The Holistic Psychiatrist

Alice W. Lee, MD, ABIHM
  • 4.4 (25)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The Holistic Psychiatrist podcast is the place for insights, information, and inspiration on holistic mental health. Discover critical information on safe, effective psychiatric medication withdrawal. Learn to apply easy energy medicine techniques that can help heal effortlessly from traumas, toxins, and infections. Understand which nutritional supplements and detoxification products are useful and why. Explore new ideas that enlighten and expand the mind from cutting-edge authors and experts. Hear from former patients as they share their miraculous healing journeys. Holistic and integrative medicine doesn’t need to remain a mystery. Your host, Alice W. Lee, MD, combines 10 years of medical training, 37 years in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, and 24 years in holistic and integrative psychiatry to distill and simplify the nutritional, orthomolecular, functional, and energy medicine information you need to help you build your well-being from the thought up. The content provided by this podcast is for informational purposes only and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA. This podcast is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional.

  1. Aug 12

    Hormone Imbalance and Mental Health: The Hidden Connection Explained

    Hormones can have a profound impact on mental health, influencing everything from mood, anxiety, and sleep to depression, agitation, and more severe psychiatric symptoms. In this episode, Dr. Alice Lee and Emily explore the hidden connection between hormone imbalance and mental health from a holistic psychiatry perspective. They discuss how estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, neurotransmitters, inflammation, gut health, liver function, and detoxification pathways may all interact and affect emotional and psychological well-being. Emily also shares her personal journey with endometriosis, chronic pain, inflammation, psychiatric medication withdrawal, and the process of understanding how hormonal health can influence both physical and mental symptoms. Topics discussed in this episode include: • How hormone imbalance may affect mental health • The relationship between hormones and neurotransmitters • Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and mood • Hormonal changes and anxiety, depression, mania, and psychosis • Endometriosis, chronic inflammation, and mental well-being • Gut health, liver function, and hormone metabolism • The connection between stress, trauma, and hormonal regulation • Endocrine disruptors and everyday environmental exposures • Diet, inflammation, and holistic approaches to health • Looking for underlying causes instead of focusing only on symptoms Dr. Lee also shares clinical observations that led her to look more closely at hormonal health in patients experiencing significant changes in psychiatric symptoms. This conversation highlights an important idea: mental health does not exist separately from the rest of the body. Hormones, the nervous system, immune function, inflammation, gut health, and physical wellbeing can all be deeply interconnected. Whether you are dealing with hormone imbalance, anxiety, depression, endometriosis, chronic inflammation, or simply want to better understand the relationship between hormones and the brain, this episode offers a thought provoking holistic perspective. Learn more about Dr. Alice Lee and explore additional holistic psychiatry articles, podcasts, and resources at holisticpsychiatrist.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a five-star rating, and share it with someone who may find this conversation helpful. Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it. Support the show To sustain my work as a holistic psychiatrist and support my efforts to improve psychiatric treatment for all through my podcasts, articles, website, and YouTube channel, please show your appreciation and help champion holistic psychiatry by clicking HERE to contribute! Click here to listen to all of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes Contact here to email Dr. Lee directly. New! Join me on Substack A space for my opinions and reflections on cultural, political, social, and psychological issues. Feel free to comment and respond to those articles. If you like this podcast, please give it a 5-star rating and share this with others! Thank you! For more about Dr. Alice W. Lee, please visit: Website: www.holisticpsychiatrist.com More stories and insights: Holistic Articles YouTube: The Holistic Psychiatrist To schedule consultations or appointments, call Dr. Lee's office at 240-437-7600 Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Conn...

