Is functional psychiatry different from a regular medication evaluation?

It uses the same clinical evaluation as standard psychiatric care but adds a look at physiological factors, such as nutrient levels or thyroid function, that can affect mental health. It is not a replacement for medication when medication is appropriate; it is an additional layer of assessment.

Do I have to do lab testing to be seen?

No. Testing is discussed as an option based on your history and symptoms. You can decline it and still receive a full evaluation and, if appropriate, a medication plan.

Can Harborside prescribe controlled medications like stimulants in Massachusetts?

Yes. Massachusetts allows telehealth prescribing of a full range of psychiatric medications, including stimulant medications, when clinically appropriate.

Does Harborside accept insurance for Cambridge patients?

Harborside is private pay and does not bill insurance directly. Current fees are listed on the pricing page, and you can ask about cost before scheduling.

Where is Harborside located?

Harborside is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and provides care by video to patients across the state, including Cambridge.

What is medication management in psychiatry?

Medication management is a psychiatric service that involves evaluating medications, monitoring effectiveness, adjusting treatment plans, and supporting overall mental health care.

Does Harborside Psychiatry provide medication management in Cambridge, MA MA?

Yes, Harborside Psychiatry provides personalized medication management services for individuals seeking psychiatric care in Cambridge, MAssachusetts.

How does psychiatric medication management work?

Psychiatric medication management includes reviewing your symptoms, discussing treatment options, monitoring progress, and making adjustments when needed.

Functional Psychiatry for Cambridge, MA

A traditional psychiatric work-up usually starts and ends with a symptom checklist. Functional psychiatry asks a different question first: what is happening in the body that might be driving what is happening in the mind. Harborside uses targeted lab testing to look for underlying deficiencies, thyroid and metabolic issues, inflammation, and other physiological factors that can contribute to anxiety, depression, and attention or mood symptoms, alongside a standard clinical evaluation.

If you live in Cambridge, you are probably used to reading the research before you sit down with a provider, and you probably want a conversation that treats you like someone who can handle detail, not a simplified version of one. That is the conversation this page is describing.

Functional Psychiatry for people in Cambridge, MA

Harborside is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and delivers care by video to patients across the state, including Cambridge. You do not travel to an office. You need a private space, a stable internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or smartphone with a camera.

An initial appointment runs longer than a standard follow-up, since it covers your history, current symptoms, and a discussion of whether functional lab testing makes sense for your situation. If testing is ordered, it is typically done through a local lab or an at-home kit, and results are reviewed with you in a follow-up session, not left as a printout you have to interpret alone.

Follow-up appointments are shorter and are scheduled based on clinical need, sometimes every few weeks while a plan is being adjusted, and less frequently once things have stabilized. If medication is part of your care, prescriptions are sent electronically to a pharmacy you choose, including options convenient to anywhere in Cambridge. Massachusetts permits prescribing of a full range of psychiatric medications by telehealth, including stimulant medications when clinically appropriate, so that discussion is not off the table here the way it would be in some other states.

How telehealth care actually works

Functional psychiatry at Harborside is used for the same range of concerns you would bring to any medication evaluation: persistent anxiety, depression, attention and focus difficulties, mood instability, and sleep disruption. The difference is the lens. Instead of treating symptoms as isolated, the evaluation looks at whether nutritional gaps, hormonal shifts, or metabolic patterns are part of the picture, and factors that into the plan alongside conventional options.

This approach tends to appeal to people who have already tried a standard medication conversation and want it broadened, and to people who simply want their first psychiatric evaluation to start with a wider view of their health rather than a narrower one.

What we treat

The first visit is mostly conversation: your symptoms, your health history, medications or supplements you already take, sleep, diet, and stress patterns. From there, your clinician will talk with you about whether lab work is warranted and what it would look for, things like thyroid function, vitamin D, B12, iron studies, or inflammatory markers, depending on your presentation. Nothing is ordered without discussing it with you first, and you are not required to pursue testing to receive care.

By the end of the appointment, you should have a working sense of what the next steps look like, whether that is lab work, a medication conversation, a referral to the therapy team, or some combination.

What the first appointment involves

Medication management and functional psychiatry at Harborside are performed by psychiatric nurse practitioners: Rachel Egan, RN PMHNP-BC, who is also the practice’s clinical director, Emily Pardue, RN PMHNP-BC, and Kirstin Ritchie, RN PMHNP-BC. Each is qualified to evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe for mental health conditions, and each brings her own areas of focus to functional and lab-informed care. Full bios and credentials for each clinician are on the team page.

Therapy and eating disorder care are delivered by Harborside’s licensed therapy team: Hannah Legesse, LICSW, Tori Mahoney, LMHC, Jacquelyn Duford, LCMHC ATR, and Lexie Carchedi, LCSW. Depending on what your evaluation surfaces, your prescriber may recommend working with one of them alongside medication management.

Who our clinicians are

Harborside is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly for appointments. Current fees for an initial and a follow-up appointment are listed on the pricing page, and questions about cost can be answered before anything is booked.

What it costs

If you are ready to schedule, you can book an initial appointment directly through the website. If you are still deciding whether functional psychiatry is the right starting point, you are welcome to reach out with questions first. Care is delivered entirely by video, so scheduling around a Cambridge work or academic calendar tends to be straightforward.

Getting started

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health crisis support, call or text 988. Harborside does not provide emergency or after-hours care.

This page is educational and is not medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. For guidance specific to your situation, schedule an appointment with a Harborside clinician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is functional psychiatry the same as functional medicine?

No. It’s psychiatric care from a licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner that also reviews lab work and lifestyle factors, not a separate functional medicine practice.

Do I need labs done before my first appointment?

No. Whether labs make sense is decided together at the first visit, based on your history and symptoms.

What if I already have recent bloodwork?

Bring it to your first appointment. Existing results can often be used instead of repeating tests.

Is lab work included in the appointment fee?

No. Labs are typically billed separately by the lab itself and may be partly covered by insurance depending on the plan.

Can I do this alongside therapy I'm already in?

Yes. It’s meant to work alongside an existing therapist or primary care provider, not replace them.

How is this different from medication management?

Functional psychiatry includes the same prescribing and monitoring, plus a review of physical health factors like sleep, nutrition, and lab markers.

If you need help right now

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health crisis support, call or text 988. Harborside Psychiatrics does not provide emergency or after-hours care.

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