Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Kerns.
Hi Suzanne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My path to founding Inner Healing Charleston has been anything but linear. I began my medical training in Australia at the University of Sydney and completed my psychiatry residency at Duke University before pursuing a specialized fellowship in Interventional Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Over the past 15 years, I’ve been privileged to work in both academic and clinical settings, from Seattle to Charleston (and once in zero-gravity for a NASA study!), helping to advance the field of neuromodulation – particularly Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
But the story behind Inner Healing Charleston goes deeper than professional milestones. My passion project grew from a frustration with the limits of traditional mental health care. Too often treatments aim for symptom reduction rather than full remission. Too often specialty clinics provide only one service and fail to offer wrap-around care. I wanted to create a place that empowered people to reclaim their lives through a blend of evidence-based medicine and holistic healing – a sanctuary where science and compassion meet.
That dream is becoming a reality with the opening of Inner Healing this spring. It’s a locally rooted, physician-led psychiatric practice specializing in TMS, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and personalized psychiatric care. It’s the culmination of a lifelong mission to bring the most innovative, effective, evidence-based, and compassionate treatments to my own community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business in the mental health space – especially one that offers newer, less widely understood treatments – comes with its share of challenges.
One of the biggest hurdles was communicating the “why” behind our approach. TMS and ketamine treatments for depression can sound intimidating or experimental to people unfamiliar with them, despite the robust research backing both. Educating the public, insurance providers, and even other clinicians is a constant part of our journey.
Another challenge was internal learning to embrace entrepreneurship. As a physician, I was trained to treat patients, not launch a business. There have been moments of doubt, steep learning curves, and the pressure of doing it all while still showing up 100% for my patients. But building Inner Healing has also been the most rewarding endeavor of my career. I’ve grown as a doctor, a leader, and a human. We’re excited for the challenges ahead because we know the journey is worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Inner Healing. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our practice is Inner Healing Charleston in downtown Charleston, SC. We are a boutique, evidence-based psychiatric clinic offering a spectrum of advanced mental health treatments. We specialize in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, medication management, and integrative psychiatric care tailored to the individual.
What sets us apart is our philosophy: we don’t just aim to manage symptoms, we aim for remission. Every patient receives a personalized, comprehensive plan that honors their unique history, biology, and goals. We leverage cutting-edge science and compassionate care to create long-term transformation, not dependency.
We are proud to be:
– The only locally owned psychiatric practice in Charleston offering both standard and accelerated TMS.
– Led by a physician with over a decade of neuromodulation experience and international recognition in the field.
– An inclusive, welcoming environment designed to feel more like a healing sanctuary than a medical office.
– If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that mental wellness is within reach and it doesn’t have to come with side effects, stigma, or sacrifice. We are here to meet people where they are and walk with them toward where they want to be.
What’s next?
We’re just getting started. In the next year, our goal is to expand access to TMS across Charleston, South Carolina, and the Southeast.
Looking further ahead, we plan to grow our holistic offerings. That includes recruiting therapists, partnering with certified nutritionists, yoga instructors, and mindfulness practitioners, and offering group therapy and wellness workshops in a larger, shared space at the Inner Healing office. I’ve personally found so much growth in holistic wellness approaches like surfing, yoga, and breathwork that I believe it’s essential to integrate those disciplines into our practice.
We also intend to be at the forefront of emerging psychedelic-assisted and psychedelic-based interventions as they become FDA-approved. We hope to responsibly integrate these breakthrough treatments into our practice when the time is right.
Ultimately, we envision Inner Healing becoming the premier center for transformative psychiatric care in the Southeast: a place where cutting-edge, evidence-based science and whole-person healing converge.
Pricing:
- We are in the process of being credentialed with most major insurance plans, and for those paying out-of-pocket, we pride ourselves on a transparent fee structure.
- Our mission is to make high-quality psychiatric care accessible, and we are happy to work with patients to verify insurance coverage and clarify costs in advance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.innerhealingchs.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerhealingchs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575274253668
