We’re proud to share that Dr. Michelle Dees, board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Luxury Psychiatry Clinic, was recently featured in HuffPost’s January 2025 article, “The ‘Platter Trick’ Helped Me Rethink My Priorities For The New Year.” The piece explores an alternative to traditional New Year’s resolutions, encouraging readers to visualize their priorities as a platter of foods—each representing an area of life such as work, family, health, creativity, and rest. The exercise, inspired by Hoda Kotb, helps people identify which commitments are nourishing, which are draining, and which deserve more space in their daily lives.
In the article, writer Sheryl Berk shares her own experience with the platter exercise, using a charcuterie board to represent different life priorities. What she found was a visual reminder of imbalance: her work consumed far too much space, her wellness was nearly nonexistent, and her creative pursuits were an afterthought. Experts then weighed in on the psychological impact of this approach, underscoring why this metaphor resonates. Psychologist Cynthia Vejar praised the tool for making abstract priorities concrete and accessible, while licensed counselor Stacy Thiry emphasized how the method helps people set boundaries and recognize emotional “hot spots” that drain their energy.
Dr. Dees brought a psychiatrist’s perspective to the conversation, highlighting the importance of “cleaning your platter” to regain balance. She encouraged readers to reflect on what truly brings satisfaction and accomplishment, noting that it’s easy to lose sight of these essentials when caught up in daily minutia. She added that concentrating on meaningful pursuits is key to living more purposefully, reminding readers that self-care, creativity, and rest are not luxuries but essential components of mental health. Her insights reinforce the idea that letting go of inconsequential obligations creates room for what really matters.
The significance of Dr. Dees’s contribution is that she reframes the platter trick not just as a productivity hack, but as a clinical tool for improving mental wellness. By connecting intentional living with psychological balance, she validates that small, mindful adjustments can reduce burnout, improve focus, and increase fulfillment. In a cultural moment where overcommitment is celebrated and rest often feels undeserved, her voice provides both authority and reassurance: you don’t need to earn self-care—it’s a prerequisite for thriving.
At Luxury Psychiatry Clinic, we carry this same philosophy into every aspect of care. Our services include:
- Advanced psychiatry and personalized medication management
- TMS and Exomind® therapy for depression, focus, and cognitive balance
- Spravato® (esketamine) treatment for treatment-resistant depression
- Integrative psychotherapy addressing stress, burnout, and anxiety
- Comprehensive wellness planning tailored to personal and professional priorities
With offices in Chicago, IL and Orlando, FL, Luxury Psychiatry Clinic provides evidence-based, compassionate care designed to help patients realign their mental health with their values.
Dr. Dees’s feature in HuffPost underscores our mission: to help patients clear space on their platter, let go of what drains them, and create a life that feels balanced, purposeful, and worth savoring.
