themselves as worthy and valuable, you know, and has a purpose in life?
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that's my spiritual health assessment.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And you really need both sense of health to really flourish and just live like there's no tomorrow.
Dr. Keith:So when you're dealing with people, especially Christians, I think we struggle sometimes with the why question.
Dr. Keith:When you're going in for mental health issues and maybe some things in your life have not gone well, maybe you have dealt with sexual abuse.
Dr. Keith:The question, the spirituality piece really gets complicated.
Dr. Keith:It's like, where was God at in this?
Dr. Keith:Why do people not see value in me?
Dr. Keith:Why do people treat me like this if I'm a child of God?
Dr. Keith:So as a pastor, when I try to deal with people who've had, you know, issues in their life, connecting those two together begins to be really complicated because they're questioning their own existence.
Dr. Keith:And where was God when these terrible things were happening?
Dr. Keith:So how do you help people process that?
Dr. Keith:As a psychiatrist?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And these are something that you're definitely an expert at as this existential questions of like, why is there brokenness?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Why is there pain?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:For sure.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So as a psychiatrist, I've heard a lot of stories of brokenness and pain.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And when you hear enough stories of pain, you start to see patterns.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And as a Christian, how I merge the two is there's a lot of things happening on earth that God is not happy about, you know, and that is the state of the fallen world.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And he's not happy about that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So the merging thing is is when somebody went through trauma and they're like, where was God in this?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:We have so many scriptures that God is so angry at the brokenness, at the state of this world, you know, and that he's the God of justice and he says, just wait, I will redeem every single pain that you have.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I think that's the merge of a father who's so angry that you got hurt and a father who will do everything and more to make that right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that is the truth.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But still there's that pain right here, right now, like, I can't wait to, you know, God to come through.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that pain, how I like to see it is that a lot of times, you know, there are so many cases, I'm a child psychiatrist, so I talk to a lot of kids with who got abused or neglected by their parents, you know, even adult patients, we talk about their childhood and how they got abused and neglected by their parents.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And a lot of times as a kid, naturally when something painful happens, the pain and the blame fell on them, if you know what I mean.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And what I like to do is that deal with the pain, but remove the blame.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, it was not your fault as a minor to be treated like this like you do.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You weren't too annoying to get slapped in the face, right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like you weren't.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Some 5 year olds got told that they're hypersexual and that's why they got raped.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I kind of bring that sense of justice of like, yes, you got hurt and there's pain, but any blaming voices that inside your head, that is not true.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So alleviating the, the burden of blame and when they know, oh, it was not my fault, I was wrongfully hurt, but it was not my fault.
Dr. Eugene Kim:That even gives them so much healing knowing that they don't have to carry two burden, you know, I can just carry on.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that brings a lot of healing and relief.
Dr. Keith:I love that.
Dr. Keith:So give me an example of how you have done this in your practice.
Dr. Keith:Maybe a situation that you were kind of helping bridge those two gaps together.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yeah.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So for an example, so whenever I talked about trauma, you know, I say it's not your fault.
Dr. Eugene Kim:How I like to do it is I was thinking about this, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:For me to provide mental and spiritual health care, I had to know my spiritual story.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that came with a lot of foundational understanding of spiritual realm that's, you know, explained by the Bible, you know, so I had to study the Bible, you know, front and back a few times to, to really get it and analyze it and understand it.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But then at the same time, I had to go through my own therapy, like I said, you know, like, and explore all the things.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But, you know, what's the beautiful thing about spiritual health is that when you're a child, that's when you're most spiritual, if you know what I mean, like, untainted spiritual.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I really conceptualize this as my spiritual health is my little Eugene living inside, you know, And I had to be in tune with my little Eugene all the time.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Now that I'm fully healed and free to use my strength, it's.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It's really cute and weird at the same time, but I really sense that whenever I hear people's stories, it's not just me, analytical brain listening, but little Eugene is listening, too.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And she's like, oh, I know how that kid feels inside, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or like, oh, that kid, you know, little patient inside them must have felt like this.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I really touch on that, you know, And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I say you're describing a horrible incident, but you're not really changing your emotions, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:But I also sense that you're tired, or I sense that you're still really angry about what happened, you know, so I'm really channeling in my spiritual sense to connect with their spiritual sense so that they feel seen, they feel heard, and they feel felt maybe for the first time.
