Is Integrative Psychiatry right for you?
Is Integrative Psychiatry Right for You? How to Know If This Approach Fits Your Mental Health Goals
If you’ve been searching for mental health care that goes beyond just managing symptoms—one that takes your whole health into account—you may be wondering if integrative psychiatry is the right fit for you.
Integrative psychiatry is more than just a blend of conventional and holistic treatments. It’s a philosophy of care that recognizes the deep connection between mind and body. It’s for people who want more than a prescription—who are ready to take an active role in their mental well-being and are looking for a provider who sees them as a whole person, not just a diagnosis.
So, how do you know if this approach is right for you?
You Want to Understand the ‘Why’ Behind Your Symptoms
Many people come to integrative psychiatry because they’re frustrated with quick-fix solutions that don’t address the root cause of their symptoms. Whether it’s persistent anxiety, depression that doesn’t seem to improve, or brain fog that’s affecting your daily life, you want more than just symptom relief—you want answers.
Integrative psychiatry takes a deep dive into potential contributors to your mental health concerns, including:
Nutrient imbalances
Hormonal shifts
Gut health and inflammation
Sleep quality
Stress levels and nervous system regulation
By looking at the bigger picture, we create a treatment plan that goes beyond medication (though we can prescribe that too, if needed).
You’re Health-Conscious and Want a Provider Who Shares Your Values
If you already prioritize your health—whether through nutrition, movement, stress management, or mindfulness—you want a mental health provider who understands and supports those efforts.
In integrative psychiatry, we see lifestyle as the foundation of mental health, not an afterthought. We work with your body rather than against it, using:
Evidence-based supplements
Targeted nutrition strategies
Mind-body practices like meditation, breathwork, and movement
Thoughtful medication use, when necessary
You Prefer a Collaborative, Personalized Approach
You’re not looking for a one-size-fits-all solution. You want a provider who listens, who sees you as an individual, and who offers options—not just prescriptions.
Integrative psychiatry is a partnership. Instead of just handing you a treatment plan, we work together to find solutions that align with your lifestyle, values, and goals.
You’re Open to Exploring Both Conventional and Holistic Treatments
Maybe you’ve tried traditional psychiatric care before, and it didn’t feel quite right. Maybe you’ve explored holistic wellness but felt like something was missing. Integrative psychiatry bridges the gap—giving you access to the best of both worlds.
We combine the rigor of evidence-based medicine with the wisdom of holistic healing, offering a balanced, individualized approach that respects your preferences while prioritizing effectiveness.
Is Integrative Psychiatry Right for You?
If you’re ready to take a whole-person approach to mental health, one that considers your biology, lifestyle, and personal goals, integrative psychiatry could be the missing piece you’ve been looking for.
At my practice, I specialize in helping highly motivated, health-conscious individuals regain their mental clarity, balance, and resilience—without feeling like they’re just cycling through medications that don’t work.
If that sounds like you, let’s connect. Schedule a consultation today and take the next step toward feeling like yourself again.
Can my Nurse Practitioner also provide therapy?
It all begins with an idea.
Can My Nurse Practitioner Also Provide Therapy? Absolutely!
If you’re looking for therapy and medication management in one place, you might be wondering: Can I see my Nurse Practitioner for therapy as well? The answer is yes! In fact, when the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role was first introduced, we were actually called nurse psychotherapists—and therapy was all we did.
The History of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and Therapy
Psychiatric nurse practitioners have always been trained in holistic, patient-centered care, and psychotherapy was the foundation of our work. Over time, as the field evolved, our training programs added psychopharmacology (medication management) to our skillset. However, many of us never stopped valuing therapy—and some, like me, pursued additional training beyond our graduate education to continue offering high-quality psychotherapy to our patients.
Unfortunately, with the rise of managed care, many NP programs now emphasize medication management over therapy. But that doesn’t mean all PMHNPs stopped practicing therapy—it just means that those of us who love therapeutic work make it a priority to continue our education and refine our skills in psychotherapy.
The Benefits of Seeing a Nurse Practitioner Who Provides Therapy
When you see a psychiatric nurse practitioner for both medication and therapy, you get the best of both worlds:
A deeper understanding of your mental health – Instead of a quick check-in for medications, we have time to explore the full picture.
A true mind-body approach – I don’t just prescribe; I listen, guide, and support your mental health holistically.
More continuity, fewer appointments – No need to juggle multiple providers or repeat your story over and over again.
A therapeutic alliance built on trust – Therapy works best when you feel safe, supported, and truly understood.
