Integrative or holistic psychiatry can sometimes get misunderstood as being “anti-medication.” That’s not actually the case. What makes this approach different is not whether medication is used, but how it’s used: always with thought and intention, and with other treatment modalities alongside it.
If you’ve ever felt unsure about medication, or wondered if it’s really your only choice, you’re asking the right questions. This article will walk you through how integrative psychiatry approaches medication management, and what makes it different.
Note: For the sake of simplicity, we use “integrative,” “holistic,” “comprehensive,” and “functional” interchangeably in this article. But there are subtle but important differences between these areas.
The Lieberman Center for Psychotherapeutics is a mental health clinic in New York providing integrative psychiatry in NYC, Long Island (Nassau County), and Westchester County (Scarsdale). Schedule a free consultation now.
When and how do integrative or holistic psychiatrists prescribe medication?
Integrative and holistic psychiatry providers can and do prescribe medication. We are not “anti-medication.”
Psychiatric medications can be an important, and at times essential, part of mental health care. Many people find symptom relief through medication that they weren’t able to achieve with therapy or other complementary approaches alone.
Every provider has different guidelines and justifications when it comes to medication. But generally, providers who take a more integrative or holistic approach may recommend medication when:
- Your symptoms haven’t improved with psychotherapy and lifestyle changes, even after numerous sustained attempts
- You need medication short term to stabilize and get out of crisis
- Research has consistently shown that medication outperforms other treatment options for your specific mental health condition (for example, medication for ADHD – although this can also be successfully managed without medication)
- Medication would significantly improve your overall health and well-being
- Not taking medication would lead to significant risks to your life and functioning
There are many occasions when medication is appropriate and evidence-based guidelines support its use. But it should never be the only factor in treatment. It’s always used as one prong of a more comprehensive treatment plan.
This ensures that your care addresses both immediate symptom relief and the underlying factors that may be contributing to your mental health, rather than relying on medication alone as a long-term solution.
How integrative or holistic psychiatry differs from traditional psychiatry
Taking a comprehensive approach to mental health care means we treat the whole person, not just surface symptoms.
Here are some of the ways these approaches differ from conventional treatments.
Getting to the root cause of mental health conditions
The primary way that these approaches differ from traditional psychiatric care is that we focus on discovering the underlying cause of any mental health issues you may be experiencing.
For example, let’s say you’re a C-suite executive experiencing insomnia. A conventional psychiatry provider may simply prescribe sleep aids. These medications may help you fall asleep faster, but there’s a glaring problem: you still don’t understand why you’re experiencing insomnia to begin with.
A provider who takes a more holistic care approach doesn’t just treat symptoms — they focus on finding the root causes of those symptoms.
Just prescribing sleep aids doesn’t actually help you improve sleep long-term. You might fall asleep more quickly, but that sleep isn’t more restful. You’re not addressing the actual reason behind the sleep difficulties.
More individualized treatment plans
No two people experience mental health in exactly the same way, even when they have the same diagnosis on paper. A personalized treatment plan takes into account your history, biology, environment, and goals — not just your diagnosis and surface-level symptoms. It’s more than just prescribing the most widely-used medication and being done with it.
This allows your provider to tailor care in a way that actually fits your life, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
For example, two people with bipolar disorder may require very different treatment strategies.
One person might be in an acute phase of the condition and need medication to maintain stability and reduce risk. Another may have lived with bipolar disorder since adolescence, developed strong self-awareness, and learned to manage symptoms using a combination of different tools.
Both approaches can be valid, and both may still include medication at different points in time.
A comprehensive plan may incorporate multiple evidence-based approaches depending on what’s most effective for you. This can include cognitive behavioral therapy, targeted nutritional supplementation, exercise regimens, and carefully considered medication use when appropriate.
Stronger focus on your overall wellness
Integrative psychiatry also places a stronger emphasis on your overall wellness, not just mental health symptoms. We unde
rstand that mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Your financial, social, spiritual, and physical health are all connected, too.
We help you take a good look at how your daily habits and environment influence your mental health, and make adjustments
that can significantly improve how you feel over time.
This can include things like:
- Building a consistent exercise routine
- Adjusting your diet to ensure you’re getting the right nutrients for your overall well-being
- Increasing your exposure to natural light
- Addressing areas of your life that may be contributing to chronic stress (like burnout or financial anxiety)
- Improving your marriage and other important relationships
- Possibly exploring spiritual health
- Reconnecting with a sense of purpose in your life
Rather than viewing mental health in isolation, this approach recognizes that your mental well-being is closely tied to how you live day to day. Real change often happens outside of medication alone.
Work with a psychiatric nurse practitioner providing integrative psychiatry in New York
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive and clinically rigorous approach to your mental health care, integrative psychiatry can provide a different path.
At the Lieberman Center for Psychotherapeutics, we run a wide range of diagnostic evaluations, including a psychiatric assessment and bloodwork, to better understand what’s really going on.
We use medication when it’s appropriate and combine it with evidence-based strategies that support your overall functioning.
Book a free discovery call today to start integrative psychiatry in New York. We have convenient office locations in NYC, Long Island (Garden City), and Westchester County (Scarsdale).