Beyond Medication: A Holistic Approach to Psychiatric Care in Connecticut with Tannia Salazar, APRN
In this holistic guide, I explore a modern approach to psychiatry that balances medical insight with personal care.
By Tannia Salazar, APRN | Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health 🌿
When most people think of psychiatry, they picture prescriptions. While medication can be a powerful tool, it’s only one part of the story. At Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health LLC, my philosophy as a nurse practitioner is holistic: your mind, body, and environment all play a role in your well-being. I specialize in supporting adults with anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and related challenges — always with the goal of treating the whole person, not just symptoms.
Looking Beyond Symptoms
A holistic approach doesn’t just ask, “What medication do you need?” Instead, it asks:
How is your sleep?
How does stress show up in your body?
What role do relationships and community play in your healing?
How does your nutrition or physical health affect your mood?
Could labs or vitamin levels be influencing how you feel?
These questions help me understand the full picture of your mental health so we can create a treatment plan that’s both comprehensive and sustainable.
The Role of Medical Evaluation in Mental Health
Because physical and mental health are deeply connected, my holistic approach often includes reviewing labs and nutritional markers that may influence mood, energy, and focus. Imbalances in these areas can sometimes mimic or worsen psychiatric symptoms, and identifying them helps ensure nothing important is overlooked.
Examples include:
Thyroid function (TSH, T4): Imbalances can cause anxiety, depression, or mood swings.
Vitamin D: Deficiency is linked to fatigue, low mood, and seasonal affective disorder.
B12 and folate: Low levels can impact focus, memory, and mood regulation.
Iron levels: Deficiency may lead to fatigue, brain fog, and poor concentration.
Blood sugar & A1C: Instability can worsen irritability, restlessness, and anxiety.
These labs don’t replace psychiatric care, but they provide a more complete picture. Sometimes addressing a thyroid imbalance, vitamin deficiency, or other medical factor can make psychiatric treatment more effective and long-lasting.
What Holistic Psychiatric Care Looks Like
At Rooted in Serenity, a holistic visit may include:
Medication management — Careful prescribing when appropriate, with ongoing support.
Lab review — Checking and discussing labs that may affect mood, focus, or energy.
Lifestyle support — Guidance on sleep, exercise, nutrition, and stress management.
Mind-body techniques — Breathing, grounding, and mindfulness tools for daily balance.
Therapy collaboration — Coordinating care with your therapist or PCP.
Cultural context — Respecting your heritage, language, and values in every plan.
My Background & Philosophy
My foundation as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is rooted in broad medical training, strengthened by experience in psychiatry, acute care, emergency medicine, and trauma surgery. This background allows me to look beyond symptoms and see the full picture — how physical health, trauma, and chronic illness intersect with emotional well-being. It also helps me meet patients with both medical insight and compassion, offering psychiatric care that is validating, practical, and deeply attuned to the whole person.
That background shapes my practice philosophy: care should be comprehensive, validating, and collaborative. By blending medical knowledge with psychiatric expertise, I strive to ensure patients feel supported as whole people — never reduced to a diagnosis.
My practice logo features a willow tree — a reminder that healing can be both grounded and flexible. It reflects my approach to psychiatric care: steady support, with space for growth and resilience.
Getting Started with Holistic Psychiatric Care
If you’re seeking psychiatric care that goes beyond prescriptions — care that considers your labs, lifestyle, trauma history, and overall well-being — I welcome you to connect with me at Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health. Together, we’ll find a path that feels safe, balanced, and sustainable.
Now Accepting New Patients in Connecticut
Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health offers telepsychiatric care for adults navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and medication support with empathy and expertise.
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🌿 Tannia Salazar, APRN Founder of Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health LLC, offering telepsychiatry services across Connecticut for adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and more.