Therapy and Medication in One Place
If you’re someone who values a strong therapeutic relationship, but also wants the option of medication when needed, working with a psychiatric nurse practitioner who provides therapy is like one-stop shopping for your mental health. Instead of seeing a separate psychiatrist and therapist, you get both in one appointment, allowing for seamless, personalized care that meets your needs.
Ready to Start?
If you’re looking for a provider who offers therapy and medication management in one—and who takes a holistic, compassionate approach to mental health—we might be a great fit.
Schedule a consultation today to see if an integrative approach might be right for you.
The Gut-Brain Connection
The Gut-Brain Connection: How Your Nutrition and Digestion Affects Your Mental Health
If you’ve ever had a “gut feeling” about something or felt butterflies in your stomach when nervous, you already know that your brain and gut are deeply connected. But what if I told you that your digestive health plays a direct role in your mood, anxiety levels, and overall mental well-being?
This isn’t just a theory—it’s backed by science. And if you’ve been struggling with anxiety, depression, brain fog, or even chronic stress, your gut may be the missing piece of the puzzle.
How Your Gut and Brain Communicate
Your gut and brain are in constant conversation through a network called the gut-brain axis. This is a two-way street where your digestive system influences brain function, and your mental state impacts gut health.
At the center of this connection is your gut microbiome—the trillions of bacteria that live in your digestive tract. These microbes do more than just break down food; they help produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which regulate mood, stress, and cognitive function. In fact, about 90% of serotonin (your brain’s feel-good chemical) is produced in the gut!
When your gut is healthy, this system works smoothly. But when it’s inflamed, imbalanced, or compromised, it can contribute to:
Anxiety and depression
Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
Chronic stress and fatigue
Poor sleep and low energy
Increased sensitivity to stress
Signs Your Gut Might Be Affecting Your Mental Health
If you’re experiencing both digestive issues and mood symptoms, your gut-brain axis may be out of balance. Common red flags include:
Frequent bloating, gas, or stomach discomfort
Food sensitivities or unexplained digestive issues
Chronic constipation or diarrhea
Skin issues like acne, eczema, or rosacea (which can be linked to gut inflammation)
Feeling wired but tired, especially after eating
Brain fog, sluggish thinking, or trouble focusing
Increased anxiety, irritability, or depressive symptoms without a clear trigger
The Root Causes: Why Your Gut Might Be Out of Balance
Several factors can throw off the gut-brain connection, including:
Inflammation & Leaky Gut – When the gut lining is compromised, toxins and food particles enter the bloodstream, triggering immune responses that can lead to mood disturbances.
Dysbiosis (Imbalanced Gut Bacteria) – Too many “bad” bacteria and not enough “good” ones can increase anxiety, depression, and cognitive issues.
Nutrient Deficiencies – Low levels of magnesium, B vitamins, zinc, and omega-3s (all crucial for brain function) are often tied to poor gut health.
Chronic Stress – Stress changes gut bacteria composition, slows digestion, and increases inflammation, creating a vicious cycle.
Blood Sugar Imbalances – Frequent spikes and crashes from a high-sugar, ultra-processed diet can fuel both gut dysfunction and mood instability.
How to Heal Your Gut and Support Your Mental Health
The good news? By improving your gut health, you can support both your digestion and your mental well-being. In my integrative psychiatry practice, we take a whole-body approach that may include:
Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition – A diet rich in whole foods, fiber, and fermented foods can support gut balance and brain function.
Probiotics & Prebiotics – Targeted supplements or gut-healing foods like kefir, kimchi, and fiber-rich plants help feed good bacteria.
Stress Management – Mindfulness, breathwork, and nervous system regulation reduce stress’s impact on gut health.
Functional Testing – Advanced lab tests can check for microbiome imbalances, food sensitivities, and nutrient deficiencies.
Personalized Treatment Plans – Whether through nutrition, supplements, therapy, or lifestyle shifts, we create a plan tailored to your needs.
Your Gut Health Matters—And So Does Your Mental Health
If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, depression, brain fog, or stress that just won’t go away, it might be time to look beyond just the brain. Your gut could be playing a bigger role than you realize.
At my practice, I specialize in integrative psychiatry that connects the dots between mind and body. If you’re ready to get to the root cause of your symptoms and start feeling better, I’d love to help.
Book a consultation today, and let’s start your journey to healing—inside and out.
What is Integrative Psychiatry?
What Is Integrative Psychiatry? A Whole-Person Approach to Mental Wellness
If you’ve ever felt like conventional mental health care wasn’t quite enough—like there had to be a deeper, more holistic way to heal—then you’re in the right place.
