Functional Medicine Clinic in Cedar Rapids, IA and St Thomas, USVI

At Holistic Wellness and Psychiatry, we embrace a functional medicine approach to mental health and overall well-being. Rather than simply treating psychiatric symptoms with medications alone, we seek to identify and address the root causes of emotional and physical imbalances. Our philosophy recognizes that the mind and body are deeply interconnected—imbalances in one area, such as nutrition, sleep, or stress, can significantly influence mental health and overall wellness.

Our clinicians take a comprehensive view of each patient, considering genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, lifestyle habits, and psychosocial factors. We use detailed personal histories, advanced laboratory testing, and a collaborative relationship with each patient to create highly individualized treatment plans. These plans may include nutrition guidance, exercise recommendations, mindfulness techniques, integrative therapies, and judicious use of supplements or medications when needed.

While conventional psychiatry and medicine often focus on symptom management—primarily through standard protocols and prescriptions—we go beyond this approach. Conventional medicine excels in acute care and crisis intervention, but for chronic mental health conditions or persistent wellness concerns, simply masking symptoms is rarely enough. Instead, our holistic and functional medicine framework empowers patients to restore balance by addressing underlying causes, supporting the body’s natural healing processes, and fostering resilience in both mind and body.

By integrating holistic wellness principles with the science of psychiatry, Holistic Wellness and Psychiatry offers a truly individualized path to mental and physical health—helping you thrive, not just survive.

At Holistic Wellness and Psychiatry, we embrace a comprehensive and individualized approach to mental health and overall well-being by integrating principles of functional medicine into psychiatric care. Rather than simply managing symptoms, our team focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to mental health concerns and chronic conditions.

Our practitioners begin by gathering a thorough personal, medical, and lifestyle history, recognizing that genetics, environmental exposures, nutrition, sleep patterns, and stress levels all play vital roles in your mental health. We utilize advanced laboratory testing and assessments to evaluate key areas such as hormonal balance, nutritional deficiencies, gut health, immune function, and inflammation—factors that research has shown to be closely linked to mood, cognition, and emotional resilience.

Once we identify the root contributors to your symptoms, our providers develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. This may include dietary modifications, targeted nutritional supplementation, stress reduction techniques, mindfulness practices, exercise recommendations, and, when appropriate, psychiatric medications. Our goal is to restore harmony within your body’s interconnected systems, support your natural healing processes, and foster lasting emotional and physical wellness.

Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model for psychiatric care, our practitioners begin by taking a comprehensive look at your unique health history, genetics, lifestyle, daily habits, nutrition, relationships, and sources of stress.

This thorough assessment may include advanced laboratory testing to evaluate hormones, nutritional status, gut health, and other biomarkers that can impact mental and emotional well-being. By gaining a holistic understanding of your overall health, we strive to identify the underlying contributors to issues such as anxiety, depression, mood disorders, attention difficulties, and more—rather than just addressing surface symptoms.

Based on these insights, we develop a personalized treatment plan that may include integrative therapies such as nutritional guidance, supplementation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, psychotherapy, lifestyle modifications, and—when appropriate—conventional psychiatric medications. Our care team works collaboratively with you, regularly reviewing your progress and making adjustments to your plan as your needs evolve.

This patient-centered, holistic approach is designed to support your mental, emotional, and physical wellness, addressing the root causes of psychiatric concerns and empowering you to achieve long-term balance and vitality.

Diet and lifestyle are recognized as essential components in both the prevention and management of mental health concerns and chronic psychiatric conditions. This integrative approach views the mind and body as deeply interconnected, where nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and other lifestyle habits play a vital role in emotional well-being and mental resilience.

Nutrition directly influences brain chemistry and function. For example, certain nutrients are necessary for the production of neurotransmitters that regulate mood, cognition, and stress responses. At Holistic Wellness and Psychiatry, we emphasize whole, minimally processed foods and tailor nutritional recommendations to each individual’s unique needs. Addressing nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, or blood sugar imbalances through personalized nutrition can support emotional stability, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhance overall mental clarity.

Lifestyle factors such as regular exercise, restorative sleep, mindfulness, and healthy coping strategies are integral to our holistic psychiatric care. These practices help regulate hormones, improve immune function, and foster neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to heal and adapt. By empowering individuals to make sustainable changes in their daily routines, we address not just the symptoms but the underlying contributors to mental health challenges.

Ultimately, diet and lifestyle are not merely adjuncts to psychiatric treatment, but foundational therapeutic tools at Holistic Wellness and Psychiatry. Our personalized, integrative treatment plans are designed to promote optimal mental health, emotional balance, and long-term well-being.

When conventional medicine falls short, Functional Medicine offers a science-based approach focused on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease, which is vital for complex or chronic mental health conditions.

Dr. Laurie McCormick, MD, DFAPA, the Founder of Holistic Wellness and Psychiatry, is a highly qualified practitioner who brings this expertise to her patients. As both an Integrative/Holistic Psychiatrist and a Family Physician, Dr. McCormick completed specialized training and certification with the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM). This distinctive background ensures that the clinic goes beyond surface-level symptoms, integrating advanced strategies—such as comprehensive testing, nutritional analysis, and lifestyle interventions—with psychiatric care to promote profound healing and long-term well-being.

Functional medicine services are available at Holistic Wellness and Psychiatry. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We have convenient locations in Cedar Rapids, IA and St. Thomas, USVI. We serve patients from Cedar Rapids IA, Hiawatha IA, Marion IA, Robins IA, St Thomas USVI, Charlotte Amalie USVI, Smith Bay USVI, Northside USVI, and surrounding areas.