What is integrative psychiatry?

I will first say that I am super biased since I practice integrative psychiatry. And second, I think integrative psychiatry is the best way to practice psychiatry. Ok disclaimers aside, at its core this approach is about seeing mental health holistically. You are not just a list of symptoms!  It means embracing all evidence-based treatment options (including the less conventional) and seeking to address the root causes of suffering. 

Putting it all together, integrative psychiatry is a unique approach to mental health care that integrates conventional psychiatric treatments with complementary and alternative evidence-based therapies. It looks at the whole person with focus on the mind-body-spirit connection as well as the biological, social and psychological factors that contribute to mental health.

My approach to integrative psychiatry focuses on both the now and the later. I don’t think it’s enough to help you feel better now. I want to help you create a resilient foundation for the future. My practice philosophy is this: By nature life ebbs and flows; I work with you to find meaning and balance. Because the truth is that life can be painful, uncomfortable and unfair at times. We can’t eliminate that – it’s part of being human. What we can do is holistically address factors which will allow for more ease, meaning and hope moving forward. 

Factors that can be addressed include: nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, habits, physical movement, alternative medicine approaches, mind-body connection, supplements/botanicals, medication management (including de-prescribing), psychological mind set and patterns of behaving and relating, medical factors, integrative laboratory work up and more. As you can see the list of options is long which can be both exciting (we have a lot of options to help you feel better) and daunting (we really need to personalize what we address to what makes most sense for you).  

If you have felt let down by traditional psychiatric medication management or are looking for a more natural or holistic approach to enhancing your mental health, I strongly urge to you consider seeking integrative psychiatric care.  And if you think I might be a good fit as a provider,, please consider setting up a free 15-minute discovery call with me to learn more about my practice. 

Thanks for reading!

Warmly,

Dr Amy

Short disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or consultation.