Dr. Karl Benzio, MD

Karl Benzio, M.D., is a Christian psychiatrist, writer, frequent media guest—TV, radio, print, and Internet—and preferred conference speaker over a wide range of Behavioral Health issues and their impact on individuals, families, society, and social policy issues.

Education:
Dr. Benzio received his B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering with focus in Central Nervous System imaging from Duke University, his M.D. from Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School, and completed his Psychiatric Residency at UC–Irvine.

PsychoSpiritual Philosophy
Dr. Benzio’s training and experience as a physician (BODY), psychiatrist (MIND), as a biomedical engineer (BRAIN CIRCUITRY), as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ (SPIRIT)—and as a sinner who used to drink to excess—combine in Karl’s having developed a unique cutting-edge BioPsychoSpiritual model focusing on the Spiritual Discipline of Decision-Making.

Dr. Benzio’s SPEARS tool has been powerfully effective in helping many patients access the psychospiritual healing and awakening Jesus taught, role-modeled, and provides.

Professional Highlights:
A broad range of experience and a wide variety of field-related opportunities and activities contribute to Dr. Benzio’s practice.

• Practicing psychiatrist since 1989
• Provided expert testimony for the President’s Bioethics Committee
• Provided expert testimony for the United States Congress regarding Behavioral Health issues following natural disasters
• Provided expert testimony for a number of state legislatures and District of Columbia on various social policy issues, including abortion/prolife, right of conscience, same sex marriage, homosexuality, transgender, and physician assisted suicide.
• Recognized and awarded by the Salvation Army for Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts and aid
• Taught workshops in counseling, marriage, parenting, forgiveness, leadership, decision-making
• Taught college courses in conflict resolution skills to pastors, community leaders, and college students in Kenya after the bombing of the U.S. Embassy
• Led a team of 7 to teach counseling and decision-making skills while facilitating a healing workshop for 50 mentors and 486 children, victims of Joseph Kony’s ruthless abuses in Uganda and Sudan
• Led the first Behavioral Health team invited by the Iraqi government into post-Hussein Iraq, consulting and teaching his Decision-Making and Treatment curriculum to Muslim Iraqi national healthcare providers and Christian churches
• Serves on Focus on the Family’s Physician Resource Council, reviewing content and resources for medical, psychological, and scientific accuracy using a Biblical worldview
• Served as Pennsylvania State Director of the American Academy of Medical Ethics
• Member of various national task forces fighting physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia, abortion, stem cell research, legalization of recreational marijuana, same-sex marriage legislation and related issues, protecting freedom of religion, Right of Conscience for professionals, and access to pro-heterosexual and birth-gender affirming therapy
• Member and media spokesperson for the Christian Medical and Dental Association
• Content provider for iDisciple and YouVersion
• Member and Regular Addiction Track Conference speaker for American Association of Christian Counselors
• Writes the unique Stepping Stones Daily Devotional impacting many around the world
• Dr. Karl’s Life Change Radio Minute airs daily on over 425 radio stations

Mission:
Dr. Benzio passionately continues the behavioral health revolution the Great Physician and Wonderful Counselor, Jesus, started; revealing science’s validation of the Bible, demonstrating the Bible has the answers for healing our minds and transforming our lives, and helping Christians become Lighthouse’s so others would see God’s power, love, forgiveness, grace, and peace through their Biblical living.

Current Occupation:

• Private practice located in Doylestown, PA,
• Founder and Director of Lighthouse Network, a national nonprofit ministry. Lighthouse Network develops Faith-based Behavioral Health life impacting resources. Lighthouse Helpline provides expertise in connecting struggling people to faith-based addiction and mental health treatment options. www.LighthouseNetwork.org
• Honey Lake Clinic Medical Director, providing clinical guidance to staff and direct psychiatric care for the patients in a unique Christian residential setting.

Personal:
Karl married his best friend, Martine, in [year], together raising three daughters: Dominique (husband Adam), Nicole (fiancé Connor), and Gigi. Karl loves travel, psychologically intriguing TV shows/movies, anything about decision-making, and sports, especially Pittsburgh and Duke teams.