Dr. Margarita Holsten is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She earned her M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and B.A. from New York University (NYU) and completed her psychiatry training at Bellevue/NYU residency program.
​
Dr. Holsten held teaching positions at NYU School of Medicine and the University of Colorado School of Medicine psychiatry residency programs. She received certification from Walsh Institute specializing in correcting nutritional deficiencies and she completed the Integrative Psychiatry Master Class program focusing on a functional medicine approach in psychiatry.
Dr. Holsten has a long-standing meditation practice and taught meditation and mindfulness skills workshops both in the US and internationally. She spent a year teaching meditation in Australia at a meditation retreat center and traveled to Mumbai, India to teach meditation practices. Dr. Holsten also studied with a Qi Gong Master and traveled to China with him.
-
​Board Certified American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
-
New York University/Bellevue Hospital Program Substance Abuse Fellowship
-
New York University/Bellevue Hospital Program Psychoanalytic Institute
-
New York University/Bellevue Hospital Program Psychiatry Residency Program
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine M.D.
-
New York University B.A. in Psychology, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
My Approach
After years of practicing and teaching psychiatry in the country’s premier institutions and my own practice, I came to believe that neither of the existing approaches can work on its own. Our mental health is dependent on chemistry, nutrition, environment, and genetics. Only an integrative approach that looks at all these elements collectively and over a period of time could help provide a longer-lasting solution to our mental health issues.
The Timeline Integrative approach evaluates and addresses multiple causes like nutrient deficiencies, microbiome imbalance, hormonal problems, dietary and sleep issues that can be an underlying cause of your symptoms.
The precise manifestation of each cause depends on the individual’s genes, environment, and lifestyle, and only treatments that address the right cause will have lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression.
What are the examples of root causes?
-
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism can include depression, low energy, and lack of focus
-
Symptoms of Zinc and vitamin B6 deficiency can present as depression and/or anxiety
-
Symptoms of Copper overload can show up as restlessness, insomnia, and inability to focus
-
Dairy and Gluten allergy can be associated with symptoms of Irritable Bowel Disorder, skin picking, and anxiety
-
Sugar cravings and binges can be symptoms of candida overgrowth in your gut
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is the latest development in the field of mental health that adds precision to the selection of medications and supplements to optimize the treatment outcome.
I use Genomind panel because it is the most comprehensive panel that focuses on mental health, and they work with private insurance companies to make the testing more accessible.
Walsh Protocol
I have completed a training with Dr. William Walsh author of Nutrient Therapy book and a founder of Walsh Research Institute. Dr. Walsh compiled thousands of clinical cases documenting his findings over the past several decades. He emphasizes that the primary raw materials for the synthesis of many neurotransmitters are nutrients - amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other natural biochemicals that we obtain from food.
​
Advanced nutrient therapy (vitamins, minerals and amino acids) offers an alternative treatment approach, which represents a natural method of correcting imbalances in neurotransmitter activity. The clinical challenge is to determine biochemistry of each patient and to develop an individualized treatment plan aimed at normalizing brain chemistry. This determination is done with combination of blood test results and detailed clinical assessment. For most patients, the benefits of advanced nutrient therapy result from the following:
-
Normalizing the concentration of nutrients needed for neurotransmitter synthesis
-
Epigenetic regulation of neurotransmitter activity
-
Reducing free-radical oxidative stress
​
A major advantage of advanced nutrient therapy is the absence of the serious side effects associated with psychiatric medications.
Advanced nutrient therapy can be used together with medication and therapy.