For decades, mental healthcare has treated the mind as if it were separate from the body. If you’ve struggled with your mood, anxiety, or focus, you were likely told the issue was contained within your brain—a simple imbalance of chemicals. But what if the story is much bigger than that? What if the food you eat, the health of your gut, and your body’s unique biochemistry were all profoundly influencing how you feel and think every single day?
This is the central idea behind functional and nutritional psychiatry. Science now confirms what holistic traditions have known for centuries: the mind and body are deeply interconnected. Your brain’s health is directly tied to factors like chronic inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and the intricate communication highway known as the brain-gut connection in DFW and beyond. When these systems are out of balance, it can manifest as depression, anxiety, brain fog, and fatigue.
At Willow & Stone, we practice a form of functional psychiatry in Texas that merges the science of biochemistry with the art of psychology. We use advanced diagnostics to look “under the hood,” identifying the root biological causes of your symptoms. This allows us to move beyond simply managing symptoms and begin a journey toward true, sustainable healing.
Functional and nutritional psychiatry is an investigative approach. It uses objective data to create a personalized roadmap for your mental wellness. Instead of guessing which treatment might work, we test to understand your body’s specific needs. This process is built on three core pillars of evaluation.
Your brain requires a steady supply of specific nutrients to function optimally. Deficiencies or imbalances in these key building blocks can have a significant impact on your mood, energy, and cognitive abilities. We use targeted lab testing to pinpoint these issues, which may include:
We assess levels of crucial vitamins like Vitamin D, which acts more like a hormone and is essential for mood regulation, and B vitamins (like B12 and folate), which are vital for producing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
Minerals such as magnesium, zinc, and iron play hundreds of roles in the body, including calming the nervous system and supporting energy production. Low levels are commonly linked to anxiety and fatigue.
These healthy fats are a primary structural component of brain cells and are critical for reducing inflammation. Low levels of omega-3s are strongly associated with depression.
By identifying these deficiencies, we can implement a targeted plan for holistic mental health nutrition to restore balance.
Your body’s metabolic health—how it produces and uses energy—is fundamental to your mental state. Chronic imbalances in this system can drain your brain of the fuel it needs, leading to mood swings, brain fog, and exhaustion. Our evaluation includes:
The thyroid is the master regulator of your metabolism. Both underactive (hypothyroidism) and overactive (hyperthyroidism) thyroid conditions can mimic psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. We conduct a comprehensive thyroid panel to get a complete picture.
Your adrenal glands produce cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Chronic stress can disrupt your natural cortisol rhythm, leading to a state of “burnout” that manifests as fatigue, anxiety, and a feeling of being “wired but tired.”
Unstable blood sugar, or dysglycemia, is a major source of inflammation and stress on the body. We evaluate markers like fasting glucose and insulin to identify insulin resistance, a condition that can precede diabetes and is strongly linked to depression and cognitive decline.
The gut is often called the “second brain,” and for good reason. It contains hundreds of millions of neurons and produces a significant portion of the body’s neurotransmitters, including about 90% of your serotonin. An unhealthy gut can directly lead to an unhealthy brain. We investigate:
We examine the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in your gut. An imbalance, known as dysbiosis, can trigger inflammation and affect neurotransmitter production.
When the lining of the gut becomes compromised, undigested food particles and toxins can “leak” into the bloodstream, triggering a system-wide inflammatory response that can directly impact the brain.
We measure specific markers of inflammation in the body. Chronic, low-grade inflammation is now recognized as a primary underlying driver of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
The results from these evaluations don’t just give us data; they tell a story. They help us understand why you are feeling the way you are, allowing us to create a precise and effective treatment plan.
While the interest in nutritional psychiatry is growing, the approach and expertise can vary widely. At Willow & Stone, our model is built on a foundation of medical excellence, deep collaboration, and patient empowerment.
Integration with Expert Psychiatric Care: Our approach is not an “alternative” to psychiatry; it is an evolution of it. Led by Dr. Stacey Forbes DNP APRN PMHNP-BC we integrate functional medicine insights with deep clinical expertise in mental health. This means we understand the complexities of psychiatric conditions and can skillfully combine nutritional interventions with conventional treatments, including medication, when necessary.
Evidence-Based, Thoughtful Interventions: We are committed to evidence-based care. Recommendations for supplements, dietary changes, or medications are always based on a combination of your lab data, your clinical picture, and the latest scientific research. When medication is part of the plan, it is prescribed thoughtfully, with a “less is more” philosophy and a clear understanding of how it fits into your holistic wellness strategy.
