What is integrative mental health therapy?

Integrative mental health therapy is a way of practicing that looks at emotional patterns, nervous system regulation, and the physiological foundations that influence how you feel. In addition to processing thoughts and experiences, we may also consider sleep, stress load, daily rhythm, movement, digestion, and other lifestyle factors that affect mood and resilience. In my practice, this is not a different kind of therapy. It is something we can include in our work as much or as little as you would like, depending on what feels relevant and useful.

How is integrative mental health therapy different from traditional talk therapy?

Traditional talk therapy often focuses primarily on insight, thoughts, and behavior patterns. Integrative mental health therapy expands the lens to include the body and daily physiological factors that influence how you feel. This includes nervous system regulation through somatic therapy as well as attention to sleep, energy, nutrition, and other lifestyle factors when relevant.

Can integrative mental health therapy help with anxiety, trauma, or midlife stress?

This approach is often helpful for adults experiencing anxiety, trauma-related patterns, chronic stress, exhaustion, or midlife transitions. Many people who come to this work have already done therapy and understand their patterns, but still feel reactive, overwhelmed, or physically tense. By addressing both nervous system regulation and whole-person factors, we work toward greater stability and resilience.

Is integrative mental health therapy the main focus of sessions?

Not usually. Most sessions focus on somatic and relational work. Integrative conversations come in when they are relevant or when we are intentionally addressing specific areas that may be contributing to mood, anxiety, or energy patterns.

What are the fees for integrative mental health therapy?

A 55-minute integrative session is $200, due at the time of service. Credit/debit cards, HSA, and Zelle are accepted. If you decide to include the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) or Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) as part of your therapeutic work, those are billed separately.

Integrative Approach to Therapy

Somatic Therapy That Looks at the Bigger Picture

Online somatic therapy with an integrative approach for adults in Florida and Illinois. Together, we'll consider your mind, body, and the many factors that influence emotional well-being.

Schedule a free 10-minute consultation

What an Integrative Approach to Therapy Means

My work begins with Somatic Experiencing® and expands from there when it makes sense. An integrative approach to therapy means we also consider the many factors that can influence emotional well-being and how your mind and body respond to stress.

Along with what's happening emotionally and physically, we may explore things like sleep, daily rhythm, movement, nutrition, medical concerns, and medication experiences when they're relevant to what you're going through. I write more about my approach to psychiatric medication and informed choice here.

Sometimes these conversations become an important part of therapy. Other times they don't. We decide together what feels most relevant to your goals and what you're experiencing.

Why an Integrative Approach Is Part of My Work

I’m Amy Hagerstrom, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). My work is grounded in Somatic Experiencing and a broader understanding of the many things that can affect mental health.

I lived with anxiety and depression for many years. I was in talk therapy. I worked with psychiatrists. I tried medications. I was doing what I knew to do.

Looking back, I can see things that weren’t getting much attention. My sleep was inconsistent. My diet was heavy in carbohydrates and sugar. There were long stretches when I didn’t move my body much or spend much time outside. My mental health was layered and complex, but lifestyle did not play a small role.

We focused largely on symptoms and insight. Rarely did anyone ask about sleep, nutrition, movement, light exposure, or other parts of my daily life that could be affecting how I felt. The role my nervous system and lack of felt safety were playing never entered the therapeutic process either.

I often think about how including those conversations could have changed the course of my care. It influences how I work today and why I want to understand the whole person, so we can make sense of what may be contributing to how you feel.

Learn more about me

Small group walking together in nature, reflecting connection and lifestyle support in West Palm Beach

Man chopping vegetables as part of lifestyle-focused therapy for stress and overwhelm

Man practicing yoga in Boca Raton, part of a holistic approach to mental and physical health

How This Integrates With My Somatic Work

Somatic Experiencing is the foundation of my work. An integrative approach broadens the conversation when it’s helpful.

Sometimes these conversations become an important part of therapy. Other times they stay in the background. We decide together what feels most relevant.

When appropriate, I may also incorporate the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) or Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP), or collaborate with other healthcare providers to support your care.

Learn more about:
Somatic Experiencing
Safe and Sound Protocol
Rest and Restore Protocol

Integrative Approach to Therapy FAQs

An integrative approach to therapy recognizes that your mental health is influenced by more than your thoughts and emotions. Alongside Somatic Experiencing, we may also consider factors like sleep, daily rhythms, movement, nutrition, chronic illness, medication experiences, or other aspects of your health when they're relevant to what you're going through.
In my practice, this isn't a separate type of therapy. It's simply part of looking at the bigger picture and considering the many factors that can affect your well-being.

If you'd like to learn more about how I think about the relationship between lifestyle and mental health, I've written a more in-depth article called How Lifestyle Affects Mental Health: An Integrative Approach.
TTraditional talk therapy often focuses on thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behavior. Along with Somatic Experiencing, I also consider the bigger picture. When it's relevant, we may explore how sleep, movement, nutrition, daily rhythms, physical health, medication experiences, or other factors could be affecting how you're feeling.
Yes. Many people I work with come to therapy because they're living with anxiety, trauma, chronic stress, burnout, or a difficult life transition. Taking an integrative approach means we don't assume there's only one reason you're struggling. Alongside Somatic Experiencing, we also consider other factors that may be affecting how you're feeling when they're relevant to your care.
Not usually. Somatic Experiencing together is the foundation of my approach. Taking an integrative approach simply means we also pay attention to the broader factors that may be influencing how you're feeling when they're relevant.
Some sessions are almost entirely focused on the mind-body work we're doing together. Other times, lifestyle factors like sleep, movement, nutrition, daily rhythms, medication experiences, or chronic health concerns are woven into our work when they make sense. Together, we decide what feels most helpful based on your goals.
Therapy sessions are 55 minutes and $200.
I accept credit/debit cards, HSA, and Zelle.
If you decide to include the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) or Rest and Restore Protocol (RRP) as part of your holistic therapeutic work with me, those are billed separately. You can learn more about pricing on the SSP and RRP pages.

Father and son on the beach in West Palm Beach—emotional connection and lifestyle health

Online Therapy Across Florida and Illinois

I work with adults online across Florida, including West Palm Beach, Delray Beach,Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and surrounding areas. Somatic therapy with an integrative approach can be provided effectively from the comfort of your home.

I am also licensed in Illinois and work with clients online throughout the state, including Chicago.

Sunrise over the ocean in South Florida — symbol of rest, rhythm, and healing

If This Approach Resonates With You

You don't have to figure out what's contributing to everything you're experiencing before starting therapy. We'll begin with what brought you here and decide together what feels most helpful.

Sometimes our work stays focused on your present experience, emotions, and body. Other times, it makes sense to consider sleep, medication experiences, chronic health concerns, daily rhythm, or other factors that may be influencing how you're feeling.

If you're looking for somatic therapy that also considers the bigger picture, I'd be happy to talk with you during a free 10-minute consultation.

Schedule a free 10-minute consulation