By Laura Cannon, PMHNP-BC, LPC
I’m thrilled to join Evolve In Nature’s team as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. My primary role is supporting clients navigate the complex world of psychiatric medications.
I started my career as a somatic psychotherapist and trained for many years in the beautiful ways that therapy, movement, and reparative relationship can help rewire the brain, integrate trauma, and support the sequencing and expression of the full range of human emotion.
In studying the world of psychiatry, I’ve come to also understand and respect the biological and neurological processes that shape our moods and influence our energy. I have seen so many clients work tirelessly for years in therapy, only to feel stuck in the same patterns. For some people, patterns of unwellness persist even when they use their best coping skills, do all the self-care, and do the hard work of processing deep trauma. That’s because some brains and bodies are simpliy built a bit differently.
We now understand that mental health is not only shaped by our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, but also by factors like genetics, nutrition, systemic inflammation, hormones, sleep, gut health, and chronic stress. (Bullmore, 2018; Moncrieff et al., 2022). When these systems are out of balance, compassionate, holistic pharmacological support can make a meaningful difference.
The Dance of Medication and Therapy
I have come to see medication not as a quick fix or a magic wand, but rather as a tool. Medication can help regulate the brain and body’s physiological stress systems while therapy helps integrate emotional insight, enact behavioral change, and nourish relationships. In essence, medication can help calm the waters. Therapy can help you learn to navigate them.
Research consistently shows that the most effective approach to treating mental health concerns often involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy rather than relying on either approach alone. A large meta-analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry (Cuijpers et al., 2020) found that people receiving both medication and therapy experienced greater symptom improvement, faster recovery, and lower relapse rates compared to those receiving only medication or therapy.
Here are some ways that I have seen medication work in tandem with therapy:
A person with panic attacks uses medication to help calm their body and help quiet anxious thoughts while learning and practicing grounding and regulation techniques.
A parent experiencing postpartum depression uses an antidepressant to lift the fog so that they can engage in effective attachment with their baby and their partner.
A person healing from PTSD uses medication to help reduce nightmares and calm hyperarousal. This physiological support enables them to regulate their nervous system enough to engage in trauma-focused therapy.
Someone with ADHD uses medication to improve focus and emotional regulation. They find that medication creates the stability they need to practice organizational tools and develop self-compassion instead of self-criticism.
Medication may be especially helpful when:
Symptoms are severe or interfere with daily functioning or basic safety
There’s a strong biological or hormonal component (e.g., postpartum, seasonal, or genetic factors)
Past therapy alone hasn’t provided enough relief
The nervous system is chronically dysregulated from trauma or stress
Medication may not be the first choice when:
Symptoms are mild or situational
Lifestyle, nutrition, physical health, or relational challenges are more pressing needs
The core issue is existential, spiritual, or grief-related
Myths and Misconceptions
Let’s gently challenge a few common myths I hear in practice:
Myth #1: “Medication changes who I am.”
When prescibed thoughtfully and dosed appropriately, medication should restore your natural balance and help you feel more like yourself, not less. The goal isn’t to change who you are but to restore balance in brain chemistry so that your natural energy, motivation, and emotional stability can re-emerge. Many people describe it as finally feeling like themselves again after a long time of struggle.
Myth #2: “I’ll have to be on it forever.”
There’s a saying in psychiatry that “a medication is not a mortgage”. For many, medication serves as a temporary bridge - providing support while they heal, process trauma, or develop new coping tools. Others may find long-term use beneficial for maintaining stability, just as someone with diabetes might use insulin. The key is that medication decisions are individualized and revisited over time, based on your goals and how your body responds. It’s not a life sentence; but flexible tool for your well-being. One that you can pick up when you need it and put down when you don’t.
Myth #3: “Using medication means I’m weak. Shouldn’t I be able to do this on my own?”
Choosing to use medication is an act of strength and self-advocacy. It reflects self-awareness and a willingness to care for yourself in the ways that are most effective. Mental health challenges are not signs of weakness but a sign of being human. Just as no one would question taking antibiotics for an infection, using medication for depression, anxiety, or other conditions is simply another form of responsible self-care. True strength lies in seeking the support that helps you live fully.
Myth #4: “I’d rather take a supplement than a medication - it’s more natural.”
Supplements, herbal remedies, psychotropic drugs, and pharmaceuticals all carry their own risks, side effects, and benefits. Pharmaceuticals are rigorously studied and regulated in a way that nutritional and herbal supplements are not. Supplements can play an important role, but they should be used thoughtfully and ideally under professional guidance. Working with a guide who can help you check lab values, monitor side effects, and assess risks and benefits of both medication and supplement use is essential to long-term health and well-being.
Medication, when combined with therapy, lifestyle changes, and self-understanding, can be a powerful ally in restoring balance and vitality. The goal is always empowerment: helping you feel more like yourself, not less.
Whether or not medication is part of your journey depends on your unique body and your own personal journey. My role is to help you explore that choice with curiosity, compassion, and evidence-based care. If you want to discuss if medication may be supportive to you, reach out for a free consultation.
References and Resources
Bullmore, E. (2018). The inflamed mind: A radical new approach to depression. Picador.
Cuijpers, P., Noma, H., Karyotaki, E., Cipriani, A., & Furukawa, T. A. (2020). Combining pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy or monotherapy for major depression? JAMA Psychiatry, 77(7), 699–707.
Haines, M. (n.d.). Neuroscientifically challenged. https://neuroscientificallychallenged.com/
Maté, G., & Maté, D. (2022). The myth of normal: Trauma, illness, and healing in a toxic culture. Avery.
Moncrieff, J., Cooper, R. E., Stockmann, T., Amendola, S., Hengartner, M. P., & Horowitz, M. A. (2022). The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry, 27, 2401–2413.
Siegel, D. J. (2020). The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.