Beyond protocols—into real care.

A recent conversation in our community brought something back into focus for me—something I’ve been living and teaching for years: the difference between Functional and Integrative Medicine.

Functional Medicine is buzzy right now. It’s structured, lab-driven, and often rooted in supplements and protocols. There’s real value in that model—I received excellent Functional Medicine training early in my career, and it taught me a lot about how to think systematically and support the body at a root-cause level.

But even back then, I noticed something missing. And I still see it today.

Too often, Functional Medicine forgets the whole person. It can become a series of test results and supplement regimens—missing the nuance of someone’s life, the context of their symptoms, and the healing power of connection, story, and support. It might skip over food, stress, relationships, trauma, joy, and even the nervous system.

That’s where Integrative Medicine shines.

Integrative care is flexible and deeply personal. It’s about meeting the person in front of you. For one client, that might include labs and supplements. For another, it might look like breathwork, journaling, therapy, nervous system regulation, or a shift in mindset. Sometimes it’s spiritual. Sometimes it’s relational. Sometimes it’s as simple (and profound) as giving someone hope.

It’s not about the perfect protocol—it’s about helping people heal in a way that actually fits their lives.

If you’re an APRN feeling called to practice in a different way, don’t wait until you’ve collected every certification or built a perfect plan. Integrative care starts with how you listen, how you show up, and how you support healing beyond symptoms.