Integrative psychiatry is an approach that goes beyond simply managing symptoms. It’s about understanding the whole person—your lifestyle, nutrition, stress levels, gut health, sleep quality, and more—to create a treatment plan that aligns with your body, mind, and long-term well-being.
How Is Integrative Psychiatry Different?
Traditional psychiatry often focuses on diagnosing conditions and prescribing medications. While medication can be an important tool, it’s not the only tool. Integrative psychiatry takes a broader, more personalized approach by asking:
What’s at the root of your symptoms?
How are nutrition, hormones, and inflammation affecting your mental health?
Are there lifestyle shifts that could make a profound difference?
What natural therapies could complement your treatment plan?
This approach combines the best of conventional psychiatry (medications, psychotherapy, evidence-based treatments) with holistic and functional medicine strategies (nutrition, supplements, mind-body practices, and advanced lab testing).
Who Is Integrative Psychiatry For?
My practice is designed for individuals who are:
Proactive about their health and want to understand the “why” behind their symptoms.
High-functioning but struggling with anxiety, stress, brain fog, or low energy.
Frustrated with conventional approaches and looking for something more comprehensive.
Motivated to make lifestyle changes that can create long-lasting mental wellness.
Interested in natural and evidence-based treatments that align with their values.
If you’ve ever wondered why you feel off despite “normal” labs or why traditional treatments haven’t fully resolved your symptoms, an integrative approach may be the missing piece.
What to Expect From Integrative Psychiatric Care
In my practice, every treatment plan is personalized. We’ll look at:
Nutrition & Gut Health – How food and gut health impact your mood, energy, and brain function.
Advanced Lab Testing – To assess hormones, inflammation, nutrient levels, and more.
Mind-Body Connection – Techniques to regulate stress, anxiety, and sleep.
Targeted Supplements – Evidence-based options to support brain health.
Medication (if needed) – Used thoughtfully and in alignment with your goals.
This is mental health care that’s rooted in science but personalized for you.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re ready to stop treating symptoms and start addressing the root causes of your mental health concerns, integrative psychiatry may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Schedule a consultation today and let’s create a plan that supports your mind and body—so you can feel like yourself again.
The most frequently asked questions about my practice…
Q: What is integrative psychiatry?
A: Let me first tell you what it isn't-
Integrative psychiatry is not anti-medication. Instead, using an integrative approach means drawing from the best of ALL treatment modalities including talk therapy, exercise and lifestyle coaching, nutrition recommendations, evidence-based supplement and nutraceutical protocols, and judicious use of medications, if needed. My goal is to understand the underlying cause of your symptoms and encourage your body to do what it knows how to do- heal itself. We may do basic or more advanced/functional lab testing, if indicated, to insure that we're covering all our bases and that your care plan is thorough and thoughtful.
Q: Do you take my insurance?
A: I have opted out of working with insurance companies, as I feel this enables me to give the highest quality care. This does not mean your insurance won't cover part of the cost of my services. I am not only able to provide a superbill, but I am partnered with a service called Reimbursify, which allows me to create an account on your behalf and submit your superbill to your insurance myself as an added convenience to you.
Q: How do I schedule an appointment with you?
A: Click on any of the "Schedule a 15 minute consultation" buttons and send me a message. I'll send you an email and we'll set up a time to talk. If it feels like we’re a good fit, we'll book your first appointment together, and then you'll have access to my booking widget to schedule your follow up appointments.
Q: Why work with you rather than someone who takes my insurance?
A: If you prefer short 15-20 minute appointments for medication refills and little else, then you might benefit from seeing someone who is in network for your insurance. If you are seeking a trusted ally in your mental health who will dedicate ample time to focus on your treatment plan and goals, and select thoughtfully from multiple modalities to tailor treatment to your needs, you may be best served by seeing an out of network provider like me. Additionally, many of my patients do get partial reimbursement for my services when we submit claims for out of network coverage through Reimbursify.
Q: Is seeing a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner the same as seeing a Psychiatrist?
A: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and Psychiatrists are both trained to assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions with medications and psychotherapy. We often perform the same role in mental health care. Numerous studies have also found that patient outcomes for nurse practitioners are equivalent to, and in some cases better than, those of physicians.
By choosing to work with a nurse practitioner, you are working with a provider who was trained within the holistic nursing model--to care for the whole person, in addition to treating disease. Many psychiatrists adopt this philosophy of care as well, but for NP's, it's a foundation of our training from day one. Whether you see a Nurse Practitioner or a Psychiatrist is a personal decision, but you can rest assured that if you do see a nurse practitioner, you are in well-trained, capable and compassionate hands.