•Overview
Understanding the Condition
Mental health is fundamental to overall well-being — it shapes how we think, feel, relate to others, and navigate daily life. Yet mental health conditions are among the most common and underserved health challenges in the United States, affecting tens of millions of people across every walk of life.
At GWCIM, we believe that mental health care works best when it addresses the whole person — body, mind, and spirit. Integrative mental health care combines modern evidence-based approaches with time-honored healing practices, empowering patients to envision and achieve their healthiest selves. After a comprehensive evaluation, patients receive a personalized treatment plan that may include dietary adjustments, targeted nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, mindfulness practices, psychotherapy, and, when necessary, medication.
Our team of integrative psychiatrists, psychotherapists, naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, and mind-body specialists work together to create a treatment experience that is compassionate, collaborative, and tailored to the individual — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
•Recognition
Signs and Symptoms
Mental health conditions can look and feel very different from person to person. Some of the most common signs include persistent sadness, low mood, or hopelessness; excessive worry, fear, or anxiety; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; changes in sleep — sleeping too much or too little; changes in appetite or weight; fatigue and low energy that don't improve with rest; irritability, mood swings, or emotional numbness; withdrawal from relationships and activities; physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive issues, or chronic pain with no clear medical cause; and in more severe cases, thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
•Clinical Process
Conventional Diagnosis and Testing
Conventional Approaches
Standard mental health diagnosis is based on clinical interviews, patient history, and symptom evaluation using established criteria from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). A primary care physician, psychiatrist, or licensed therapist typically conducts the initial assessment. Standardized screening tools such as the PHQ-9 (for depression) and GAD-7 (for anxiety) are commonly used. In some cases, neuropsychological testing may be recommended.
Beyond Conventional: Functional and Integrative Assessment
At GWCIM, we go further. Many mental health symptoms have underlying physiological contributors that standard psychiatric evaluations do not assess. Our providers may evaluate thyroid function, including full thyroid panels, since conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis are closely linked to depression and anxiety. We also assess nutrient deficiencies — particularly vitamin D, B12, folate, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids — as well as inflammatory markers, adrenal function, blood sugar regulation, and gut health. Hormonal imbalances, including in sex hormones and cortisol, can significantly affect mood and cognition. Toxic exposures, including mold and heavy metals, are also considered where clinically relevant. Understanding the full picture allows us to treat causes, not just symptoms.
•Origins
Root Causes and Contributing Factors
Mental health is shaped by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Commonly contributing factors include chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation; early life trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); nutritional deficiencies and poor diet; gut microbiome imbalances (the gut-brain connection); chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation; hormonal fluctuations or imbalances; thyroid dysfunction; toxic exposures such as mold, heavy metals, or environmental chemicals; sleep disorders; chronic pain or illness; social isolation or lack of community; and genetic predisposition. At GWCIM, identifying these underlying contributors is central to how we approach care.
•Methodology
Our Integrative Medicine Approach
We see mental health as inseparable from the rest of your health. Rather than treating a diagnosis in isolation, our team works with you to understand your unique story — your history, your body, your nervous system, and your life circumstances.
Your care at GWCIM begins with a comprehensive evaluation that looks at the whole picture. From there, your treatment plan is individualized and may draw from multiple disciplines. We may address nutrition and gut health, support the nervous system through somatic and mind-body therapies, work with trauma through psychotherapy or Somatic Experiencing, reduce physiological drivers of anxiety and depression, and — when appropriate and desired — use medication as one tool among many. We also offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) for patients with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety, integrated with psychotherapeutic support throughout the process.
We work closely and collaboratively — our psychiatrists, therapists, naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, and mind-body practitioners communicate with one another and with your outside providers to ensure your care is cohesive and well-coordinated.
More about our Services:
Integrative Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: Our integrative psychiatrist and psychotherapist work together to address the mental, emotional, and sometimes biological dimensions of mental health conditions. When medication is appropriate, it is chosen thoughtfully and monitored carefully — often as one part of a broader healing plan rather than the sole intervention.
