Skip to main content

Harborside Psych

New Clients
Contact us
(508) 876-3448

Functional Psychiatry for Groton, MA

Unlike a traditional psychiatric work-up, a functional approach takes the whole person into account. Instead of starting and stopping at a symptom checklist, Harborside uses targeted testing to look for underlying deficiencies and physiological concerns that may be contributing to how you feel. For households in Groton, spread across large properties on quiet roads well outside the density of the 495 belt, this kind of care fits into a life already built around staying local and not driving into Boston or even Worcester for routine appointments. A video visit works the same way your other errands and appointments already do out here: it comes to you.

Find a Clinician

Functional Psychiatry for people in Groton, MA

Groton is a town of large lots, working land, and households that tend to value their privacy. People here are used to handling things themselves and are often looking for a provider relationship that respects that, rather than one that requires repeated trips somewhere else. Functional psychiatry is built for that kind of continuity. It starts with a detailed look at your history, symptoms, and relevant lab work, so that decisions about medication or other care are grounded in a fuller picture of your physical health, not just a diagnosis code.

This matters because mood, focus, sleep, and anxiety can all be influenced by things like thyroid function, nutrient levels, or metabolic patterns. A functional approach does not replace standard psychiatric care. It adds a layer of testing and inquiry that can inform how that care is delivered.

How telehealth care actually works

Harborside Psychiatrics is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and delivers care by video across the state, including to patients in Groton. You do not need special equipment. A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and a stable internet connection is enough. Appointments are held through a secure video platform, and you will get a link ahead of time along with any paperwork to complete beforehand.

An initial evaluation typically runs longer than a follow-up, giving your clinician time to go through your history, any relevant lab work, and your current concerns in detail. Follow-up appointments are shorter and are scheduled at an interval that fits your treatment, often every few weeks at first and spacing out over time. If medication is part of your plan, prescriptions are sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choosing, including any pharmacy in or near Groton. You never need to travel to Yarmouth Port for any part of this.

What we treat

Functional psychiatry at Harborside is used for a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, attention and focus difficulties, sleep disruption, and mood symptoms that have not responded the way you expected to prior treatment. It can also be a fit for people who want a fuller physiological picture before starting or adjusting medication, or who have noticed a connection between their mental health and other health changes, such as fatigue, weight changes, or digestive symptoms. The goal of the intake process is to understand what is happening for you specifically, rather than applying a single protocol to everyone.

What the first appointment involves

Your first visit is a comprehensive evaluation. Your clinician will ask about your mental health history, current symptoms, medications and supplements, sleep, diet, and any relevant family history. Depending on what comes up, they may recommend lab testing to check things like thyroid function, vitamin and mineral levels, or other markers that can influence mood and cognition. Once results are back, you will discuss them together and talk through what a treatment plan could look like, whether that involves medication, nutritional adjustments, therapy, or some combination of these.

Who our clinicians are

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 approach to the functional side of this work, including how testing and lab review get incorporated into ongoing care. Full bios and credentials for each clinician are on the team page.

Therapy and eating disorder-focused care are delivered by Harborside’s licensed therapy team: Hannah Legesse, LICSW, Tori Mahoney, LMHC, Jacquelyn Duford, LCMHC ATR, and Lexie Carchedi, LCSW. Many patients in Groton work with a prescriber and a therapist together, coordinating on a shared plan.

What it costs

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

Getting started

If you are considering functional psychiatry, the first step is scheduling an initial evaluation. From there, your clinician will walk you through what testing, if any, makes sense for your situation, and what the appointment schedule will look like going forward. You can review Harborside’s broader approach on the functional psychiatry service page, learn more about telehealth care across the state on the Massachusetts telehealth page, or see other towns served in the region on the Central MA hub. If anxiety is a primary concern for you, the anxiety treatment page has more detail on how that is addressed.

Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Is functional psychiatry the same as functional medicine?

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 does not constitute medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. For guidance specific to your situation, please schedule an appointment.

[CITATION: National Institute of Mental Health page on integrative or complementary approaches to mental health, to support the general concept of physiological factors in mental health care]

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.

Contact Us