Patient Education for Sustainable Change: We believe that knowledge is power. Our goal is not simply to give you a plan, but to help you understand the “why” behind it. We take the time to explain your lab results, discuss the connections between your biology and your symptoms, and empower you with the skills to make lasting, sustainable lifestyle changes. We are your partners in health, guiding and supporting you every step of the way.
Appointments for minors require parent or guardian initiation. Please include the child’s age and primary concern in the Contact Us message.
A functional and nutritional approach can provide profound benefits for a wide range of mental health challenges. It is especially powerful for individuals who have not found relief with conventional treatments or who are seeking non-pharmaceutical or adjunctive solutions.
We commonly help teens (16+) and adults who are experiencing:
We look beyond neurotransmitters to address underlying drivers like inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and gut health that are often at the root of mood disorders.
For those struggling with focus, memory, and mental clarity, we investigate factors like metabolic health, toxin exposure, and mitochondrial function to restore cognitive vitality.
We explore how nutritional factors, food sensitivities, and gut imbalances can impact attention and executive function, offering supportive strategies that can work alongside or, in some cases, reduce the need for stimulant medication.
We move beyond a simple diagnosis of “fatigue” to identify the physiological source, whether it’s adrenal dysfunction, thyroid imbalance, anemia, or nutrient deficiencies.
Trauma has a deep and lasting impact on the body’s physiology, often dysregulating the nervous system and triggering chronic inflammation. A functional approach can help calm the biological stress response, creating a foundation of safety in the body that supports deeper therapeutic healing.
By understanding and addressing the unique biological factors at play, we can offer new avenues for healing and renewed hope.
Your treatment plan at Willow & Stone will be as unique as you are. After a comprehensive evaluation, we will collaborate with you to build a multi-layered strategy that addresses your specific needs. This is not about a single magic pill, but about creating a resilient foundation for long-term health.
Your personalized plan may include:
Based on your lab results, we will recommend professional-grade supplements to correct specific deficiencies and support optimal biochemical function.
We provide clear, actionable guidance on nutrition. This may involve simple meal-planning frameworks, identifying potential food sensitivities, and emphasizing anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense foods. Our focus is on practical, sustainable changes, not restrictive diets.
We work with you to optimize the pillars of health: improving sleep quality, incorporating joyful movement, and developing effective stress-management skills.
If medication is indicated, it is prescribed with precision and care, often in lower doses and as part of a comprehensive plan.
We believe in a team-based approach. If needed, we will happily collaborate with your therapist, a registered dietitian, or other wellness professionals to ensure you have a cohesive support system.
Willow & Stone is proud to be a trusted resource for those seeking a higher standard of psychiatric care. We are trusted by clients near Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Mansfield, and the greater DFW Metroplex. Our office provides a private, welcoming environment for in-person consultations. For those visiting us, please feel free to check for map and parking information to ensure a smooth arrival.
Understanding that access to specialized care can be challenging, we also offer our full suite of services through a secure, convenient telepsychiatry platform. This allows us to serve individuals and families throughout the diverse and widespread communities of Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.
Disclaimer: This website and its content are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your physician or a qualified health provider regarding any medical condition.
You deserve to understand the root causes of your struggles and have a clear, data-driven path toward wellness. If you are ready to move beyond symptom management and embrace a whole-body approach to mental health, we are here to help.
Functional (or integrative) psychiatry combines conventional, evidence-based psychiatric care with a root-cause lens — evaluating the gut-brain connection, nutrition, hormones, inflammation, and lifestyle factors that influence mood, focus, and anxiety.
Yes. It integrates conventional psychiatry with well-researched contributors to mental health such as nutrition, sleep, inflammation, and the gut-brain axis. Medication is still used when appropriate.
Absolutely. Medication is one important tool. The integrative difference is that Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, PMHNP-BC, also addresses the underlying factors so treatment works better and lasts.
Yes — functional and nutritional psychiatry, including lab guidance, is delivered by secure telehealth across Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida.
Willow & Stone provides integrative, cash-pay telehealth psychiatry to patients across Texas and New Mexico — from major metros to rural communities with few local providers.
Popular areas: Dallas · Fort Worth · Houston · Austin · San Antonio · Plano · Albuquerque · Santa Fe · Las Cruces · Rio Rancho
