Integrative and Functional Psychiatry is whole person psychiatry. It aims for a sense of wellness at all levels - emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It is a holistic approach to mental health care that considers the biological, lifestyle, environmental, social, and psychological factors contributing to symptoms.

Integrative psychiatry is oriented around mind-body connection rather than mind-body split, with a goal that goes beyond symptom-relief. We aim for a sense of wholeness of mind, body and spirit.

What do you mean by "integrative?"

Integrative psychiatry is the overarching philosophy for how I practice. It is a holistic, approach that combines conventional psychiatric treatments with complementary therapies to treat the whole person. We may use medications, psychotherapy, botanicals, supplements, mindfulness approaches, nutrition, exercise, acupuncture or body work referrals, for example.

What is functional psychiatry?

Functional medicine is a branch of Western medicine that investigates the root causes of illness by examining the complex interactions between genetics, biochemistry, environment, and lifestyle. In psychiatry, this means looking at how factors like nutrition, gut health, hormones, inflammation, toxin burden and trauma impact mental health and brain function.

Western medicine doctors generally assess symptoms and apply treatment protocols for your diagnosis based on research evidence. In functional psychiatry, we use precision medicine approaches to look at how your unique genes, environment, and lifestyle intersect to create an individualized treatment plan.

Precision medicine is an emerging approach that means we tailor the treatment specifically to your body. We are guided by lab assessments, research evidence, and clinical reasoning rather than a "one-size-fits all" protocol.

A functional psychiatry approach is especially helpful for chronic symptoms that conventional Western medicine struggles to treat - such as fatigue, "brain fog," or treatment-resistant depression - because it targets the underlying biological imbalances that may be preventing your body from functioning optimally.

Can you give me an example?

In functional medicine, we think about the complex interactions between systems of the body and the physiology driving symptoms. For example, if you are struggling with depression, we might approach it this way:

• prescribe anti-depressant medication based on psychiatric research,

• use supplements that have evidence for symptom relief,

• order labs to evaluate if you have adequate micronutrients as the building blocks to make necessary neurotransmitters and also blood tests looking at the genetics influencing your metabolic pathways,

• explore if there are dietary factors or if gut health is impacting ability to digest food leading to a deficiency of micronutrients,

• investigate if there are other inflammatory issues such as autoimmune conditions or infections triggering neuroinflammation,

• explore past trauma impacting nervous system regulation and consider ways to help regain a felt sense of safety.

Thinking physiologically and having this personalized information helps us target treatments more precisely for your body.

In my practice, this work is always held in the context of a supportive relationship, since that is good medicine and the foundation for nervous system health.

The goal of therapy is to help you connect with the depth and fullness of who you are as a human being and to open more fully into your life. For all human beings, relationships are one of the places we can become most wounded and closed, and they are also one of the most powerful vehicles for healing.

I practice psychodynamic therapy, which is a relationally-oriented therapy that looks to explore unconscious processes and prior emotional experiences that are impacting your present relationship with yourself and others. We work within the framework of our relationship to learn about patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that may have helped you cope earlier in your environment but that no longer fully serve you today. I also incorporate mindfulness and somatic practices where appropriate.

In our work together, I strive to gain a deep and personal understanding of who you are and where you are struggling. Bringing greater awareness to these processes together can help you feel deeply seen, remove obstacles, and allow you to make more conscious choices in your life. The goal is for you to feel more alive and satisfied in your relationships, work and daily pursuits. Through this process of reflection and exploration, we can support you to make practical positive changes in your life.

I would be happy to meet with you for a second opinion consultation to help you gain more information about your treatment options.

A consultation can also be helpful when you are already working with a provider (primary care provider or OB/gyn, for example) but would like a specialized assessment, including treatment recommendations, to help guide your care.

I also provide consultation to medical or mental health colleagues who would like additional input on assessment and treatment planning or supporting patients in psychotherapy.