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Integrative Mental Health

1 in 5 adults are diagnosed with a mental health disorder in the United States and over 1 in 5 adolescents over 13. Advancements in health care continue to show how our diets and lifestyle also impacts our mental health. Integrative mental health is a whole-body approach to conventional mental health services in the same way that integrative medicine is a whole body approach to conventional western medicine. It looks at the body as a spectrum between physical and mental health, where the ultimate goal is to create balance in both by treating both. In this blog, I’ll take a look at integrative mental health and integrative medicine so you can determine if either is a good fit for you.

Integrative approaches acknowledge that one’s physical illness (including chronic conditions, physical symptoms, pain, gut health, viruses, infections, nutritional deficits, and allergies/sensitivities) can significantly impact one’s mental and emotional health.

One’s mental health can also create and exacerbate one’s physical health and symptoms. By addressing both through an integrative approach, you can help address the roots causes of one’s symptoms for long term benefits. An integrative medical or mental health professional treats their client by using evidence-based approaches in their field that includes conventional approaches as well as possible alternative therapies.

An integrative mental health professional may look at areas like physical activity and exercise and their benefits for anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep, mood disorders, and more. We may discuss the possible impacts of recent viral loads, illnesses, hormonal changes, nutrition or vitamin deficiencies, chronic pain or illness, etc. on their mental health, cognitive functioning, behavior, and sleep. We can also discuss how food restriction impacts their mental health and cognitive functioning as well as food allergies and sensitivities. We could discuss topics like inflammation and leaky gut and their impacts on the blood-brain barrier and overall mental health.

When a therapist can’t directly assist with any of those treatment needs because they are not qualified or certified to do so, they can refer their clients to a specialist to collaborate with to best meet their client’s overall needs. For example, as a certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, one area I have been trained on is the interactions between the digestive tract and the brain. We may discuss how certain foods or one’s diet can impact anxiety, depression, ADHD, and more. I can discuss those impacts with my clients and how some dietary changes may improve their overall mental health, but in the state of Illinois I would also need to be a certified nutritionist to provide individualized and detailed nutritional plans for my client. Instead, I am able to refer my client to a certified nutritionist while I continue to meet with them to work on CBT, DBT, trauma-focused strategies, reducing maladaptive thoughts and behaviors, coping skills, etc. In this manner, we are building a team of professionals to efficiently address the client’s overall needs.

Integrative & Functional Medicine

It can be common for a therapist to collaborate with a client’s psychiatrist, nutritionist, or general practitioner. When it comes to integrative approaches, that doctor may even be an integrative or functional medicine specialist themselves. Conventional western medicine has a history of treating the current symptoms or infections that a patient is experiencing which is very effective for acute illnesses. But more chronic illnesses often require further exploration to fully treat and prevent their return. This can be ailments like chronic pains, depression, IBS, autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, mood disorders, and more.

An Integrative or Functional M.D. is a licensed doctor who has been fully trained in conventional western medicine but who has also chosen to continue training in holistic and alternative medicine options for their clients. Functional doctors focus on treating one’s current symptoms while also finding and treating the underlying or root causes of one’s overall condition. This could mean looking at environmental or lifestyle impacts, hereditary conditions, stress and mental health, sleep disorders, gut health, and more. Each area can be contributing to a client’s overall condition. An Integrative Doctor is very similar, looking at using combinations of those traditional medical and alternative or holistic medical approaches. The best way to identify the small differences in both approaches (functional or integrative) would be to reach out and question or research the specific doctors you are looking at in your area because their personal style may or may not be the best suited for your needs.

Alternative therapies have evidence based approaches for positive outcomes in specific areas of treatment and are continually being researched for further efficacy. They are often utilized in short and long term treatment goals in some of the most respected medical institutions. The Mayo Clinic is a member of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health and utilizes integrative approaches and doctors. Their approaches can look like animal assisted therapy in the hospital, stress reduction strategies, massage therapy, supplemental therapy and consultation, nutritional guidance, and more. Below is a list of common alternative therapies used in many integrative medical and mental health practices.

Finding a Provider

If you are looking to find an integrative mental health professional or integrative doctor, often a google or web search can be best because specific search sites may limit results to paying members or to individuals who specifically trained with their institution. Never-the-less, here are some specific sites you can use to locate providers in Northern Illinois, but again, these results will not include all of the actual certified providers in your area.

Integrative Mental Health Professionals:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/integrative

https://www.immh.org/find-a-practitioner

Integrative Doctors:

https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/specialties-conditions/thrivegi-integrative-health-program/

https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/integrative-medicine/find-integrative-provider

https://www.advocatehealth.com/gshp/health-services/center-for-health-integrative-medicine

Functional Doctors:

ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/