Psychiatry is the medical specialty that studies, diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental disorders. Traditional treatments typically include medication that changes brain functioning and psychotherapy sessions that increase well-being. However, some people find that pills don’t work for them, have side effects, or just don’t want to take them. That’s where integrative psychiatry comes in.

Taking a holistic approach to treatment, integrative psychiatry looks at all areas of a patient’s health. It incorporates complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques that are backed by research into an individual’s wellness plan. This may include yoga, meditation, herbal supplements, and diet changes, all of which are believed to strengthen the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Exploring the Benefits of Integrative Psychiatry: A Holistic Approach to Mental Health

One of the core principles of integrative psychiatry is seeing every person as unique, and recognizing that each will respond differently to different treatment methods. Psychiatrists are doctors, bound by the Hippocratic Oath to do what’s best for their patients, and this includes listening to them, discussing all aspects of a patient’s health, including family history and lifestyle, and analyzing the relationship between medications and the causes of their symptoms.

We can treat your pain with ibuprofen, but if you keep hitting your thumb with a hammer, the problem is not going to improve. Same goes for mental health. You can take a pill, but if you continue to mentally hit yourself over and over again with things like staying up too late scrolling on Instagram, chugging endless cups of coffee, eat fast food for every meal, etc., your mental health isn’t going to get better.