Dr. Jennifer Robinson, Detroit, is a board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Integral Psychiatric and Recovery Services, a leading online mental health practice based in Detroit, Michigan. She specialises in treating major depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders, with a mission to make compassionate, high-quality psychiatric care accessible to all.
Born and raised in Detroit, Dr. Robinson grew up balancing athletics and academics—thriving as a tennis player at Cass Technical High School while developing an early passion for science. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology magna cum laude from Bowling Green State University before completing her medical degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine, where she discovered her calling in psychiatry.
Throughout her career, Dr. Jennifer Robinson Detroit has earned a reputation for her empathetic, holistic approach. Her virtual clinic combines evidence-based medicine with telehealth innovation, allowing patients to access care conveniently and confidently. She focuses on treating the whole person—mind, body, and lifestyle—helping individuals rebuild stability and wellness.
Beyond her practice, Dr. Robinson is deeply connected to her community. She is an active member of Pure Word Missionary Baptist Church, where she supports outreach efforts providing food, clothing, and resources to Detroit families in need. She also enjoys gardening, grilling, cooking, and travelling, drawing inspiration from new cultures and experiences.
Driven by compassion and vision, Dr. Jennifer Robinson continues to redefine modern psychiatry—building a future where mental health care is personal, inclusive, and within reach for everyone.
Q&A:
Q: You’ve built an impressive career as a psychiatrist and founder of Integral Psychiatric and Recovery Services. How do you personally define success?
A: For me, success is less about titles or achievements and more about impact. It’s about helping someone who has lost hope find their footing again. When a patient who once couldn’t get out of bed starts to laugh, plan, and participate in life again—that’s success. Professionally, it means building systems that make that kind of care accessible to more people. Personally, it means maintaining balance—keeping faith, family, and purpose at the centre of everything I do.
Q: You were born and raised in Detroit. How did that shape your outlook on success and resilience?
A: Growing up in Detroit taught me that success rarely comes easy, but it’s always possible. The city has this grit—it’s strong, creative, and deeply human. I remember watching my parents and neighbours work tirelessly to support their families and communities. That work ethic and sense of responsibility stuck with me.
In high school, I was juggling tennis practice at Cass Tech with AP courses and volunteering. Those early experiences taught me how to manage competing priorities and push through fatigue. I learned that hard work is only half of success—the other half is perseverance, especially when no one’s watching.
Q: What inspired you to choose psychiatry as your specialty?
A: I’ve always been fascinated by how the mind works. I started college studying biology and astronomy because I loved understanding systems—whether biological or cosmic. But when I went to medical school at Wayne State, I realised the most complex and awe-inspiring system of all is the human mind.
During my psychiatry rotations, I saw how powerful it was to listen, to really connect. I remember working with a patient who had schizophrenia. Everyone focused on his symptoms, but when I learned he used to play the trumpet, I brought it up in our next session. His whole posture changed—he became animated. That reminded me that healing starts when people feel seen. That moment sealed my path in psychiatry.
Q: You founded an online practice, Integral Psychiatric and Recovery Services, well before telehealth became mainstream. What motivated that decision?
A: Accessibility. I had patients who were skipping appointments because they couldn’t take time off work or lacked transportation. Others lived in areas where mental health care options were limited. I wanted to remove those barriers.
Launching an online clinic meant patients could get care from their homes, on their own terms. It wasn’t an easy decision—there were technological and regulatory hurdles—but it aligned with my belief that care should meet people where they are, not the other way around.
One of my earliest telehealth patients was a single mother battling depression while raising two kids. Video visits allowed her to get help during her lunch breaks without the stress of arranging childcare. Seeing her regain her confidence and energy reminded me why I started this work.
Q: How do you balance compassion and clinical objectivity in such an emotionally demanding field?
A: That’s something every psychiatrist wrestles with. You have to stay grounded. Compassion drives connection, but boundaries preserve effectiveness. I think of it like gardening—a metaphor that fits because I actually love gardening. You tend the soil, you nurture growth, but you can’t force it. You create conditions for healing, not the healing itself.
Spending time outside helps me decompress. I grill, I cook, I travel. Those things remind me of life beyond the clinic and help me bring my best self back to patients.
Q: What’s a moment in your career that changed your definition of success?
A: Early in my career, I had a patient with a substance use disorder who relapsed several times. I took it personally at first, thinking I hadn’t done enough. But over time, I realised success isn’t always linear. Recovery is a process.
That experience shifted how I approach my work. Instead of measuring success in outcomes alone, I measure it in effort—showing up consistently, offering support, and believing in progress even when it’s slow. Sometimes success is just helping someone make it through another day without giving up.
Q: What advice would you give to young professionals about defining success on their own terms?
A: Don’t let comparison set your standard. Success looks different at every stage. When I was in medical school, success meant passing my exams and keeping up with rotations. When I opened my practice, it meant sustainability and trust. Now, it’s about mentoring younger clinicians and giving back to the community that shaped me.
I also tell people to be patient with the process. Growth happens in quiet seasons, too. The most successful people I know didn’t rush their journey—they built it intentionally.
Q: Outside of your work, how do you define personal success?
A: For me, it’s about peace and purpose. It’s being able to look at the people around me—my patients, family, church community—and feel I’ve contributed something meaningful. My faith plays a big role in that. At Pure Word Missionary Baptist Church, I’m involved in outreach programmes that provide food and clothing for families in need. Those experiences ground me.
I think success should always circle back to service. It’s not just about what you achieve; it’s about how your achievements lift others.
Q: What’s next for you?
A: I want to continue expanding access to care, especially in underserved areas. I’m also interested in mentoring the next generation of psychiatrists—helping them see the person before the diagnosis. Long-term, I hope to write about the intersection of faith, resilience, and mental health.
Because at the end of the day, success isn’t a destination—it’s a practice. It’s about showing up with integrity, compassion, and purpose, no matter what the world looks like that day.