Fatigue - too tired to participate with family, work or enjoyable activities in the way you'd like?

Tired but "wired" - underlying anxious thoughts, poor concentration and focus, insomnia and fatigue?

Low mood, erratic moods, sadness, appetite changes, difficulty with focus and concentration?

Physical complaints like headache, abdominal pain, joint and muscle pain ?

Brain Fog - need I say more? Overwhelmed with the stresses of families, works, and our broader society?

Medical provider or first responder burn out?

Physical, mental and emotional symptoms almost always present together. If you are experiencing significant anxiety or stress, chances are you are also experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, headaches or insomnia. If you are experiencing loss, loneliness or isolation and you feel sad and hopeless, you may also experience increased pain, weight loss or weight gain, and brain fog. This is because how we experience our lives, how we connect to those around us, and how well respond to stress and change will directly affect our gut function, hormone balance, neurotransmitters, and immune response. These changes will manifest as the symptoms above and many others. There is no separating the body and the mind. They are linked in countless ways. To address behavioral health we must address physical health as well. 

Unfortunately, in the conventional, allopathic medical system, behavioral health concerns are typically addressed either by a busy primary care provider or in an acute setting during the crisis, or sadly, sometimes not at all. Social shame and stigma from the system itself preclude many from seeking treatment despite severe negative life consequences. Shortages in behavioral health care from prescribing providers and behavioral health specialists were present even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress of the pandemic has created a desperate mismatch between rapidly increasing numbers of people suffering from behavioral health and substance use concerns and the loss of providers due to burnout and career changes. 

The result? Less access to care is delivered by providers who do not have the time to address behavioral health in a way that may provide better outcomes than we typically see for patients. 

Medication has become the mainstay of treatment for these conditions. Patients try many medications, often combined, that produce uncomfortable side effects that often make people feel worse, which are then treated with yet another medication. Tired, frustrated, and no better,  they move on to get a "second opinion", often from another busy provider, only to be given a new round of medication trials. Physical symptoms are referred to specialists who do expensive testing and prescribe more medications. They are told to see the elusive therapist - how do you find one, if you do when will you ever get in? How many will you try before you find one you like? Sometimes people are told to "eat a better diet" or "exercise more" to help their mood or anxiety. How do you learn how to do that when you are tired, overwhelmed, and dealing with side effects from all of your medications? 

There must be a better way. I am working very hard to find a better way and to share that with individuals who are also hoping for a better way to address their condition. 

Integrative behavioral health is the approach I am striving to provide for individuals who come to see me.

My clinical training and experience in primary care, addiction medicine, and functional medicine have allowed me to look at behavioral health conditions with a much wider lens.

Medications may be utilized, but do not form the foundation of care.

Exploring the root cause of your symptoms, physical and emotional, and empowering patients to heal themselves forms the foundation of care with Heron Wellness. 

What is Integrative Behavioral Health? I have been working on this definition for a long time, and after finding a definition of Integrative Health from the California Institute for Integral Studies.

The components of this approach I have developed are based on my training and clinical experiences with patients over the years. 

Integrative Behavioral Health 

Patient-centered, coordinated, whole-person care with a focus on healing and wellness of body, mind, and spirit.

Therapeutic Components

Allopathic Medicine – Medications as needed for physical and behavioral health conditions. Coordination with specialists as needed. 

Evidence-Based Behavioral Health Interventions – Referral and coordination of care with therapists, psychologists, treatment programs 

Functional Medicine – Conventional and specialized laboratory testing and evaluation and education and support for implementing positive behavioral changes related to the 5 MODIFIABLE LIFESTYLE FACTORS - NUTRITION, MOVEMENT, SLEEP, STRESS MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY

Hormone Optimization – Focusing on addressing imbalances in cortisol (fight or flight), thyroid, and sex hormones 

Complementary Modalities – 5- Needle-Protocol (ear acupuncture), mindfulness, nutraceuticals and botanicals. Coordination with physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, therapeutic yoga, energy work

Traditional Healing Practices – Referral and coordination of care with healers in the community 

Isolation, loneliness, and stigma contribute significantly to the development of behavioral health conditions, including substance use disorders.

We know from AA and other mutual self-help groups, as well as from work by innovative providers like Dr. Jeff Geller and Dr. Dean Ornish, that healing happens better when together.

Group medical visits improve depression, anxiety, loneliness as well as chronic medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

The shared experience facilitates healing through accountability, knowledge sharing, and most importantly, connection to others.

Group and individual interventions are utilized in this practice and I invite you to explore opportunities to connect with other humans. You will not regret it 

Integrative Behavioral Health is a treatment approach that is guided by me as a provider, but executed by the individual who is in need of healing.

This is not a passive approach to care.

This is your journey, and you alone have the power to make the change.

We will create a treatment plan guided by your needs, your current ability, and life circumstances, knowing that this will be a dynamic process, changing with time as you improve, have a setback, or see a new vision for yourself.

This is your work, and I am here to provide you with resources and guidance to improve your functionality, your resilience, and ultimately your best self. 

If you are interested in approaching Hormonal Changes, Behavioral Issues, and Wellness with an Integrative Approach, please reach out to Schedule a Discovery Call