Dr. Keith:Being a pastor, one of the things I find most powerful is using biblical stories to help people understand the bigger picture.
Dr. Keith:Do you do that in your practice as well?
Dr. Keith:Kind of share biblical examples and stories to kind of help people process information, Information and maybe trauma.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I love to.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I can't volunteer biblical stories because I want to be respectful for where their journey was, you know, with the Bible, or maybe they had church trauma, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I don't want to volunteer that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But once I got the sense, or they asked me, or they.
Dr. Eugene Kim:They hear my podcast and they know that I talk about the Bible story, so they're like, hey, can you tell me more about that?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or, you know, know.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So patients ask me, and when they ask me, I love to share that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I think I have a unique perspective on biblical stories, because I don't know about you, but when I grew up, it was very black and white, you know, oh, Jonah's stupid.
Dr. Eugene Kim:He got angry and he's not unforgiving, Right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or Martha is an overworker.
Dr. Eugene Kim:She's always bitter and tired, you know, and.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or the Pharisees are bad.
Dr. Eugene Kim:They're stupid.
Dr. Eugene Kim:They didn't get it.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And Israelites are stupid in the desert, you know, like we just did it a black and white, you know, where as a psychiatrist, I kind of look at their mental health and spiritual health of each biblical characters.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So one thing that I recently discovered, because I, I always told myself that I'm a Martha, you know, versus Mary, I'm always the get it done girl, you know, and, and one thing that I found about Martha was when she first met Jesus and this big crowd that he's carrying, she invited everybody for, you know, a dinner party, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:And.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And when I kind of dig through the origin of the language and the commentaries, she was doing what she was supposed to do when she invites people over.
Dr. Eugene Kim:She invited people over for dinner party.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And it's her.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It's the expectation that matron of the house will serve food.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Matron being Martha and Mary.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But I was just kind of imagining, you know, big crowds were following Jesus, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:So you don't know how many people she actually invited over.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And then she's getting tired, she's getting burnt out, you know, and she's know, bitter and stuff like that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And it really hit me because sometimes I'm like, Martha, I bite.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I invite people, I bite more than I can chew.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I'm trying to meet the expectations that I created for myself.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I'm getting burnt out and I'm angry at everybody.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So, you know, Jesus saying you're.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And the word is you're distracted about so many things, AKA expectations of other people and expectations set by yourself.
Dr. Eugene Kim:The real deal is here, you don't have to meet expectations of other people.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You just need to be with me.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that really hit the core because, you know, you have three podcasts, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Dr.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Keith and I have all these things going on, and I'm like creating expectations of myself, that each of them has to be successful and stuff like that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And God really cuts it to the traces.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, I don't expect that from you, you know, I just expect that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I just expect you to be here with me.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that really just grounds me.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I just love understanding and reading stories like that.
Dr. Keith:So you have a book there, Psychological People of the Bible.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Oh, yeah, that would be so awesome.
Dr. Keith:You just go through a diagnose, you know, what was Paul's problem?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Oh, yeah, Paul and I are like, very similar too, because I don't know if you're familiar with enneagram, but I'm enneagram1.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I'm the improver, so I never stop, you know, and my mom has a gift of Bible teaching too.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And, you know, we revere Paul, like, so smart, so wise and stuff.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And she pointed out to me, even when she was young, she said, you know, he died alone.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, like was a lot of arguments that, you know, he got into.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So he was very intense person.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I was just like, oh, I didn't even think about that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I think she kind of lend me that Bible teaching, you know, Bible studying kind of genes.
Dr. Keith:That's so cool.
Dr. Keith:So tell us about your podcast.