  2. Aug 1

    Loneliness and Mental Health: How to Build Real Connection

    We often treat loneliness as a private failing or something to feel embarrassed about. But what if feeling lonely isn't a flaw—what if it’s an evolutionary alarm system, as vital to our survival as hunger or thirst? In this episode of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast, Dr. Alice Lee and her collaborator Emily dive into Thom Hartmann’s article, "If Loneliness is Hunger, Then It Has a Remedy as Ordinary as a Meal." Together, they break down why modern society often isolates us by design, the serious physical toll of chronic disconnection, and how true healing requires far more than just diet and supplements. In this episode, we explore: The "Packed Elevator" Paradox: How you can be surrounded by people and still feel deeply isolated—and how researchers define loneliness as the gap between the connection you have and the connection you need.The Health Toll of Disconnection: Why chronic loneliness carries health risks comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and why social networks are essential for longevity.Overcoming Stigma & Hyper-Independence: Breaking down the cultural pressure to "do it all alone" and learning how to build spaces where you feel genuinely seen and witnessed.Real Stories of Transition: Honest reflections on leaving high-demand communities, relocating, navigating medication withdrawal, and the trial-and-error of finding "your people."Small "Designs" for Healing: Practical, gentle ways to bridge the gap—from low-stakes neighborly chats and interest groups, to nature, free-writing, and pets when you aren't quite ready for big social leaps.Whether you're feeling isolated, navigating a major life transition, or simply looking to build deeper, more authentic relationships, this conversation offers grounded insights, comfort, and practical steps forward. Press play to learn how putting ourselves back in each other's paths can transform our health and well-being! For more healing tools and insights, visit holisticpsychiatrist.com. Support the show To sustain my work as a holistic psychiatrist and support my efforts to improve psychiatric treatment for all through my podcasts, articles, website, and YouTube channel, please show your appreciation and help champion holistic psychiatry by clicking HERE to contribute! Click here to listen to all of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes Contact here to email Dr. Lee directly. New! Join me on Substack A space for my opinions and reflections on cultural, political, social, and psychological issues. Feel free to comment and respond to those articles. If you like this podcast, please give it a 5-star rating and share this with others! Thank you! For more about Dr. Alice W. Lee, please visit: Website: www.holisticpsychiatrist.com More stories and insights: Holistic Articles YouTube: The Holistic Psychiatrist To schedule consultations or appointments, call Dr. Lee's office at 240-437-7600 Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Conn...

  3. Jul 15

    Medication Withdrawal Through Holistic Psychiatry: Interview by Dr. Lori Hops

    Discover innovative, painless, and gentle medication withdrawal approaches using functional medicine, lifestyle adjustments, and energy practices.  Listen to what your body and mind are telling you about deeper truths beyond the symptoms.  Join experts Psychiatrist Alice Lee, M.D., and Dr. Lori Hops, licensed psychologist, as they provide suggestions for whole-person thriving when facing life's challenges.  Alice W. Lee MD, ABIHM, is a holistic and integrative child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist practicing in Stamford, Connecticut.  Since 2002, she has integrated functional and energy medicine techniques to pioneer new ways to safely support psychiatric medication withdrawal. Along the way, she became certified as a Reiki master, set a legal precedent that paved the way for holistic clinicians, became board-certified in integrative medicine twice, created the Infinite Intention Technique, wrote 258+ Holistic Articles, built a criteria-based energy testing approach to assess a patient’s functional status, and started a podcast called The Holistic Psychiatrist.  Currently, she is on the board of directors of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP), which has supported her exploration of energy medicine since its early beginnings.  In The Energy Field, fall 2025 issue by ACEP, she summarized her work in an article entitled “On Magic Wands and Quantum Toolboxes.” Her goal has always been to help patients achieve lasting wellness and freedom from their role as patients (Successful Withdrawal from Six Psychiatric Medications Using Criteria-Based Energy Testing: Case Report). Lori Hops, Ph.D., DCEP, is a Licensed Psychologist in California, USA, with a Master’s and Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. ⁠⁠Dr. Hops⁠⁠ teaches online seminars and workshops on embodied intuition. She has also taught in the US and abroad to professionals, students, and the general public about compassion, self-care, spiritual practice, and finding meaning in life.  Dr. Hops is certified as a ⁠⁠Diplomate in Comprehensive Energy Psychology⁠⁠, a certified ⁠⁠Logosynthesis practitioner and instructor⁠⁠, and is a registrant with the ⁠⁠National Register of Health Service Providers⁠⁠. She is credentialed in Telepsychology Competencies by The American Insurance Trust. Dr. Hops served as the former president of the ⁠⁠Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP). ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Hops’ psychotherapy practices⁠⁠ are based in conventional Western empirical science and wisdom traditions from around the world, including holistic systems, energy psychology practices and the use of intuition and inner guidance.  Dr. Hops is a Reiki Master, taking a mind-body-spirit approach to healing that fosters harmony and balance through universal life force energy. Reiki can be used in person or at a distance, similar to prayer.  Dr. Hops uses Reiki in her practice at a distance only. Lori enjoys movement arts, fine arts, and nature, which serve as muses for creative writing. Thank you for joining us for today’s podcast.  You can learn more about Dr. Hops by visiting her website ⁠hopshealingtips.com⁠. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and does not provide health care advice. Please seek guidance from your professional health care team should you need assistance. ©2026 Lori Chortkoff Hops. Support the show To sustain my work as a holistic psychiatrist and support my efforts to improve psychiatric treatment for all through my podcasts, articles, website, and YouTube channel, please show your appreciation and help champion holistic psychiatry by clicking HERE to contribute! Click here to listen to all of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes Contact here to email Dr. Lee directly. New! Join me on Substack A space for my opinions and reflections on cultural, political, social, and psychological issues. Feel free to comment and respond to those articles. If you like this podcast, please give it a 5-star rating and share this with others! Thank you! For more about Dr. Alice W. Lee, please visit: Website: www.holisticpsychiatrist.com More stories and insights: Holistic Articles YouTube: The Holistic Psychiatrist To schedule consultations or appointments, call Dr. Lee's office at 240-437-7600 Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Conn...

