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Meet Our Psychiatrists

We are dedicated to providing individualized, comprehensive care with a commitment to total wellness.

Julie A. Guthrie, MD

Dr. Guthrie is co-founder and managing partner of Central Ohio Behavioral Medicine. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University (OSU), earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry and a Buckeye Award for Student Leadership
while at Ohio State. Dr. Guthrie attended The Ohio State University College of Medicine, earning Honors in Internal
Medicine before receiving the Doctor of Medicine degree. She completed her psychiatric training at OSU Hospitals
Department of Psychiatry, where she won awards for both teaching and research, and served as co-chief resident in her
final year. Dr. Guthrie started a solo practice in 1992 before joining with her partners in 1997 to create Central
Ohio Behavioral Medicine.

Dr. Guthrie is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in the evaluation and pharmacologic management of mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and adult attention deficit disorder. Dr. Guthrie has been providing compassionate psychiatric care for more than 30 years. During this time, she has gained expertise in a wide variety of clinical settings including office, hospital, community mental health, the university student mental health clinic, nursing homes, and the Ohio prison system. Dr. Guthrie is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association and has received the Best Doctors in America award multiple times since 1998.

Peter P. Zafirides, MD

Dr. Zafirides is a partner, co-founder and President of Central Ohio Behavioral Medicine.

He is a graduate of The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine. Dr. Zafirides completed his psychiatry residency at OSU Hospitals Department of
Psychiatry.

During his residency, he received awards in both clinical and teaching excellence. Dr. Zafirides also served as chief resident in his final year. Dr. Zafirides and his partners formed Central Ohio Behavioral Medicine in 1997

As a board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Zafirides has extensive experience in the evaluation and medical management of depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. His specific area of interest within psychiatry is the mind-body role of emotions and physical illness, especially chronic pain. Dr. Zafirides has been published in this area of psychiatry, lecturing both nationally and internationally on this topic.

With an existential orientation to psychotherapy, Dr. Zafirides has been greatly influenced by the work of Irvin Yalom, Viktor Frankl and Rollo May.

Dr. Zafirides is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association. He is a member of the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association (PPDA). He serves as an advisory board member for the National Institute of Whole Health. He is also a guest lecturer of psychopharmacology to graduate students in the OSU Counselor Education Program. Dr. Zafirides has received the Best Doctors In America recognition multiple times since 2005. He has also been recognized nationally with multiple Patients’ Choice Awards and Compassionate Doctor Awards since 2008

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Christine Bowers, MD

Dr. Bowers is pleased to have joined Central Ohio Behavioral Medicine in the summer of 2013. A board certified psychiatrist, she enjoys collaborating with individuals (and their families, when appropriate) to understand and manage their challenges with mood, anxiety and thought disorders. She has a special interest in helping individuals recover from trauma, abuse and loss. Dr Bowers uses a carefully balanced approach to managing medications (if needed) and health issues.
Beginning in 1990, Dr. Bowers additionally worked as a consulting psychiatrist for Children’s Home Association of Illinois, serving the mental health needs of Illinois youth placed in residential treatment. She became their medical director in 2001. Dr Bowers also served as Associate Professor to the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Her community interests included serving as Chairman of the Bioethics Committee for Methodist Medical Center. She was also President of the Board of Trustees for Peoria Academy. She received the Patient’s Choice Award in 2012. Dr. Bowers received her medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. She did her psychiatric residency at the University of Illinois in Chicago where she was Chief Resident in her senior year. Dr. Bowers has been a board certified physician since 1986 and a board certified psychiatrist since 1992. Dr. Bowers was in private practice for 23 years in Peoria, Il before relocating to Columbus.