Integrative mental health care
- is a person-centered approach that emphasizes maintaining optimal health and wellness
- takes into account the symptoms, preferences and circumstances of each unique person
- uses the best available research evidence to develop an individualized treatment plan
- focuses on treating symptoms not disorders
- uses conventional mainstream approaches like medications and psychotherapy, and complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies like herbal medicines and acupuncture
First published in 2015 under the series title The Integrative Mental Health Solution, all 10 e-books have been revised and updated with new content reflecting recent research progress.
I am pleased to offer at no cost Integrative Mental Health Care: An Introduction to Foundations and Methods, the first volume in the series. This book provides an overview of essential concepts and methods used in integrative mental health care. Click here to download your free e-book now
The other books in the series are on alternative treatments of the following mental health problems:
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Dementia and mild cognitive impairment
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
Each book contains concise jargon-free summaries of key information about a variety of alternative treatments, including specifically:
- herbals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, amino acids and other natural supplements
- whole body approaches such as massage and exercise
- mindfulness and mind-body practices such as meditation, yoga, tai chi and qigong
- scientifically validated energy therapies such as bright light, sound and biofeedback
- energy therapies such as healing touch, therapeutic touch and Reiki
Inside each book readers can quickly navigate to sections on:
- Understanding the particular mental health problem that is the focus of the book
- Taking inventory of symptoms using validated self-assessment instruments
- Identifying alternative treatments individualized to each person’s symptoms
- Evidence reviews of efficacy and safety of alternative treatments
- Methods for developing a customized treatment plan based on evidence, preferences and financial constraints
- Methods for evaluating the treatment plan and making changes to improve outcomes
- Web-based resources on safety and to help readers find quality natural supplements
Praise for the series
“Dr James Lake, a modern-day father of integrative mental healthcare, has once again delivered an invaluable resource for sufferers of mental disorders. While an integrative approach to bettering mental health is being increasingly recognized, one challenge is being able to deliver this information to the public in a format that is easy to mentally digest, and at an affordable price. The e-book series on integrative mental health achieves this.
Dr Jerome Sarris PhD, MHSc, ND, Lac, Deputy Director, National Institute of Complementary Medicine, ICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University
“James Lake, MD, is a visionary leader in the new international movement of integrative mental health care. Lake is the author of four of the major textbooks in this area as well as many groundbreaking articles in scholarly journals. Now he has provided a series of brief guides to non-medication oriented safe and effective integrative care for specific mental health disorders. Each volume is concise, well organized and readable. Each volume describes the integrative approach, overviews a particular disorder, and introduces appropriate integrative evidence-based interventions.
I recommend this practical series to patients and their families seeking integrative treatments. Practitioners of integrative mental health care will also find this a useful resource to share with patients.”
Donald Moss, PhD, Dean, College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, Saybrook University, author, Pathways to Illness, Pathways to Health (Springer, 2013)