  4. Jun 11

    Restoring Your Life After Coming Off Psychiatric Medications

    Restoring Your Life After Coming Off Psychiatric Medications Who Am I and How Do I Move Forward? Coming off psychiatric medications can feel like the end of a long and difficult journey. But for many people, it is also the beginning of a new one. In this episode, Emily and I talk about what happens after medication withdrawal — when the body has healed, and the symptoms are gone, but the emotional, social, and practical challenges still remain. We discuss the process of rebuilding confidence, identity, relationships, habits, and daily life after years of psychiatric treatment. Emily shares her personal experience of feeling free after withdrawal, only to realize that there were still deeper layers to heal, including fear, loneliness, self-doubt, and the need to start over in many areas of life. We also explore: The emotional aftermath of psychiatric treatmentWhy people may feel anxious even after a successful withdrawalHow medication, symptoms, and the psychiatric system can affect identityThe challenge of rebuilding friendships, work, and purposeWhy self-care habits can slip after recoveryHow supplements, energy medicine, rest, and diet can support long-term healingThe importance of patience, compassion, and taking one small step at a timeThis conversation is not only about coming off medications. It is about learning how to rebuild one's life after healing from a chronic medical condition. It is about recognizing what you have survived, giving yourself grace, and moving forward with a life that feels whole, authentic, and free. Enjoy! Please come back for more episodes of The Holistic Psychiatrist!  If you've enjoyed this podcast, please give us a five-star rating to help spread the word.  Visit holistipsychiatrist.com to contact me and to access more free articles and resources! Support the show To sustain my work as a holistic psychiatrist and support my efforts to improve psychiatric treatment for all through my podcasts, articles, website, and YouTube channel, please show your appreciation and help champion holistic psychiatry by clicking HERE to contribute! Click here to listen to all of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes Contact here to email Dr. Lee directly. New! Join me on Substack A space for my opinions and reflections on cultural, political, social, and psychological issues. Feel free to comment and respond to those articles. If you like this podcast, please give it a 5-star rating and share this with others! Thank you! For more about Dr. Alice W. Lee, please visit: Website: www.holisticpsychiatrist.com More stories and insights: Holistic Articles YouTube: The Holistic Psychiatrist To schedule consultations or appointments, call Dr. Lee's office at 240-437-7600 Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Conn...

