Welcome to The Connected Physician, where we explore groundbreaking approaches in healthcare, focusing on innovation, technology, and holistic patient care. In this episode, host Katharina Juenger sits down with Dr. Stephanie Lafreniere, a psychiatrist and owner of an integrative psychiatry clinic in Newport Beach, California. Dr. Lafreniere shares her journey in integrative mental health, an approach that treats the patient as a whole, addressing the root causes of mental health issues beyond symptoms alone.

In this episode, Dr. Lafreniere and Katharina discuss:

• What Is Integrative Mental Health? Dr. Lafreniere breaks down her clinic's unique approach, looking at factors like nutrition, sleep, lifestyle, and vitamin deficiencies to create comprehensive mental health care plans.
• Treating Beyond Medication: Discover how her clinic assists patients who seek alternatives after years of traditional treatments, combining medication adjustments, lifestyle changes, and innovative therapies.
• Inside Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): An FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment, TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain areas linked to depression. Dr. Lafreniere explains its benefits and why it’s becoming a game-changer for patients resistant to medication.
• Combining TMS with Lifestyle Changes: Learn how Dr. Lafreniere integrates TMS with lifestyle modifications like diet, exercise, and sleep improvements, helping patients maintain long-term mental health.
• Shifting Toward Preventive Mental Health: Dr. Lafreniere advocates for a proactive approach in mental health care, teaching patients to take charge of their wellness rather than waiting until issues escalate.
• Transformative Documentaries on Health: Hear about Forks Over Knives and The Blue Zones, two influential documentaries that inspired Dr. Lafreniere’s focus on diet, community, and movement in mental health.
• Breaking the Conventional Mold: Dr. Lafreniere’s mission to promote a holistic, preventative model offers an empowering alternative to the standard treatment approach in American medicine.

Links and Resources:

• Stefani LaFrenierre, MD

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