Integrative Psychiatry

Step One: Initial Comprehensive Assessment

Every new patient begins with a thorough, integrative assessment. This assessment can be virtual or in-person and goes beyond a standard intake to explore:

• Mental health life story: Understanding how your experiences, traumas, and personal history shape your current emotional and cognitive well-being.

• Medical conditions and family history: Evaluating inherited factors or medical conditions that may influence mental health.

• Lifestyle and environment: Sleep patterns, nutrition, exercise, daily routines, spirituality, environments, work-life balance, and stressors.

• Parenting and Family Dynamics
  For parents and families, we explore relational patterns, communication styles, and the ways family systems influence emotional and behavioral wellness. This includes understanding your children’s perspective—how they experience the family environment, what they need to feel safe and connected, and how their developmental stage shapes their reactions and challenges.

  For children and adolescents, we support the process of forming a healthy identity, developing boundaries, strengthening emotional resilience, and nurturing their unique potential. Care is tailored to the child’s developmental needs, temperament, strengths, and lived experience.

• Social and community connections: Relationships, social support, and engagement with community.

This comprehensive view allows us to create a personalized roadmap for care that addresses root causes, not just symptoms.

Who We See: Age Guidelines for Care

At Alight, we want every child, teen, and adult to receive the care that best supports their well-being. Our age guidelines help ensure each person is matched with the right provider from the very beginning.

Teens and Adults (12+)

We happily offer initial psychiatric assessments for ages 12 and up.
Adolescents in this age range benefit from clear developmental patterns and well-established treatment options, making it a natural fit for our providers.

Children Under 12

For younger children, we take a thoughtful, individualized approach.
We may offer an initial evaluation on a case-by-case basis when concerns appear more straightforward, such as:

• ADHD

• Mild anxiety

• Mild depression

• Adjustment concerns

• Sleep difficulties

If your child might fall into one of these areas, we’re happy to talk with you about whether our clinic may be a good fit.

Our Training & When We Refer

Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Grellner are adult-trained psychiatrists, not fellowship-trained child & adolescent specialists. Because of this, we take extra care to ensure younger patients receive the level of expertise they need.

If an assessment suggests a child’s situation is more complex, severe, or developmentally specialized, we will recommend connecting with a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist who has advanced fellowship training.

We may also recommend a referral if:

• Early treatment steps aren’t leading to progress, or

• The child’s needs become more involved over time

Our goal is always to support families in getting the most appropriate care—whether that means beginning with us or helping you connect with the right specialist.

Our Promise

We’re committed to honesty, safety, and thoughtful guidance.
If we’re the right fit, we’ll care for your child with compassion and evidence-based treatment.
If a subspecialist would better meet their needs, we’ll point you in the right direction with warmth and clarity.

Step Two: Laboratory Evaluation

To ensure that underlying medical conditions are not overlooked, labs are often encouraged. These may include:

• Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies

• Hormonal imbalances

• Thyroid or other metabolic considerations

By identifying potentially reversible contributors to mental health symptoms, we can optimize treatment and support your overall vitality.

Step Three: Integrative Treatment Planning

Following the assessment, we collaborate with each patient to create an individualized care plan. This may include:

• Medication management (when appropriate)

• Lifestyle coaching: Guidance on nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management, and spiritual practices

• Therapy & relational support: Counseling for individuals, families, or couples

• Evidence-Informed Use of Natural Supplements: natural supplements are recommended thoughtfully and only when supported by strong scientific evidence. This approach—often called evidence-informed integrative care

  Supplements are used only when they have demonstrated benefit for specific conditions, such as targeted vitamins for deficiencies, omega-3s for mood support, or herbal options shown to reduce anxiety or inflammation. Every recommendation considers your unique biology, current medications, and overall treatment plan.

  The goal is simple: to offer natural options that are safe, effective, and grounded in real science, enhancing healing without unnecessary risks or empty promises.

• Occupational and financial wellness support: Strategies to address work-life balance, career stress, or financial strain

• Community and social connection: Guidance on building healthy relationships and supportive networks

This integrative framework empowers patients to take an active role in their healing and supports long-term mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

By combining thorough assessment, lifestyle guidance, therapy, and medical oversight, integrative psychiatry provides:

• A deeper understanding of your health story

• Personalized interventions that go beyond medication alone

• Support for whole-family wellness and relationships

• Strategies to prevent future mental health challenges

• A restorative, collaborative care environment that honors your individuality