    Restoring Your Life After Coming Off Psychiatric Medications

  5. May 28

    Discussing Conventional and Holistic Treatment Failures

    Discussing Conventional and Holistic Treatment Failures Failure is something we rarely talk about openly in mental health treatment. But what happens when medications don’t work the way people hoped? What happens when holistic approaches don’t create immediate breakthroughs either? And what can both patients and practitioners learn from those experiences? In this episode, Emily and I have a deeply honest conversation about conventional and holistic treatment failures — and why these experiences, while painful, often become the beginning of deeper understanding and growth.  We discuss: The real-world success rates of antidepressants and antipsychoticsWhy medication withdrawal can become increasingly complex over timeThe emotional toll of treatment resistance and failed approachesHow hope, persistence, and curiosity shape recovery outcomesThe difference between symptom reduction and true healingAnd why listening deeply to patients matters more than everThis conversation isn’t about attacking conventional psychiatry or promising easy answers. It’s about honesty. Learning. And recognizing that healing is often far more nuanced than we’ve been taught. Enjoy! Come back for more articles and episodes of The Holistic Psychiatrist! Support the show To sustain my work as a holistic psychiatrist and support my efforts to improve psychiatric treatment for all through my podcasts, articles, website, and YouTube channel, please show your appreciation and help champion holistic psychiatry by clicking HERE to contribute! Click here to listen to all of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes Contact here to email Dr. Lee directly. New! Join me on Substack A space for my opinions and reflections on cultural, political, social, and psychological issues. Feel free to comment and respond to those articles. If you like this podcast, please give it a 5-star rating and share this with others! Thank you! For more about Dr. Alice W. Lee, please visit: Website: www.holisticpsychiatrist.com More stories and insights: Holistic Articles YouTube: The Holistic Psychiatrist To schedule consultations or appointments, call Dr. Lee's office at 240-437-7600 Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Conn...

  6. May 14

    The Myth of Mental Illness

    Mental health struggles are often far more complex — and far more treatable — than many people realize. For decades, we've been told that mental illness is simply a "chemical imbalance" — something to be managed primarily through medication. But what if that understanding is incomplete? In this episode, Dr. Lee and Emily explore The Myth of Mental Illness and unpack some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding psychiatric diagnoses, medications, and healing.  Drawing from both clinical and lived-in experience, we discuss why symptom relief doesn't always mean the underlying issue has been resolved — and why so many people feel stuck, dependent, or misunderstood after years on medication. Listen to the full podcast for information on the following areas: How psychiatric medications work and how symptom-directed treatment isn't the ideal way to truly heal mental illness.How do metabolic causes create mental illness?The serotonin system's role in the GI system.The difference between a diagnosis and its underlying causes.How do psychiatric medications really work?Vignettes of patients who healed depression and psychosis quickly with nutritional support without needing neurotransmitter support.A new holistic paradigm for treating bipolar disorder that really works.How medication side effects and withdrawal can mimic mental illness. Dr. Lee's initial personal experience that allowed her to empathize with her patients' perspectives and to shift from a conventional to a holistic approach.Specific safe supplements that enhance general biological function and how to order them.Most importantly, this conversation is about removing stigma and shame. Struggling with depression, anxiety, withdrawal, or emotional overwhelm does not mean you are weak or broken.  Sometimes, the body is asking for deeper support, not just symptom suppression.  Visit holistipsychiatrist.com to contact Dr. Lee or to access more free articles and resources! Enjoy! Support the show To sustain my work as a holistic psychiatrist and support my efforts to improve psychiatric treatment for all through my podcasts, articles, website, and YouTube channel, please show your appreciation and help champion holistic psychiatry by clicking HERE to contribute! Click here to listen to all of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes Contact here to email Dr. Lee directly. New! Join me on Substack A space for my opinions and reflections on cultural, political, social, and psychological issues. Feel free to comment and respond to those articles. If you like this podcast, please give it a 5-star rating and share this with others! Thank you! For more about Dr. Alice W. Lee, please visit: Website: www.holisticpsychiatrist.com More stories and insights: Holistic Articles YouTube: The Holistic Psychiatrist To schedule consultations or appointments, call Dr. Lee's office at 240-437-7600 Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Conn...

  7. Apr 30

    Can Thoughts Make Us Sick—or Help Us Heal?

