Integrative Psychiatry

Go beyond conventional psychiatric treatment.

Integrative psychiatry goes beyond the conventional approach to psychiatry, which assigns a diagnosis based on clusters of symptoms that may be highly stigmatizing.

This conventional method leaves patients feeling disempowered and ashamed that they have somehow failed at being “normal.”

Psychiatric medication prescribers (such as me) often treat their patients using medications to reduce or manage symptoms without addressing the root cause of the disorder.

Integrative psychiatry involves diagnosing and treating root causes of mental illness, mainly using Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) methods, while sometimes using the conventional tools of psychiatry.

Medication alone cannot address the problem.

I take what I like from conventional psychiatry’s toolkit and leave the rest behind.

My stance is not “anti-medication,” but I am critical of the over-prescription of pharmaceuticals, including those used to treat mental health disorders.

My philosophy emphasizes judicious use of medications in order to keep unnecessary chemicals and toxins out of the body and minimize side effects.

Let nature aid in the healing process.

I have a good deal of faith in nature’s ability to heal, which has led me to explore various alternative avenues of addressing mental and physical issues, such as through supplements and plant-based medicine, mindfulness, qigong, and somatic therapy.

The power of being in nature itself (hiking, forest bathing, swimming, etc.) can feel so healing!

While I have much to offer you in terms of non-medication routes to healing, there may be times I recommend medication. Alternatively, there may be times I refer you to a CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) provider who specializes in a modality that I think would benefit you.

Some of the CAM modalities include naturopathic or Ayurvedic medicine, acupuncture, herbalism, yoga or other body movement therapies, massage, or craniosacral therapy.

Some mental illnesses relate to physical health.

Root causes in the BODY include gut health, brain health, hormones, genetics, infections, chronic inflammation, and toxins such as metals or mold.

An integrative approach does not overlook what is happening in the body. Therefore, special lab tests can aid in the diagnosis of the potential physical cause of your illness.

Organic acids tests provide a metabolic snapshot of your overall health, looking at chemical compounds excreted in the urine.

Saliva tests for cortisol and DHEA help identify hormones with implications for “adrenal fatigue” from chronic stress and burnout.

Stool tests look for bacteria, fungus, yeast, parasites, or viruses that may be the culprits causing the problem.

Your mind can play a causative role.

With my integrative approach, we will explore the role that your MIND plays in illness.

Exploring your belief systems, trauma history, and life choices helps us understand how these factors may affect your body and mind.

Understanding the mind-body connection allows us to work with thoughts in a way that can release the impact of unhelpful and worn-out thought patterns on our nervous system, moving toward freedom from the grip of past events and attitudes.

Understanding the mind’s role is where supportive therapy, including somatic therapy, can be beneficial.

Lifestyle has a major effect on your physical and mental health.

In our integrative approach, we also will look at how your LIFESTYLE potentially contributes to your illness.

Your relationships, work, where you live, sleep and sleep habits, nutrition and eating habits, and physical activity are some lifestyle attributes that can affect your health.

So many changes are possible here! We’ll spend some time gaining insight into your values so that you can make choices that are in alignment with those values.

Spirituality plays an important role in mental wellness.

SPIRITUALITY is different from religion. It can be thought of as our deepest sense of belonging and connection – with self, others, nature, and a larger sense of wisdom and love.

Sometimes we get lost in our grief and suffering, becoming painfully disconnected from the bigger picture, our spiritual flow blocked.

Part of our work together will include exploring what gives your life meaning, and what gives you a sense of purpose and belonging. We will find ways to orient towards positive emotions – those of awe, love, trust, compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, joy, and hope – rather than focusing only on negative ones.

Let’s get to the root cause of your problem.

Conventional psychiatry often overlooks the root cause and relies on medication to fix the problem.

We will explore all attributes, including your body, mind, lifestyle, and spirituality, that makes you who you are.

Contact me today!