About OUR APPROACH

---

"Does that mean just selling people supplements?"

- My PCP's reaction when I told her I was leaving the inpatient unit to complete integrative psychiatry training

"If a doctor sees a patient complaining of hopelessness, sadness, trouble sleeping, low sex drive, and lack of appetite, the doctor will diagnose depression. But 'depression' is just the name we give to be people who share those symptoms. It says nothing about the causes of those symptoms, which could be many."  

- Mark Hyman

I  myself was very skeptical of integrative psychiatry/functional medicine when I first learned about it years ago. So why do I now offer this approach, and what does it entail? 

Q: Why do I offer this approach? A: Because we don't know what we don't know, and medicine is still young.
Antibiotics and insulin have been around for barely a century; the structure of DNA was described during my grandfather’s lifetime. Psychiatry is even newer territory, and we’re still piecing together why mental illnesses arise and how best to treat them. The medications we have today can be transformative, yet they don’t help everyone. Integrative psychiatry widens the toolkit—adding careful medical sleuthing, lifestyle changes, and evidence-based innovations—so that when the usual playbook falls short, we have other avenues to explore.

Q: What does it entail? 

A: "Integrative psychiatry" does not have an agreed upon definition. I've seen some clinicians using the phrase to mean they encourage patients to practice yoga and mindfulness, and others meaning they offer treatments like ketamine and TMS. To me, it means combining detective work, practical lifestyle coaching, and an open but discerning eye toward new science. 

1. Starting with the basics—ruling out the obvious (and the not-so-obvious).
Before talking supplements or advanced testing, I look for straightforward medical causes that can masquerade as—or magnify—psychiatric symptoms. That includes checking for • nutrient gaps (iron and ferritin, B-vitamins, omega-3s, vitamin D) that routine labs sometimes miss; • autoimmune problems such as Celiac disease and PANS/PANDAS. Making sure these are identified—or confidently ruled out—keeps treatment anchored in good medicine.

2. Building a solid lifestyle foundation.
Medication can be life-changing, but day-to-day habits still move the needle. In a non-judgmental approach, I encourage patients to explore and be mindful of some of the following:

• Screen use – not just how long, but what we’re watching during what time of day, and how it leaves us feeling.
• Food that actually nourishes – finding easy, tasty ways to work more nutrient-dense options onto the plate.
• Movement and play – adding activities that are fun or mentally engaging, not just another chore.
• Joy, challenge, and purpose – making room for hobbies, relationships, and goals that light people up.

3. Staying curious about what’s next.
Psychiatry is evolving quickly. I keep up with research on genetics, metabolomics, and other “-omics” tools that can point us toward more personalized care—especially for those who’ve tried several treatments without relief. When newer tests seem likely to offer real insight, I introduce them carefully—and always with an eye toward cost. I typically start with conventional lab testing that’s often covered by insurance, and only recommend more specialized or functional medicine testing when it’s more clearly supported by symptoms or clinical history. The goal is to expand options without overwhelming patients—financially or otherwise. (And unlike some other integrative  providers, I do not profit from my approach. I offer lab tests at cost and make no money from supplement referrals.) 

It’s not that practices like yoga or mindfulness—or treatments like ketamine or TMS—aren’t valuable. They absolutely can be. But in my experience, starting with the basics—like understanding root causes, improving daily rhythms, and supporting physical health—often creates a strong foundation that makes everything else work better. For patients who may benefit from interventions on either end of the integrative spectrum, I’m always happy to coordinate care or refer to trusted providers.