    There’s a moment in this conversation where something quietly shifts… Not because of a bold claim — but because of a different way of seeing. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Elisa Medhus, a physician with over 30 years in internal medicine, who now works in the field of scalar energy healing. Alongside Emily, we explore how thoughts, intention, and energy may influence the body in ways we’re only just beginning to understand.  This is not about replacing medicine. It’s about expanding the conversation. We talk about: What scalar energy is (in simple terms)How intention, visualisation, and emotion may influence healingThe connection between thoughts, self-perception, and physical outcomesWhy love, gratitude, and self-worth keep showing up in healing journeysAnd the idea that healing may involve more than just the physical bodyWhat stood out most wasn’t the technology… It was the reminder that how we think and feel about ourselves may matter more than we realize. If you’re open to exploring a different lens on healing, this is a conversation worth sitting with. Support the show To sustain my work as a holistic psychiatrist and support my efforts to improve psychiatric treatment for all through my podcasts, articles, website, and YouTube channel, please show your appreciation and help champion holistic psychiatry by clicking HERE to contribute! Click here to listen to all of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes Contact here to email Dr. Lee directly. New! Join me on Substack A space for my opinions and reflections on cultural, political, social, and psychological issues. Feel free to comment and respond to those articles. If you like this podcast, please give it a 5-star rating and share this with others! Thank you! For more about Dr. Alice W. Lee, please visit: Website: www.holisticpsychiatrist.com More stories and insights: Holistic Articles YouTube: The Holistic Psychiatrist To schedule consultations or appointments, call Dr. Lee's office at 240-437-7600 Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Conn...

  8. Apr 2

    Discovering the Long-term Effects of SSRI Use

    What are the long-term effects of SSRIs—and why do some people experience protracted withdrawal long after stopping antidepressants? In this episode, Dr. Alice W. Lee sits down with Emily to explore the science and lived experience behind SSRI withdrawal, including persistent symptoms that can last months or even years. This conversation sheds light on protracted withdrawal syndrome, a condition that remains widely misunderstood in conventional psychiatry. You’ll learn why withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person, the potential long-term impact of SSRIs on the nervous system, and whether full recovery is possible using a functional medicine and holistic psychiatry approach. Dr. Lee also shares her latest clinical insights on healing from antidepressant-related damage, including what has worked for her patients through nutrition, targeted supplementation, and root-cause treatment strategies. In this episode, we discuss:  What protracted withdrawal is and how it relates to SSRI use  Why withdrawal experiences vary from person to person  The possibility of long-term or lasting effects  New insights into post-SSRI healing  What has helped patients recover—and how long it can takeIf you’re searching for answers about SSRI side effects, antidepressant withdrawal recovery, or natural mental health support, this episode offers both clarity and hope. Support the show To sustain my work as a holistic psychiatrist and support my efforts to improve psychiatric treatment for all through my podcasts, articles, website, and YouTube channel, please show your appreciation and help champion holistic psychiatry by clicking HERE to contribute! Click here to listen to all of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast episodes Contact here to email Dr. Lee directly. New! Join me on Substack A space for my opinions and reflections on cultural, political, social, and psychological issues. Feel free to comment and respond to those articles. If you like this podcast, please give it a 5-star rating and share this with others! Thank you! For more about Dr. Alice W. Lee, please visit: Website: www.holisticpsychiatrist.com More stories and insights: Holistic Articles YouTube: The Holistic Psychiatrist To schedule consultations or appointments, call Dr. Lee's office at 240-437-7600 Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Conn...

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About

The Holistic Psychiatrist podcast is the place for insights, information, and inspiration on holistic mental health. Discover critical information on safe, effective psychiatric medication withdrawal. Learn to apply easy energy medicine techniques that can help heal effortlessly from traumas, toxins, and infections. Understand which nutritional supplements and detoxification products are useful and why. Explore new ideas that enlighten and expand the mind from cutting-edge authors and experts. Hear from former patients as they share their miraculous healing journeys. Holistic and integrative medicine doesn’t need to remain a mystery. Your host, Alice W. Lee, MD, combines 10 years of medical training, 37 years in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, and 24 years in holistic and integrative psychiatry to distill and simplify the nutritional, orthomolecular, functional, and energy medicine information you need to help you build your well-being from the thought up. The content provided by this podcast is for informational purposes only and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA. This podcast is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional.

Information

  • Creator
    Alice W. Lee, MD, ABIHM
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Holistic Psychiatrist
  • Show Website
    The Holistic Psychiatrist

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