Psychiatric Deprescribing & Women's Mental Health: A Holistic Approach with Dr. Amy O'Donnell, M.D.

Feeling stuck on psychiatric meds and wondering if there's another way?

This episode will change the game.

Today I'm joined by Dr. Amy O'Donnell, a brilliant integrative psychiatrist who specializes in psychiatric deprescribing and women's mental health. She's helping clients move from surviving on scripts to thriving in mind, body, and spirit.

Amy and I get real about the limits of traditional psychiatry, the risks of long-term medication use, and how integrative care offers hope and healing—especially for women navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and reproductive life stages.

This conversation is a must-listen for therapists, Christian clinicians, and women in their 20s and 30s who are done with the one-size-fits-all model and ready for faith-informed, evidence-based alternatives.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What deprescribing actually means—and how to do it safely

• Why psychiatric meds should be a last resort, not the first step

• The risks of benzos, SSRIs, and antipsychotics—especially long term

• How trauma, pregnancy, and meds interact (and what most providers miss)

• Why faith and science aren't opposites—they can work together

• Practical, affordable holistic strategies (backed by research!)

• What to ask your psychiatrist if you're considering tapering

Quotes to Remember:

"I was trained to prescribe—no one taught me how to deprescribe. That's what woke me up." — Dr. Amy O'Donnell

"Just because you're on medication now doesn't mean you'll be on it forever." — Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP

"Some clients tell me, 'I've been on meds since I was 13, and now I want to have a baby—what do I do?' That's why this conversation matters." — Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP

"We don't just treat brains—we treat people with stories, trauma, and purpose." — Dr. O'Donnell

"Small steps lead to big shifts. Start with what you can do today." — Dr. O'Donnell

Holistic Tools & Resources Mentioned:

• Open Path Collective – Affordable online therapy options

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) – National support and education

• The Emotion Wheel PDF – For emotional regulation

• [Fish Oil & Multivitamins] – Evidence-based support for depression/anxiety

• Mind-body practices: yoga, tai chi, breathwork, grounding

• Functional nutrition: real food > processed, healthy fats, protein balance

• Apps: Insight Timer, Headspace for mindfulness

• Conscious Clinician Collective

Related Episodes You'll Love:

• Ep. 18 – Radical Truths in Mental Health with Dr. Roger McFillin

• Ep. 58 – How Scripture Gets Weaponized & How to Heal with Rebecca Davis

A Faith-Informed Mental Health Lens

We also explore how the faith community often misunderstands mental illness, labeling it as weakness or even demonic. Amy and I unpack the damage that causes and why holistic, Christ-centered care is about empowerment, not shame.

"Your biology, psychology, and theology are all divinely connected. You are fearfully and wonderfully made." — Diana

Connect with Dr. Amy O'Donnell:

• Website: naturesplowpsych.com

• Licensed in: Florida & Pennsylvania

• Offering virtual services and relocating to Northeast Florida in 2026

Support the Mission:

Like this episode on YouTube Leave an honest review wherever you listen (Apple, Spotify, etc.) Share it with a friend who's navigating mental health with faith Follow us and tag your insights: @theholisticcounselorpodcast | @throughthevalleytherapy | @transformedmindcc