Dr. Keith:It's like this, why you start it and what.
Dr. Keith:What kind of content do you cover on your podcast?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yeah, so I started it.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I started the podcast as it's like this podcast now is renamed to Good News Mental Health, and I'll explain that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But it started as it's like this podcast because I always had stories and analogies to explain to people, even when I was young.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So if you can imagine me as a college student, like, I don't have it all together.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I still partied.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I made my mistakes.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But my friends always came to me for advice, and I would use analogies to explain.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Well, dating is like chemistry, like pro, you know, protons and oh my gosh, I'm dating myself, electrons, you know, those things.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I'm using what I'm learning in college to explain to them what dating, you know, should be or should not be.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Right.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So this coined the term amongst my friends as eugenisms.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, oh, Eugene has eugenisms.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It just makes sense, you know, And I really carry that spirit to teach my patients, you know, things about mental health and depression like that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I use analogies.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I realized I'm saying a lot of the same things.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I was like, oh, why don't I make it into a podcast so that they can listen to it at home and we can discuss it once they come back.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that's how it started as it's like this podcast.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I recently rebranded it to Good News Mental Health because I felt like the calling that I had was really provide this level of clarity between mental health and spiritual health for the body of Christ, because I realized that if Body of Christ, each part realized their strength and let go of the baggages and really be whole and healed.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It can be a beautiful thing.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that's my passion.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I rebranded it to Good News Mental Health so that I can debunk a lot of myths that happened at church, you know, that I experienced and, you know, a lot of other people experience and really bring a structure and order and understanding from the Bible.
Dr. Keith:So what are some common misconceptions you've run across from the work that you do.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I think there's continue to be all, all or nothing or black and white thinking about mental health, that if you take medications then you're following the devil or you're weak or you're giving up, you know, and really by the medication is just one part of the healing process.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And I think, I hope that the listeners kind of understand how I view mental and spiritual health that we're just now talking about medicine.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Medicine is a very small part of the healing journey.
Dr. Eugene Kim:A lot of the other ones is knowing your story and, and inviting healing into your life and inviting understanding into your life and being seen.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that being said, really, biochemical imbalance is a very small part of healing.
Dr. Eugene Kim:The other ones are, oh, when I go to a therapist and psychiatrist, they're just going to reject family and trauma, you know, and everything is trauma nowadays, you know, and they're just going to excommunicate your parents because you don't understand and they're ungrateful.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So again, just all or nothing thinking.
Dr. Eugene Kim:The really, the part of the healing process that comes is that everybody has to accept their reality and their responsibility.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And there's something to be said about saying, I know that my parents tried their best, but it still hurts sometimes.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that's the truth.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And it's okay to say that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So when the leaders of the church or the parents are insecure to hear that, that's not the child's responsibility to make sure that they feel okay about themselves.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that's what I like to kind of say, is that there is a level of truth that needs to come out and make it fair for all parties.
Dr. Keith:I was talking to someone who was.
Dr. Keith:Who doesn't work in a mental health aspect and they said unlike physical issues, it's harder to measure.
Dr. Keith:And so insurance companies don't like to cover it because it's not a exact science.
Dr. Keith:So how do you measure progress in the mental health area?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yeah, and that's definitely true.
Dr. Eugene Kim:There's no blood work for, you know, mental health that, you know, hemoglobin will see, you're diabetic and stuff like that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So we have this book of criteria called DSM 5 and they try to quantify it as much as possible.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So 5 out of 7 characters of depression over 6 months period of time with this level of dysfunction.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So we can try to quantify it as much as possible.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that's how we get diagnosed and we sense what medications work best for each symptoms or for diagnosis.
Dr. Eugene Kim:But the Coolest part that I measure progress is I wrote down a few stories, is a combat veteran that no longer sleeps with a knife next to his bed, you know, or a girl who was so anxious about social anxiety because she has scoliosis and she went to a rock concert and better yet, participate in the mosh pit and push the girl away because the girl was trying to encroach in her space, you know what I mean?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or a girl who was taking 30 supplements because she wasn't sure what she was missing out on, you know, and she just didn't know what she was missing.
