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Functional Psychiatry for Somerville, MA

Unlike a traditional psychiatric work-up, functional psychiatry takes the whole person into account. It uses targeted testing to look at underlying deficiencies and physiological concerns that may be contributing to how you feel, rather than starting and ending with a symptom checklist. If you live in Somerville, chances are you have already read a fair amount about your own symptoms before picking up the phone, and you want a clinician who is ready to talk about the biology behind them, not just the labels for them.

That fits the way a lot of people here approach their health generally. Somerville is dense, young, and full of graduate students, researchers, academics, and professionals who commute into Boston or Cambridge. Many of you have already tried to piece together your own theory about what is going on, whether that means noticing a pattern with sleep, diet, a new medication, or a stretch of chronic stress, and you want a clinician who will engage with that thinking rather than wave it off.

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Functional Psychiatry for people in Somerville, MA

Harborside is based in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, and delivers care to patients across the state by video. For Somerville residents, that means no drive to Cape Cod, no waiting room, and no need to take a half day off from lab work or a lecture schedule. You need a private space, a stable internet connection, and a laptop, tablet, or phone with a camera.

A first appointment for functional psychiatry runs longer than a typical follow-up, because there is more ground to cover: your history, current symptoms, relevant labs if you have them, and a discussion of what additional testing might be useful. Follow-up appointments are shorter and are scheduled based on your treatment plan, often monthly at first and then spaced out as things settle into a routine. If medication is part of your plan, prescriptions are sent electronically to a pharmacy near you in Somerville, the same as they would be after any in-person visit.

Lab work, when it is indicated, is typically done through a local lab or an at-home collection kit, with results reviewed together at a follow-up appointment. You are not left to interpret a results page on your own.

How telehealth care actually works

Functional psychiatry at Harborside is used for the same range of concerns that bring people to psychiatric care generally: persistent anxiety, depression, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, fatigue that does not resolve with sleep, and situations where standard treatment has not fully addressed what someone is experiencing. The functional approach adds a layer of inquiry into physiological contributors, things like thyroid function, nutrient levels, inflammation, or hormonal shifts, that can influence mood, energy, and cognition. It is not a separate diagnosis category. It is a way of asking more questions before deciding on a plan.

What we treat

Your first visit is a conversation, not a script. Expect questions about your medical history, current symptoms, sleep, diet, stress load, and any prior testing or treatment. Your clinician will talk with you about which labs, if any, make sense given what you describe, and why. You will leave the appointment with a plan you understand, including what happens next and when your follow-up will be scheduled. Nothing is decided for you without a discussion first.

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 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, including reviewing lab findings as part of a functional psychiatry plan. Full bios and credentials for each clinician are on the team page.

Therapy and eating disorder work are delivered by Harborside’s licensed therapy team: Hannah Legesse, LICSW, Tori Mahoney, LMHC, Jacquelyn Duford, LCMHC ATR, and Lexie Carchedi, LCSW. Depending on your needs, your care may involve a prescriber alone or a prescriber working alongside a therapist.

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 online. If you are still deciding whether functional psychiatry is the right fit, you can also reach out with questions first. Either way, the process starts with a conversation, not a commitment.

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 on nutrient and lab-based approaches in mental health care, the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements is a useful public resource [CITATION: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements page on nutrient status and mental health, for general public education on the biological factors functional psychiatry considers].

Written for Harborside Psychiatrics 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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