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Functional Psychiatry for Shelburne, VT

A traditional psychiatric work-up asks about symptoms and history, then moves toward a diagnosis and a medication plan. Functional psychiatry starts from a wider vantage point: it looks at the whole person, including physiological factors like nutrient levels, thyroid function, and other markers that can contribute to how someone feels day to day. For Shelburne residents balancing demanding careers, family life, and a preference for providers who actually listen before they act, that fuller picture can matter as much as the diagnosis itself. Because Vermont law does not allow us to prescribe stimulant or other controlled medications, functional psychiatry here focuses on what can be assessed and treated through non-controlled approaches.

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Functional Psychiatry for people in Shelburne, VT

Harborside Psychiatrics is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and delivers care to Vermont residents entirely by video. You do not travel to an office. You need a private space, a stable internet connection, and a computer or smartphone with a camera. Sessions typically run 45 to 60 minutes for an initial evaluation and shorter for follow-ups, scheduled at intervals your clinician determines based on your situation and how your care plan is progressing.

If testing is part of your plan, your clinician will explain what is being checked and why, and lab work is typically done through a local lab near Shelburne rather than requiring travel to Massachusetts. If medication is appropriate, prescriptions are sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choosing in or near Shelburne, the same way they would be at any in-person practice. Between visits, you and your clinician can message through a secure patient portal for non-urgent questions.

How telehealth care actually works

Functional psychiatry at Harborside is used alongside standard evaluation for concerns like persistent low mood, anxiety, fatigue that does not resolve with rest, brain fog, sleep disruption, and mood changes tied to hormonal shifts or chronic stress. The goal of the intake process is to understand whether physiological factors, such as nutrient deficiencies, thyroid irregularities, or inflammation, may be contributing to what you are experiencing, alongside the psychological and situational pieces of the picture. This approach does not replace therapy or standard medication management. It is layered in as another source of information your clinician can use to shape your care.

What we treat

Your first appointment is a full evaluation. Your clinician will ask about your current symptoms, medical history, sleep, diet, stress levels, and any prior mental health treatment. Depending on what comes up, they may recommend specific lab testing to check for underlying deficiencies or physiological concerns. You will leave that first visit with a working plan, which may include follow-up testing, therapy, dietary or lifestyle recommendations, or non-controlled medication, depending on what your clinician determines is appropriate for you.

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 Harborside’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 that qualification to the functional psychiatry model, reviewing lab results and physiological findings alongside a standard psychiatric evaluation. 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. Many people working with a prescriber on functional psychiatry also see one of these therapists, and the two parts of care are coordinated.

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 live in Shelburne and want to explore functional psychiatry, you can book an initial appointment through Harborside’s website. There is no separate referral process. You will fill out some intake paperwork before your first video visit, and your clinician will take it from there.

Getting started

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.

This page is educational and is not medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. Reviewed by Rachel Egan, RN PMHNP-BC, Clinical Director. Last reviewed: {LAST_REVIEWED}.

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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.

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

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

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

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

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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