You may already have a primary-care physician (PCP) and/or psychiatrist. But have you thought about adding a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) to your team? A naturopathic doctor takes a holistic and integrative approach to healthcare, focusing on integrating the whole person into treatment instead of treating symptoms separately. Attending accredited naturopathic medical colleges with a four-year-long curriculum, NDs complete comprehensive medical training in pharmacology, botanical medicine, nutrition, physiology, and more. Some even go on to complete more specialized training in treating mental health.
Building a Holistic Mental Health Team
Over the last few decades, a paradigm shift in the mental health world has changed the way we look at and treat mental health concerns. It is now understood that commonly, mental health concerns don’t have just one singular cause; they often have multiple layers of contributing factors, such as genetics, environment, lifestyle, nutrition, trauma, and other life experience. Given this view of what causes mental health issues, practitioners are also now using a team approach for treatment. When a problem is multifactorial, its solutions are also multifactorial. This is why it’s important to have multiple practitioners on your treatment team. But who is on that team, and how do you choose them?
How can I find an ND who specializes in mental health?
A great way to find these advanced-trained practitioners is through organizations or institutions that provide continuing medical education. For example, the Psychiatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians (PsychANP) is creating a standard exam and board certification so that the public can easily identify naturopathic doctors with specialized training. Other educational organizations for advanced training in mental health include the Institute for Functional Medicine, Integrative Psychiatry Institute, Psychiatry Redefined, and others. You can also search NDs in your state through INM’s Find an ND service as well as your state’s naturopathic board of registration.
How can NDs contribute to my mental health care?
By adding a naturopathic doctor to your team, you’re getting a holistic approach that includes nutrition, lifestyle counseling, herbal medicine, supplements, and, most importantly, a resource for understanding the interaction between medications and naturopathic treatments. In some states, NDs are also licensed to prescribe and manage prescription medications as well. NDs can work alongside your PCP and psychiatrist and create a comprehensive team approach.
What about psychotherapists and other health professionals?
You should consider adding a psychotherapist to your team. Mental health concerns are partly biological (genetics/nutrition/other) but can also be the result of mental habits, conditioning, trauma, or exposures that are best processed with a licensed therapist. Be sure to ask a prospective therapist what their strengths, philosophy, and approach are to find someone who is a good fit for you.
If you are someone who struggles with disordered eating or could simply use extra support with nutrition, you may also consider adding a nutritionist to your team. Practitioners with “CED-S” after their name signify someone who is specifically trained in the treatment of eating disorders. Finally, other options for adding to the team might include an acupuncturist, physiotherapist, or trainer if your mental health impacts your physical body as well.
Making The Most of Your Team Through Collaboration
Once your team is assembled, it is important that they are willing to work together on your care, making the inter-professional collaboration work in your favor instead of making you feel trapped between different opinions. It is helpful to inform all team members of the other practitioners you’re seeing and ask if they can communicate as needed for your care, including sending medical information between them. This may require you to complete forms to consent to the sharing of information.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
If the task of finding the right team members feels overwhelming, ask your current practitioners for help. NDs can help navigate how to search for and select practitioners from all the overwhelming options and how to initiate communication between all care team members. Practitioners often have trusted networks for referrals that they work well with that you can consider. Additionally, most states have databases that list all registered naturopathic doctors and other specialties. To help offset some of the costs, inquire ahead of time with your insurance about which of your team members’ services are covered.
Find a team that supports your whole person
Mental health concerns require multiple approaches for optimal treatment. Collaborating with a naturopathic doctor can bring unique insights and complementary treatments to your mental health journey, helping you achieve a balanced and personalized approach to well-being. By working alongside other mental health professionals, such as therapists and psychiatrists, a well-rounded team can provide comprehensive support tailored to your specific needs.
