The Holistic Psychiatrist

Alice W. Lee, MD, ABIHM

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. 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...

    48 min
  2. 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...

    52 min
  3. 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...

    53 min
  4. 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...

    55 min
  5. Jan 15

    Exploring Amanda’s Easy Withdrawal from Three Psychiatric Medications

    What if coming off psychiatric medication didn’t have to be terrifying? In this episode of The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast, Alice W. Lee, MD, speaks with Amanda, who shares her experience of withdrawing from three psychiatric medications (Lamictal, Wellbutrin, and Levothyroxine) — smoothly, safely, and easily — after being medicated for most of her life. Amanda (38 y.o.) had been on psychiatric medications since her early teens, following the loss of her grandmother and years of emotional experiences that were misunderstood and medicalized. Over 25 years, she was prescribed numerous antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and stimulants, alongside navigating addiction, misdiagnosis, and deep self-doubt. In this candid conversation, Amanda reflects on: Why her most recent withdrawal experience was radically differentHow belief, self-responsibility, and boundaries played a roleThe impact of grief, trauma, and identity on mental healthWhy addressing root causes matters more than managing symptomsThe importance of practitioner trust and mindsetWhat long-term recovery (including sobriety and self-work) made possibleThis episode is not medical advice, nor a promise of identical outcomes — but it is an invitation to rethink what healing can look like when approached holistically, thoughtfully, and with deep respect for the individual. If you or someone you love feels stuck, fearful, or unsure about what’s possible beyond medication, this conversation offers grounded hope, clarity, and perspective. 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...

    1h 3m
  6. 05/15/2025

    Getting Out of the Carnival Fun House Using (I∞T)® Advanced Level: Story Form

    Today, I share another interesting Story Form, using the metaphor of a carnival fun house, to help people heal from difficult, disorienting, and destabilizing experiences.  Many of us have suffered in the past from experiences that made us question our reality and lose our sense of direction or orientation in life. We can become ungrounded, imbalanced, and anxious. We may lose self-awareness and forget self-care. Before you try this podcast, think of a situation where this Story Form might help you to heal from a chaotic and disorienting experience in your life. Then, apply this technique and see if you find it helpful. After this Story Form, the patient who experienced the energy healing session said that she was able to go so deeply into the experience that she was not able to remember the latter parts of the story, although she came back to a fully alert and conscious state when the session ended. She felt that it was powerfully helpful and allowed her to feel grounded and peaceful. Story Form integrates the use of visualization, symbolism, and metaphor to craft a story where the listener is the living protagonist in the unfolding plot. It starts with the metaphorical state of being that captures the essence of a traumatic experience or problem and transforms it through Life Energy to an alternative, healed, and positive outcome. This technique takes us into a deep, relaxed, trance-like state where we are able to communicate at all levels of being to transform and heal from energies and subconscious patterns, which keep us stuck in fear and uncertainty. 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...

    21 min
  7. 05/01/2025

    Gaining Confidence in Self-Sufficiency: Using (I∞T)® Advanced Level: Story Form

    One of my patients’ favorite Infinite Intention Techniques is an advanced approach called “Story Form.” It is even more powerful than EET! However, for a clinician, it takes a lot of skill, creativity, intuition, and insight to use this technique to help a patient. Today’s podcast uses Story Form to support and heal those who have experienced chronic and repetitive traumas, health problems, or challenges that have undermined their self-confidence in being self-sufficient. This podcast records a spontaneously created Story Form session, a meditative technique that uses imagery and story, for a patient, Emily, who had experienced chronic health problems that caused her to be dependent on her family despite her deep desire to be self-sufficient. Story Form brings the use of visualization, symbolism, and metaphor to craft a story where the listener is the living protagonist in the unfolding plot. It starts with the metaphorical state of being resulting from chronic challenges in life. As the story evolves, Life Energy is integrated to transform the imagery, symbolism, metaphors, and plot of the story to create an alternative, healed, and positive outcome. This technique takes us into a deep, relaxed, trance-like state where we are able to communicate at all levels of being to transform and heal from energies and subconscious patterns, which keep us stuck in fear and uncertainty. Today's story takes us to a new place where we can live a self-sufficient and independent life as we create what we deeply desire to accomplish and experience. After this session, Emily felt more comfortable with being self-sufficient and empowered to reduce the frequency of her sessions. That's the appropriate outcome from a powerful intervention! 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...

    35 min
  8. 04/24/2025

    Calm in the Chaos: Overcoming Political Anxiety Using EET to Empower Yourself

    Calm in the Chaos: Overcoming Political Anxiety Using EET to Empower Yourself Many individuals feel overwhelmed, anxious, and powerless in response to the current political climate. But what if those emotions can be resolved—not just mentally, but spiritually and energetically? In this episode, Dr. Alice Lee, holistic psychiatrist and creator of the Empower Energy Technique (EET), shares a powerful energy healing template designed to address the emotional toll of political stress.  With compassion and insight, she guides us through a transformational EET experience that connects us to Life Energy, releases deep-rooted fears, and restores a sense of strength, trust, and inner peace. Through this EET approach, listeners can release inherited trauma, reclaim their power, and find grounding—even in uncertain times. Join Dr. Lee as she gently reminds us that healing is always a choice, and that with the right energy and intention, we can transform even the most daunting emotional patterns. Breathe in. Choose healing. Reclaim your peace. Enjoy! Have a joyful week! 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...

    19 min

Trailer

4.4
out of 5
25 Ratings

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.

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