Functional Psychiatry — Treating the Root Cause of Mental Health Challenges
If you’ve been working hard on your mental health and feel like you’ve tried everything without enough improvement, it may be time to look deeper beneath the surface.
Functional psychiatry is a next-generation approach to mental health that blends traditional psychiatry with the science of functional medicine. Instead of focusing only on symptoms, we look for the root causes of those symptoms. We assess how nutrition, gut health, inflammation, metabolism, genetics, hormones, and brain chemistry all work together to affect mood, focus, energy, and overall mental well-being.
At Harborside, our Massachusetts-based clinicians provide functional psychiatry for clients who want answers, not just prescriptions. We use every tool available — from advanced lab testing to targeted medication strategies — to create individualized treatment plans that deliver lasting results. Although we are based in Massachusetts, we can also offer service via telehealth to clients in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Discover a Holistic Approach — Schedule Your Functional Psychiatry Evaluation.
Why Functional Psychiatry Works So Well
- Root Cause Approach
Uncovers underlying drivers like nutrient deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, gut health issues, and inflammation that contribute to depression, anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, and mood disorders. - Whole-Person Care
Considers mind, body, and lifestyle factors together. - Precision Treatment
Lab data allows for targeted interventions, reducing trial-and-error with medications. - Sustainable Results
Correcting imbalances leads to deeper, longer-lasting improvement. - Proven for Complex Cases
Especially effective for individuals with treatment-resistant depression, chronic anxiety, or multiple failed medication trials.
Who Functional Psychiatry is For
Functional psychiatry may be right for you if:
- You’ve tried multiple medications without improvement or had intolerable side effects.
- You feel “stuck” despite years of therapy or traditional psychiatric care.
- You experience overlapping concerns such as depression, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, ADHD, insomnia, or mood instability.
- You are a higher-acuity client with complex medical or psychiatric needs who requires integrated care.
- You are a high-functioning professional or student who is outwardly successful but still struggling with focus, mood, or burnout.
- You want to understand why your symptoms exist instead of treating them only at the surface level.
- You have medical conditions (thyroid, gut issues, autoimmune, chronic fatigue) that may be linked to your mental health.
This service is appropriate for adolescents, adults, and older adults, delivered either in-person on Cape Cod or virtually across Massachusetts.
Meet Rachel D. Egan, PMHNP-BC
Rachel Egan is co-founder of Harborside and a Massachusetts-based psychiatric nurse practitioner trained in both traditional and functional medicine. She completed her traditional psychiatry training at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute of Health Professions and her functional medicine training through Dr. James Greenblatt’s Psychiatry Redefined program. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in working with clients who felt that the system had no answers left to offer.
What We Test
We work with specialty labs to uncover hidden contributors to mental health challenges, using mostly at-home mail-order kits. Testing may include:
- Gut health and absorption
- Metabolic concerns
- Harmful and beneficial mineral levels
- Micronutrient status
- Hormone balance and inflammatory markers
- Genetic markers affecting medication metabolism
What’s Included in the Functional Psychiatry Package
- Comprehensive intake session with a clinician
- Lab review session to discuss results in detail
- A personalized treatment plan
- Follow-up session to assess progress
- Ongoing care options through Harborside
Cost: $2,950
(plus labs, ~$800 depending on insurance)
What Makes Harborside Different
- No either/or approach
We use both traditional and functional tools to create an individualized plan. - Listening
We integrate objective lab data with your unique story and lived experience. - Cost-conscious care
By partnering with labs and supplement providers, we aim to deliver best-in-class treatment at lower cost than other functional practices. - Long-term partnership
Our goal is not only to relieve symptoms but to empower you with knowledge and strategies for lifelong health. - New England service area
We can deliver service to clients in MA, NH, VT, ME and CT via telehealth
Frequently Asked Questions
About functional Psychiatry
Functional psychiatry blends traditional psychiatric care with functional medicine, addressing root causes such as nutrition, gut health, metabolism, and genetics to improve mental health outcomes.
This model is especially effective for clients who have tried multiple medications or years of therapy with limited results, or those who want to address mental health through a whole-person, root-cause approach.
Yes. We are not “meds only” or “supplements only.” We combine evidence-based treatments, including medication when appropriate, with functional strategies.
Yes. Many clients discover underlying imbalances that help explain why previous treatments weren’t fully effective. Addressing those issues often leads to meaningful improvement.
Our package is $2,950, plus the cost of labs (around $800). This includes intake, lab review, and follow-up sessions.
Yes. Most testing is done at home, and sessions are available virtually across Massachusetts, as well as New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Connecticut.
