About
About Psychiatry
and Lifestyle Medicine
A Happier Life Through Healthier Living
What Is Lifestyle Psychiatry?
Lifestyle psychiatry focuses on the role of modifiable lifestyle factors in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. This evidence-based approach recognizes that lifestyle behaviors traditionally associated with physical health also significantly impact mental health and psychological well-being.
Rather than viewing mental health symptoms in isolation, lifestyle psychiatry considers the whole person and empowers patients to take an active role in their care. This approach can enhance the effectiveness of medication and therapy, support long-term well-being, and help patients build healthier, more fulfilling lives.
It integrates traditional psychiatric treatments with six key pillars of lifestyle medicine:
Nutrition
What we eat directly impacts brain function, inflammation, and emotional regulation, making nutrition a meaningful part of mental health care.
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Physical Activity
Regular movement and exercise are crucial for mood regulation and reducing psychiatric symptoms.
Restorative Sleep
Quality sleep is foundational for emotional balance, cognitive clarity, and recovery, and is often a key focus in improving psychiatric symptoms.
Management of Stress
Learning effective ways to manage stress helps regulate the nervous system, reduce symptom flare-ups, and support long-term mental well-being.
Positive Social Connection
Strong, supportive relationships play a vital role in mental health, influencing mood, motivation, and overall psychological resilience.
Avoidance of Harmful Substances
Reducing or eliminating substances that disrupt brain chemistry can significantly improve mental health outcomes and treatment effectiveness.
Happiness and health have a reciprocal relationship, with each influencing the other.
Meet
Dr. Sylwia Fowler, MD, DipABLM
Dr. Sylwia Fowler is a double board-certified adult psychiatrist and lifestyle medicine physician who brings a warm, collaborative, and patient-centered approach to mental health care. She is the founder of Psychiatry & Lifestyle Medicine practice that offers patients something that many feel they have been missing: a space where they are heard, understood, and supported in reclaiming a healthy, meaningful, and joyful life.
Many of her patients arrive feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about treatment options. Dr. Fowler guides them through this uncertainty with clarity and compassion, helping them manage their symptoms and regain control over their life.
Dr. Fowler brings a global perspective to her work. Outside of her clinical practice, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her dogs, reading, cooking, listening to podcasts, and exploring topics that deepen her understanding of human well-being.
Care Philosophy
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Collaboration: Psychiatric care is most effective when the patient is an active partner in treatment.
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Integration: Medications, when needed, work best alongside psychotherapy and supportive lifestyle changes.
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Empowerment: By understanding their symptoms, behavioral patterns, and their origin, patients can reclaim agency in their lives.
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Whole-Person Care: Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected—optimizing one supports the other.
Education & Training
Dr. Fowler completed her medical degree at Ludwig Maximillian University in Munich, Germany before moving to the United States in 2006. She completed her residency in adult psychiatry at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, before earning her board certification in both Psychiatry and Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr. Fowler currently serves as the Chair of the Happiness Science Member Interest Group at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, reflecting her interest in the intersection of happiness, health, and evidence-based lifestyle interventions.
Board Certifications
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American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
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American Board of Lifestyle Medicine
Professional Memberships
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American Psychiatric Association
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American College of Lifestyle Medicine
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Washington Psychiatric Society
Licensure
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Maryland
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Washington, DC
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Virginia