Our Integrative Psychiatry Services
At Prairie Roots we strive to be an Iowa leader in integrative and functional psychiatric care. We pride ourselves on providing personalized psychiatric care of the highest caliber. No cookie-cutter solutions. No band-aids. No rushed appointments. Our goal is to resolve the root causes of illness so that true healing can take place.
The Integrative Approach
Integrative psychiatry weaves together conventional psychiatric treatments with complementary and alternative ones.
Conventional psychiatry is marked by a heavy reliance on pharmaceuticals. However, there is more to mental health than just neurotransmitters! An integrative approach does not reject pharmaceuticals but it does add a whole lot more, drawing on functional medicine, natural and traditional remedies, lifestyle interventions, and mind-body practices, among other healing modalities for mental health.
In addition, integrative psychiatry takes into account the whole person — the unique interwoven fabric of a person’s mind, body and spirit. An integrative approach tends to be much more holistic and individualized than the conventional psychiatric approach.
The Functional Approach
At Prairie Roots we take a functional or “root-cause” medicine approach. This means that we look below the surface and aim to resolve the root causes of your psychiatric symptoms. Simply stated, this usually involves getting rid of something that has pushed the body out of balance, or replenishing something that the body needs to put it back into balance.
Even so, there may be times when simply focusing on symptom reduction makes sense, and then we will recommend pharmacological and natural treatments that may not reach root causes, but that aim to lessen your suffering, improve your quality of life, and help you get to a point where you have more energy for pursuing deeper treatment.
Whenever possible, though, we target the roots of the problem. Often there are multiple root causes that need to be addressed. Since the constellation of root causes is unique for every person, treatment is highly personalized. Examples of root causes of psychiatric symptoms include:
Biological: nutrient deficiencies; unhealthy gut microbiome; inflammation; chronic infections; environmental toxins; blood sugar issues; hormone imbalances; physiological effects of chronic stress.
Psychological: trauma; maladaptive thinking patterns (e.g. negativistic, rigid, polarized); coping skills deficits.
Spiritual: grief; disconnection; absence of meaning or purpose.
Your Journey, Your Terms
We believe in creating a caring, supportive environment where you feel safe sharing your past and present challenges. We encourage you to be as detailed as you feel comfortable, but there is absolutely no pressure to talk about anything that you are not ready to discuss. We want you to feel heard and understood, and we want to make sure you have time to ask questions so you can feel confident about your treatment plan. We give you sufficient time during appointments. And we offer you options to choose from so your treatment matches your needs, values and preferences. Your healing journey is a collaborative effort. We work on your terms and at your pace.
Treatment Process
Comprehensive Assessment
Do a deep dive into your psychiatric, medical, social and environmental history.
Get to know you as a person.
Identify your goals and preferences for treatment.
Order conventional labs to screen for common causes of psychiatric symptoms.
Your Personalized Treatment Plan
Tailor a treatment plan based on your unique biochemical and psychological make-up and your goals and preferences.
Provide education and counseling so that you have confidence in the plan and your ability to implement it.
Ongoing Follow-Up & Digging Deeper
Track progress and make adjustments to the treatment plan.
Consider specialty labs to add more data points.
Delve deeper into the roots of your symptoms, targeting additional layers of dysfunction and imbalance.
Maintaining Long-Term Mental Wellness
Addressing the various layers of dysfunction and restoring balance may require time, patience and persistence.
At Prairie Roots we stand by you through the entire treatment process, which includes maintenance of your mental health when you have reached your wellness goals.
Our Commitment to You
Compassionate Care
We understand that each person seeking our care is suffering and searching for relief from that suffering. We are committed to creating an environment where every individual feels safe and supported. We believe that the relationship between provider and patient is an integral part of the healing process. The fundamental mission of Prairie Roots is to relieve your suffering and restore you to optimal mental wellness.
Personalized Treatment
We are committed to personalized medicine, recognizing the significant limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to psychiatric care. We treat each person as entirely unique. From our comprehensive assessment process to the way we target treatment strategies to your unique make-up, each aspect of providing care is tailored to your individual needs, goals and preferences.
Grounded in Science & Evidence
We are committed to staying up-to-date with the latest scientific advances related to your care. We continually seek out education, training, conferences and readings to increase our knowledge and stay at the forefront of mental health care. We provide you with care options that are scientifically grounded and evidence-based.
Hope & Persistence
Our hope for your recovery runs deep. We believe in the resilience of the human mind, body and spirit. We believe that you can heal. When progress is elusive, we persistently seek the missing pieces of the puzzle. This may include delving deeper into what makes you unique, and exploring innovative solutions to ensure you receive the best care possible.
Our Services
Your personalized treatment plan will be tailored to your unique needs and circumstances. Treatment plans typically involve a carefully customized combination drawn from the range of services we offer.
Prescription Medications
Medication can be an invaluable tool for alleviating mental suffering, especially when symptoms are severe. We can help fine-tune medication regimens to minimize side effects. We also can help with de-prescribing.
Supplements
Nutrients and botanical medicines can provide symptom relief and address root causes. Our use of supplements is always informed by science and we are knowledgable of their risks, side effects, and contraindications.
Lab Testing
Lab markers are a vital piece of a comprehensive assessment and are used together with your history to identify root causes and personalize treatment. We start with conventional labs and move on to specialty labs if needed.
Nutritional Psychiatry
Food is medicine. We help you eat in a way that makes sense for you — by focusing on healing the gut, adding specific nutrients to the diet, eliminating sensitivities, and/or modifying your dietary pattern.
Behavior Change Support
Lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity and sleep are key to the functional medicine approach. At Prairie Roots we know that change is hard. We are here to educate, counsel and support you in making positive behavioral changes for your health.
Safe and Sound Protocol
The SSP is a non-invasive therapy consisting of 5 hours of carefully crafted auditory exercises designed to help patients regulate their nervous system. It can restore a felt sense of safety in the body and is effective across a range of psychiatric symptoms.
Mind-Body Practices
Your mental state and physical body are inextricably linked. We provide training in mindfulness, meditation, and HeartMath techniques. When practiced regularly, these techniques can lead to deep and enduring gains in mental and physical health.
Interested in Becoming a New Patient?
Ready to start your journey toward holistic mental wellness? Reach out to us today and take the first step toward healing and balance.