Naturopathic Medicine and Nutritional Support: Our naturopathic doctors assess and address physical contributors to mental health symptoms, including nutritional deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, hormonal imbalances, and inflammation. Targeted supplementation, herbal medicine, and dietary guidance are used to support brain health and emotional balance.
Mind-Body Medicine: We offer mind-body approaches informed by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno, which recognizes the powerful role of repressed emotions and psychological tension in physical and emotional symptoms. This approach can be particularly helpful for patients whose mental health symptoms are intertwined with chronic pain or physical illness.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Our certified MBSR instructors offer this evidence-based, structured program — developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn — which has been shown in numerous clinical studies to reduce anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and stress-related illness. MBSR teaches patients practical skills in mindful awareness that support lasting change.
Somatic Experiencing (SE): Trauma lives in the body. Somatic Experiencing is a body-oriented approach to healing trauma developed by Dr. Peter Levine. SE works gently with the nervous system to release stored trauma energy, restore a sense of safety, and support long-term emotional regulation — without requiring patients to re-tell or re-live traumatic events in detail.
Acupuncture: Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture have a long history of use in treating anxiety, depression, and stress-related conditions. Our acupuncturists use individualized point protocols to support the nervous system, regulate mood, improve sleep, and address the physical manifestations of emotional distress.
Reiki and Energy Healing: Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive energy healing practice that many patients find deeply calming and restorative. It can be a helpful complement to other treatments, particularly for patients dealing with anxiety, grief, or the emotional weight of chronic illness.
Biofeedback and HeartMath: Biofeedback teaches patients to use real-time physiological data to regulate their own stress response. HeartMath's emWave technology specifically trains heart rate variability (HRV) coherence — a measure of nervous system balance that is closely linked to emotional resilience, stress tolerance, and mental clarity.
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): For patients with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, or other conditions that have not responded adequately to conventional therapies,
•Expertise
Recommended Providers
Misty Embrey, MD
Integrative Psychiatrist
Sally Novak, LCSW, DOM, L.Ac., MSW
Integrative Psychotherapist | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Doctor of Oriental Medicine
Andrea Leonard-Segal, MD
Board-certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Abraham Benavides, MD
Medical Cannabis Consultant
Angela Gabriel, MSOM, LAc, SEP
Chinese Medcine and Acupuncture, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Yael Flusberg, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, RMT, MS
Mara Benner, Rev, RMT
Tiffany Hoyt, DAOM, M.Ac., M.CHM, Dipl. O.M., LAc
Chinese Medicine Doctor
Catherine Miller
Affiliated Provider of Reiki and Yoga
Deirdre Orceyre, ND, MSOM, L.Ac.
Naturopathic Psycisian
•Verification
Evidence and Research
•Education
Resources and Insights
Common Questions
Conventional mental health care often focuses primarily on diagnosis and medication management or talk therapy. Integrative mental health care takes a broader view — looking at the whole person, including nutrition, gut health, sleep, trauma, lifestyle, and the mind-body connection. At GWCIM, our providers work together to create a personalized plan that may include conventional treatments alongside approaches like acupuncture, mindfulness, nutritional support, and body-based therapies. The goal is not just symptom relief, but lasting resilience and well-being.
Absolutely. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with your existing care team. Integrative care at GWCIM is designed to complement, not replace, the relationships and treatments that are already working for you. We can coordinate care with outside providers when appropriate.
Many of our patients are dealing with both chronic physical conditions and the emotional burden that often accompanies them — depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, or a diminished sense of identity. GWCIM's integrative team is particularly well-suited to supporting the mental health of people navigating chronic illness, as our providers understand the deep connections between physical and emotional health.
This varies widely depending on the individual, the nature of their condition, and the treatments involved. Some approaches — like acupuncture, HeartMath training, and ketamine — may produce noticeable effects relatively quickly. Others, such as MBSR, nutritional changes, and psychotherapy, build benefits over weeks and months of consistent practice. Our providers will set realistic expectations with you and adjust your plan as you progress.
That is completely understandable, and you are not alone. A good first step is scheduling an integrative medicine consultation with one of our physicians, who can help evaluate your overall health picture and guide you toward the most appropriate services and providers for your specific needs.