Integrative Psychiatry

Integrative psychiatry combines traditional psychiatric care with complementary therapies to enhance mental and emotional well-being. At Shah Psychiatry in Phoenix, Arizona, Neet Shah, MD, takes a holistic and personalized approach to care, utilizing integrative psychiatry to bring about change and improvement. To find out more about integrative psychiatry and how it can benefit you, call the office or schedule an appointment online today. Telepsychiatry appointments are also available.

What is integrative psychiatry?

Integrative psychiatry refers to the approach of providing mental health care through a multi-system approach that determines the specific needs of a patient and employs all possible treatment modalities to bring about holistic improvements.

This includes incorporating nutraceuticals or supplements as well as prescribing medications.

Integrative medicine is not alternative medicine but a means of incorporating all aspects of an individual – mind, body, and spirit – to provide patient-centered personalized care.

This approach to psychiatry treats patients as individuals, not as statistics.

Who benefits from integrative psychiatry?

Anyone struggling with a mental health condition looking for a more personalized, whole-body approach to care benefits from integrative psychiatry. This includes individuals who:

• Have tried standard medications without improvements
• Have experienced side effects from standard medications
• Are interested in natural remedies for mental health
• Define health as ‘optimal wellness,’ not the ‘absence of disease’

Dr. Shah treats a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Adjustment disorder and grief
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression 
• Anxiety
• Gender dysphoria
• Sleep disorders
• Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Phobias
• Addiction (e.g., gambling, internet, video games)
• Postpartum depression
• Psychotic illness

Dr. Shah also provides integrative psychiatry for women struggling with mental illness who are pregnant. 

What can I expect from integrative psychiatry?

You can expect compassionate and personalized care from integrative psychiatry at Shah Psychiatry. Before making any recommendations, Dr. Shah conducts a required 2.5-hour initial psychiatric assessment. 

During this evaluation, he reviews all aspects of your personal life and health history. He may ask detailed questions about your life and daily routine, mood and stressors, and goals. He also reviews your medical and mental health history and may conduct psychological testing to better understand your current emotional state and formulate a diagnosis.

Dr. Shah believes in exploring all potential avenues of mental healing and well-being. Patients can benefit from holistic approaches that integrate spirit into the practice of medicine.

Dr. Shah may also recommend laboratory review, which can include basic lab testing as well as functional medicine testing. Every patient is unique, and a cutting-edge approach to laboratory testing can identify concerns that are difficult to test for, such as:

• Digestive, absorptive, and microbiological imbalances
• Detoxification and biotransformation imbalances
• Deficiencies in mitochondrial function
• Hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances
• Immune and inflammatory imbalances

After he gathers all the information he needs, Dr. Shah works with you, creating your therapeutic curriculum. He utilizes many techniques, including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and supportive psychotherapy.

However, if medications are indicated for symptom control, Dr. Shah will always practice with an evidence-based perspective to bring about positive outcomes.

Dr. Shah will work with you to develop:

• A meditative practice focusing on breath, body sensations, peace, and concentration
• An exercise regimen that fosters mental and physical stamina 
• Ayurvedic and Eastern meditative practices
• A nutrition program to facilitate improved physical and mental health
• A sleep program 
• A supplement regimen (when appropriate)
• A guided writing program 

The development and implementation of an ‘all-around,’ integrative approach to mental health care requires diligent time and attention. Hence, Dr. Shah requires 45-minute appointments for follow-ups to ensure there is enough time to address the many avenues of care.

At Shah Psychiatry, you can expect a high level of personalized care. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.