Integrative mental health is an approach that blends traditional therapies, including medications and psychotherapy, with complementary treatments, including nutrition, lifestyle changes, and mind-body practices. An integrative approach treats the whole person- the mind, body, and spirit- and recognizes that mental health conditions are often influenced by multiple factors including biology, environment, and mindset. An integrative approach to mental health takes a comprehensive view, focusing on identifying root causes and striving not only to alleviate symptoms but also to foster long-term wellness and resilience.
Recently, many people have become frustrated with conventional treatment methods for mental health conditions, particularly when medications alone don’t seem to offer relief. Integrative care offers a broader toolbox by exploring the deeper causes of mental health concerns, in addition to providing more individualized care.
Traditional vs. Integrative Approaches to Mental Health
Traditional mental health care is often medication centered. It focuses on symptoms and diagnoses. If someone is diagnosed with depression or anxiety, they are usually prescribed antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and/or mood stabilizers. Sometimes psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is also recommended. This approach can work well for some, but others may experience persistent symptoms, troublesome side effects, and/or a lack of long-term improvement.
Why is that? A significant challenge in the traditional model is that the treatment focuses on symptom management rather than addressing underlying root causes. A patient with treatment-resistant depression, for example, may try multiple medications—sometimes switching every few months—with little relief. Some patients experience side effects, such as weight gain, fatigue, or sexual dysfunction, which can make it difficult to stay on a treatment plan. If the medications are ineffective, patients may feel stuck, frustrated, or hopeless.
In contrast, integrative mental health care takes a more holistic approach. It begins with the recognition that mental health is far more complex than just chemical imbalances in the brain. It is shaped by a dynamic interplay of factors like diet, sleep, hormonal balance, gut health, lifestyle, mindset, and more. This approach is completely individualized, considering not only a person’s wants and needs, but also their unique biology, experiences, genetics, and more.
A Patient Scenario: Depression with No Clear Solution
Let’s imagine a patient named Sarah who has been struggling with depression for several years. Sarah has tried nearly every class of antidepressants—SSRIs, SNRIs, and atypical antidepressants—without success. Some medications helped for a short time, but she would often need to switch due to side effects like weight gain, brain fog, or extreme fatigue. Her psychiatrist increases doses, changes medications, and suggests more combinations, but nothing seems to make a lasting difference. Sarah begins to wonder if she will ever feel better.
Traditional Approach: More Medications, Little Relief
In a traditional setting, Sarah’s treatment focuses almost exclusively on managing symptoms through medication. Her psychiatrist continues to adjust her prescriptions every few months, trying to find a better fit. Sarah feels like a guinea pig, experimenting with medications but experiencing more side effects than relief. Therapy may be suggested, but if Sarah is too fatigued or foggy to engage meaningfully, it becomes difficult to benefit from the sessions. Over time, she feels increasingly hopeless, believing there is something “wrong” with her that can’t be fixed.
Integrative Approach: Looking Deeper
When Sarah visits an integrative mental health provider, the first step is a comprehensive assessment that goes beyond her depression symptoms. Her provider orders several tests, including:
Thyroid panel: Hypothyroidism can mimic depression and is sometimes missed with standard lab testing.
Hormone levels: Sarah’s estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are tested, as hormone imbalances can contribute to mood changes, especially in women.
Vitamin and mineral levels: A blood test reveals that Sarah is deficient in vitamin D and magnesium, both of which are essential for brain health.
Gut health assessment: Chronic gut issues, such as dysbiosis or inflammation, are common in people suffering from mental health conditions.
Based on these findings, Sarah’s treatment plan becomes more personalized. Her integrative provider starts her with a vitamin D supplement and magnesium supplement to address her deficiencies, and she’s given thyroid medication to support her underactive thyroid. Her provider also works with her to improve her diet by recommending foods rich in healthy fats, leafy greens, and lean proteins. Sarah is also prescribed an anti-inflammatory diet which helps her reduce sugar and processed foods, which can trigger inflammation, worsening depressive symptoms.
To address stress and improve her mood, Sarah starts practicing yoga and mindfulness meditation to regulate her nervous system. Over time, she notices that her sleep improves, her energy increases, and her depressive symptoms begin to lift. She even feels such much better she can taper off her antidepressant, a medication she was told she would need to be on for life.
Integrative mental health care offers a more complete path to healing by treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. For patients like Sarah—who may feel stuck after trying medication after medication—this approach opens new doors by identifying underlying imbalances that may have been overlooked in traditional care. By combining the best of both worlds—conventional treatments with holistic strategies—integrative mental health provides a personalized and empowering path to wellness. For many people, it offers hope when nothing else seems to work.
–Lauren Marchefka, FNP-BC, MSN, ABAAHP, CMHIMP
