Dr. Jonathan Prousky, ND, MSc, MA
I have focused my naturopathic medical practice on mental health disorders for over twenty-five years. I have clinical experience with integrating natural health products among individuals taking psychiatric medications. Treatment aims to optimize mental health with clinical nutrition, lifestyle counselling, botanical (plant-based) medicines, prescribed bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (if indicated), and self-care activities.
Patient-Centred Naturopathic Mental Health
A caring patient-centred approach to the evaluation and management of mental health disorders from a naturopathic perspective.
My Patient Promise
I have more than twenty-five years of clinical experience. I will collaborate with you, and develop practical and evidence-informed treatment plans from a naturopathic perspective based on your unique mental health needs. Though I cannot guarantee results, I promise to be there for you every step of the way. My aim is to treat you with respect, empathy, and kindness. I do my best to make every visit a positive experience.
Personalized Care
Evaluation and Treatment of Mental Distress
Evaluation and Treatment of Mental Distress
Evaluation and Treatment of Mental Distress
Assessment involves a history, current mental health complaints, mental status evaluation, the appropriate use of laboratory testing, and measurement of mental distress using validated rating scales. My treatment approach is collaborative, and includes self-care activities, and often referrals for additional mental health services and supports
Mental Distress Management
Evaluation and Treatment of Mental Distress
Evaluation and Treatment of Mental Distress
Depression, ongoing mood instability, anxiety, persistent stress, and psychotic experiences are some of the most uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through the integration of naturopathic mental health, we should be able to lessen the overwhelm you are experiencing, to live life more fully with enhanced meaning and purpose.
Stress Management
Chronic Stress and Damage
Chronic stress has been defined as ongoing demands that exceed an individual's capacity to meet their responsibilities in areas of life, such as family, marriage, parenting, work, health, housing, and finances. In biological terms, chronic stress refers to a pathological state that is caused by prolonged activation of the normal acute physiological stress response. Thus, there should be no debate about the strong association between chronic stress and disease. When the body is unable to cope with chronic stress, it results in a breakdown of bodily resources, and eventually disease becomes clinically detectable. Chronic stress is considered the common risk factor in 75 to 90% of all diseases, including those associated with a poor quality of life and premature death.
Managing Chronic Stress
Once a comprehensive inventory of your chronic stress has been taken, an individualized plan targeting therapeutic lifestyle changes and evidenced-based natural health products will be provided. There is only optimism here, for there are numerous treatments and strategies that can realistically and clinically reduce the ravages of chronic stress. Suffering can be reduced.
Sleep and Mental Health
Good Sleep
Sleep and mental health are intricately linked. Poor sleep can exacerbate mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, while mental health issues can disrupt sleep patterns. Maintaining good sleep is crucial for both mental and physical well-being. Good sleep can be achieved with the right type of support. It is defined by “subjective satisfaction, appropriate timing, adequate duration, high efficiency, and sustained alertness during waking hours" (Buyssee, 2014).
Convenient and Affordable Home Sleep Assessment
If clinically appropriate, we can provide an affordable home sleep technology to measure various physiological parameters, such as heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, and movements. These measurements help to identify problems that may suggest the need for more fulsome sleep testing (polysomnography) and/or can be used to track and optimize sleep. Contact us now for more information.
Hormones and Mental Health
Thyroid Hormones and Depression
Thyroid hormones play a role in mental health. People with hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) may experience depression, fatigue, and difficulty thinking. In some cases, thyroid problems can cause more severe mental health problems, such as psychosis or bipolar disorder. However, these cases are rare. Even among people with normal thyroid hormones, prescription thyroid can assist in treatment-resistant depression, known as third-line treatment.
Bioidentical Natural Progesterone and Wellbeing
Bioidentical progesterone cream is a type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that has benefits for mental health. Bioidentical progesterone cream is effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in women with premenstrual syndrome, and even premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Above all, bioidentical progesterone cream is a type of HRT that plays a role in regulating mood, cognitive function, and overall wellbeing.
Mental Health Consulting Services
Services
If you are seeking information about integrative options for mental health conditions, we can support you in identifying available evidence-based choices. This is a separate service only available to people that reside outside of Ontario. Click here for more information.
Benefits
Following the scheduled consultation, you will receive an educational report within 7 days. The educational report will list and fully describe different evidence-based choices specific to the mental health issues identified. This is not treatment; rather, this report is intended to be shared and fully discussed with your healthcare providers before you integrate any of the evidenced-based options noted in the report.
Patient Must be in Ontario, Canada at the Time of the Visit
Complete Telehealth (Virtual) Based Clinical Practice
Benefits include
- No transportation time or costs
- No need to take time off of work
- Less child or elder care issues
- No waiting room
- Convenient
Guiding Principles for Naturopathic Mental Health
Critically review and effectively integrate complementary therapies with conventional medicine
Evidence-based complementary therapies to lessen emotional overwhelm and bolster resilience
Consider all factors that influence mental health, such as mind, body, spirit, and community
Work collaboratively in a supportive, trusting, healing, and respectful relationship
Empower patients to take an active role in their own health
Positive Clinical Outcomes
Adjunctive Naturopathic Medicine in the Management of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms
Breaking News! A retrospective chart review was performed by two independent investigators. They evaluated the clinical outcomes from patients that attended the mental health rotation at the Schad Naturopathic Clinic. All the patients were under my direct supervision and were given care very similar to that of my naturopathic mental health practice.
Results: "Of the 22 included subjects, a clinically significant decrease of at least 5 points occurred in 76% of individuals with elevated baseline PHQ9 scores and 59% of individuals with elevated GAD7 scores. Mean PHQ9 and GAD7 scores decreased 7.5 (p<0.0001) and 4.6 (p<0.008) points, respectively. Mild adverse events were reported in 9 charts (41%). No serious adverse events were reported. Most subjects were also in the care of a medical doctor and counsellor."
Source: Dertinger, J., & Aucoin, M. (2024). Adjunctive Naturopathic Medicine in the Management of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Retrospective Chart Review. CAND Journal, 31(1), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.54434/candj.157
Clinical Handbooks
2024 NFH Clinical Handbook Series
2023 NFH Clinical Handbook Series