Our Team
Dr. Kris Peterson
MD, Psychiatrist, Medical Director
We haven’t met a doctor who cares more about his patients and their success.
Dr. Peterson is a double-board-certified physician in General Psychiatry and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with over 25 years of experience.
A PNW native who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York, he went on to attend the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland for Medical School. He worked as an intern and resident in Psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. He went on to complete his fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
At Madigan Army Medical Center, Dr. Peterson started the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry program and moved on to serve as the Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Madigan for over seven years.
Dr. Peterson retired as an Army Colonel in 2012 and now serves both the civilian and military community though his growing practice in Lakewood with a specialty in effective treatments for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD), Anxiety, and PTSD. His wife and 3 kids are a strong support to him and to his practice.
Carissa Thomas
TMS Technician
Carissa is a champion of patients and a phenomenal patient advocate. Her desire to help is unwavering and patients love being able to choose whatever works best for them when they’re in to see her: conversation, genuine & extensive life experience, a listening ear, or simply a highly qualified TMS Technician to oversee their treatment while they relax in our reclining treatment chair and tranquil office setting. Some wonder if they can come back just to visit! We hope you can experience the warmth that comes with seeing Carissa.
Lora Santos
Billing and Insurance Coordinator
Lora joined the team with over 13 years of billing experience under her belt. She leverages this expertise to ensure that our patient experience is as smooth as possible. To that end, Lora began work in the TMS field in early 2018, affording her significant experience in this growing industry and the related process of navigating the widely-varying insurance requirements for TMS coverage. Adding to that, Lora boasts a strong desire to educate people about the extensive benefits of TMS Treatment and truly gives it her all to support patients and secure approval for them to begin their treatment with us. Follow-up and troubleshooting insurance & billing issues are two of her strong suits: you can bet she won’t leave you behind just because the situation gets complicated.
Zach Zimmerman
Business Operations Director
Zach brings a passion for mental health to the clinic’s business operations, aligning perfectly with our mission to treat mental health disorders and create an effective environment where we can help patients improve their lives. When not in the clinic, he can be found volunteering for the Crisis Text Line or exploring the outdoors. (With his computer and phone nearby!) One of Zach’s main objectives for Touchstone TMS outside the Clinic is to use the Practice to raise awareness on the effects of Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD. In support of that goal, we strive to begin outreach programs in Spring 2020 to educate the community in recognizing how these conditions may be affecting people they know, what they can do to support those people, and to promote valuable resources.