Dr. Eugene Kim:She went from 30 to 11 supplements.
Dr. Eugene Kim:That is fitting for her and she can just kind of let go and say, okay, I'll figure it out later.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So those are the progresses and stories that is worth celebrating.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And the coolest part about me being their psychiatrist is that I'm seeing them every, you know, few months.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I'm jumping and seeing the progress.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, they're living with themselves every day.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So it's kind of hard to tell sometimes, right?
Dr. Eugene Kim:But I'm seeing them every month or every three months and I'm like looking back in my nose and I often do this and I'm like, hey, like a year ago you were saying this and now you're going to rock concert because by yourself, you know, or.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or you're bringing down 30 supplements to 11.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I really remind them, like, this is where you were at.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Like, this is awesome.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And they were like, you know what?
Dr. Eugene Kim:I never thought of it like that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And you're true.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So those are my celebration, those are my progress stories.
Dr. Eugene Kim:That just keeps me coming back to help more people.
Dr. Keith:As you think about where you are right now, what are some professional goals you have set aside for yourself?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Yeah.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So exciting thing is that I'm realizing I'm a girl of efficiency.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I'm the get it done girl and I'm also girl of efficiency.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I know that I'm very limited in seeing patients, you know, one to one or coaching one to one.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And what I'm working on right now is to really extract the eugenism that I've gathered being a psychiatrist and also a human being into an online course so that, you know, while it doesn't replace the.
Dr. Eugene Kim:The lengthy therapist, you know, but it's going to be a really good jumpstart to connect that mental health piece and also spiritual health piece and really get in touch with yourself.
Dr. Eugene Kim: e is coming out and spring of: Dr. Keith:I love that.
Dr. Keith:So I love to ask my guest this question.
Dr. Keith:What do you want your legacy to be?
Dr. Eugene Kim:I want my legacy is I want people to know what it feels like to be a child of God and what God is like as a father and who he's not.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And there's a lot of myths, there's a lot of misconceptions about what that feels like.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And we say that he's a perfect father, but we don't know what perfect father is like, like what it feels like.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I want to really bring that to life as a legacy and to let people know that he forgives.
Dr. Eugene Kim:He holds your hand, he doesn't let you down.
Dr. Eugene Kim:You know, he picks you back up when you're down, he gives you perspectives and he's always there.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And what does that feel like?
Dr. Eugene Kim:So that's my legacy.
Dr. Keith:Great.
Dr. Keith:As you wrap up this amazing conversation, what key takeaways do you want to leave with the audience?
Dr. Eugene Kim:I just hope that, you know, like I kind of touched on is that your healing journey is not all about meds.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It's not all about therapy.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It's not all about church.
Dr. Eugene Kim:It's everything.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that as you heard me share my story or my patient stories or biblical character story, human experience is pretty much the same.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that you're not alone and that you don't have to figure it out alone.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And that's what I hope that your audience will get out of this talk.
Dr. Keith:That's great.
Dr. Keith:Well, Dr.
Dr. Keith:Kim, thank you so much.
Dr. Keith:Where can people connect with you on social media?
Dr. Eugene Kim:Absolutely.
Dr. Eugene Kim:I'll provide you, Dr.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Keith, with my links and you can follow me on my podcast, my YouTube and there's a link tree.
Dr. Eugene Kim:There will be a lot of links that you can kind of come check me out and stay in tune with what's coming up.
Dr. Eugene Kim:And best yet, I was just going to ask your audience, when you listen to my podcast on YouTube, if you can give me a feedback and email me @Hi, Eugene kim.com that will give me so much more material and so much more connection to my audience.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So.
Dr. Eugene Kim:Or if you didn't like the podcast, you can tell me too and give me feedback on that.
Dr. Eugene Kim:So I'm all open, open years for that.
Dr. Keith:Well, thanks so much for being on.
Dr. Keith:You have a great.
