Rethinking Depression: An Integrative, Whole-Person Approach
The Integrative Approach to Depression
Depression is more than just low mood. It can affect sleep, appetite, energy, motivation, concentration, and even physical health. While conventional psychiatry often emphasises diagnosing and prescribing, an integrative approach asks a broader question: ‘what’s driving this person’s suffering — and how can we support their recovery in a truly comprehensive way?’
In this post, I want to share how we might reframe depression through a whole-person lens — and why that matters for long-term healing.
A Multifactorial View of Depression
It is not a very controversial statement to assert that illness, whether of the mind or of the body is rooted in a complex interaction of an individual’s biological, psychological and social states.
Take diabetes, for example. A person’s genetics, upbringing, nutrition knowledge, cooking skills, stress, relationships, income, and social support all shape their metabolic health.
Doctors and healthcare professionals are all taught this when they train and it is, frankly, very evident in day-to-day medical practice. This is the essence of the biopsychosocial model of depression — and yet, despite knowing this it is frustrating to see how much of medical practice focuses on overly simplified biological models of illness.
One of the principal biological models of depression, known as the monoamine hypothesis, recognises that there is a deficiency of specific neurotransmitters (primarily serotonin) in certain brain pathways. Antidepressant medication typically targets those pathways, boosting monoamine levels.
We know the monoamine hypothesis has validity and indeed antidepressant medication can and does substantially help a good number of people. But we also know that this is not the entire story.
Depression is a complex, multifactorial condition that often arises from a combination of:
Biological vulnerabilities (e.g. genetics, neurochemistry, hormonal shifts, inflammation)
Psychological patterns (e.g. self-criticism, trauma, grief, negative thinking)
Lifestyle factors (e.g. poor sleep, burnout, substance use, isolation)
Social context (e.g. relationship stress, financial strain, disconnection)
Why A Holistic Approach Matters
Addressing only one of the above areas — such as only prescribing an antidepressant — may bring some relief, but if we stop there, we often miss the deeper causes and the richer opportunities for recovery. A holistic depression treatment aims to deliver a more meaningful and lasting recovery.
As a private psychiatrist for depression in the UK, I work with patients to develop an individualised treatment plan rooted in the principles of integrative psychiatry. This may include:
Medication, when appropriate, to lift mood and improve functioning
Psychological therapy to explore past experiences, thought patterns, and emotional processing
Sleep and energy support, addressing circadian rhythm, quality of rest, and fatigue
Nutritional and hormonal assessment, including factors like vitamin D, B12, iron, thyroid, and more
Lifestyle interventions, such as diet, movement, light exposure, social rhythms.
Mind–body techniques, including mindfulness, breathwork, and other simple techniques.
By combining these elements, we don’t just treat symptoms — we create the conditions for deep and lasting change.
Recovery is often not linear — But it is always possible
One of the most important things to know about depression is that it takes time, patience, and often more than one strategy to overcome. You don’t have to feel better overnight. You just have to take the next step.
In my clinical experience, most people do recover — not just from the worst of their symptoms, but with a renewed understanding of themselves and their needs. The goal of integrative depression treatment is not only to reduce distress, but to build long-term resilience, insight, and vitality.
If This Resonates With You…
If you're living with depression and want to explore an approach that looks at the whole of you — not just the diagnosis — I’d be happy to talk. I offer comprehensive assessments and treatment plans that integrate evidence-based psychiatry with psychological and lifestyle support.
Use the contact form to get in touch or arrange an initial consultation.