Many years ago, the founder of ATMC, Lyle Murphy, discovered that 2 factors were profoundly missing in mental health treatment, namely searching for root causes, and evidence-based treatment.
Everyone’s journey to mental wellness is unique, but without these two elements, the road for most can be torturously long, and the destination elusive. At ATMC, the staff is dedicated to these and other powerful catalysts that help our clients reach their goals with confidence.
Where compassion meets evidence-based treatment.
We are not only compassionate, but we are grounded in science and evidence-based treatment, as our high rates of success demonstrate.
Our passion is helping clients find freedom from medication and reclaim mental wellness using a model grounded in science, driven by outcomes, and delivered by professionals for over 17 years.
15 Years Experience by Professionals Who Understand Your Journey.
Is ATMC Evidence-Based? How Our Holistic Approach is Rooted in Science
When exploring alternatives to traditional psychiatric care, it’s normal to ask, “Is this really backed by science?” At ATMC, the answer is a confident yes. Our model combines proven, evidence-backed therapies with holistic protocols supervised by licensed medical staff in a research-informed treatment environment.
Here is a brief summary of some of the protocols used at ATMC, followed by an expanded description of each of the items below.
Examples of evidence-based protocols used in treatment include:
In addition to these therapies, our services overview pages cover a wide range of other protocols designed to reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance physical and mental well-being, and provide many other benefits. You are invited to take a deep dive into these remarkable therapeutics and take time to review the accompanying data regarding clinical trials and studies on their effectiveness.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT has long been heralded as a gold standard in treating mood and thought disorders. A characteristic of CBT that is widely recognized is its protective effect against symptom relapse long after the therapy has concluded, which is not an attribute of medication-based therapy.1
CBT is delivered in a one-on-one counseling session with a licensed therapist who guides the participant in reviewing old, destructive, or self-sabotaging patterns of thought and behavior, and creating new, practical strategies that serve to enhance one’s day-to-day life, relationships, goals, and more.
CBT and “mindfulness-based” cognitive therapies can be helpful for all age groups, and can be adapted successfully to address a very long list of disorders, situations, and conditions, including ADHD symptoms, major depressive disorders, panic and anxiety-related conditions, insomnia, and many others.2,-4
EMDR is a relatively new and extensively researched therapy developed in 1995. In clinical trials and studies, EMDR demonstrated significant efficacy in the reduction of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other stress- and trauma-based conditions of distress.
EMDR is a drug-free form of one-on-one psychotherapy, the goal of which is to untangle trauma or emotional memories using bilateral taps, or tones, to isolate and desensitize their lingering, disturbing effects. EMDR has been shown to be effective across different cultures, and has a very wide range of application.5.14
Sauna Therapy
Sauna therapy, a form of whole-body thermotherapy, has been around for thousands of years. Its popularity is no surprise due to its efficiency in detoxification, hygiene, relaxation, improved circulation, and improving mood and sleep. Intermittent cooling-off periods and exercise are utilized along with frequent rehydration with water to ensure maximum health benefits.
One of the advantages of sauna detoxification is that the toxins, such as mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic, etc., can escape through the sweat, which eliminates the burden of stress on the liver, because the liver is not needed in the elimination process.7
Carefully conducted clinical trials have shown improvements in both healthy persons, and in patients with severe cardiac disease, where benefits such as reduction in over-sized heart, longer walking times, decreased muscle stiffness and decreased heart pain levels were documented.6
For chronic headache sufferers, this population saw a 44% reduction in headache intensity over a 6-week sauna program. Some other improvements noted were decreased fatigue, less anxiety & depression, and improved quality of life. For COPD (chronic lung disease) patients, the ability and duration of exercise were improved, along with a reduction in congestion and other related symptoms.
And some of the most exciting evidence-based clinical reports showed that the vast majority of depression sufferers reported their symptoms diminished, and continued to be reduced at 40 months follow-up, after their sauna treatment.
Orthomolecular and Naturopathic Medicine
These 2 fields are the gold standards for methods of normalizing biochemical imbalances that impact mental health, through improving nutrition and correcting the diet.
The term “orthomolecular” medicine was coined by 2-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling. Dr. Pauling’s groundbreaking research has changed much in the field of understanding nutrition’s role in medicine over the past decades.
Naturopathy is the study and application of the body’s own natural healing pathways and the discoveries of holistic protocols that support natural health and healing.
Entire libraries of books, published and peer-reviewed studies, papers, and protocols on these disciplines of medicine can’t be summarized in this short article. But we strongly recommend getting familiar with these evidence-based modalities of treatment for a greater understanding of their impact on human health and wellness.8-11
Nutritional Psychiatry
Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field with strong data connecting diet, gut health, and mental wellness. The effects of nutrition on wellness, both physical and mental, have been rigorously studied in many settings for many decades. Nutrition as therapy is informed by over a century of clinical testing and close observation, resulting in an enormous body of practical and highly useful knowledge.12,13
Treatment Credentials that Inspire Confidence
Your care at ATMC is delivered by a team of licensed, credentialed professionals, including:
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) oversee medication tapering and psychiatric care
Licensed Therapists (LPCs, LCPCs, LCSWs, LMSWs, LCPs, LNAs) provide psychotherapy, trauma counseling, behavioral support, Addiction and SUD recovery, massage therapy, acupuncture, and many other functions.
Registered Nurses (RNs) assist with daily care and monitoring
Licensed Naturopathic// Medical Physicians, Nutritional Psychiatrists (NMDs, NPs, MDs) guide holistic assessments, and natural treatment protocols
Our team brings together conventional medical training and integrative expertise to provide safe, accountable care, utilizing evidence-based protocols.
Proven Outcomes, Evidence-Based, and Backed by Data
We don’t just believe in our results, we track them. In our outcome study, 77% of participants experienced improvement in symptoms like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and others after completing our program. Clients typically reported improved energy, quality of sleep, reduced medication reliance, and increased overall well-being. These reports weren’t anecdotal; they were measurable and consistentacross our participant base. These are evidence-based outcomes and bring hope to clients, many of whom have been subjected to guesswork and experimental treatments that failed. Today, there is hope, compassion, and confidence in your recovery at ATMC.
Holistic ≠ Unscientific at ATMC
At ATMC, holistic does NOT mean unscientific — it means comprehensive. We treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. That includes exploring root causes like toxicity, nutrient depletion, gut health, and trauma — areas often overlooked in traditional psychiatry.
We deliver a wealth of services to our clients, and each program is designed uniquely and with care for the individual.
The integrative lens is fully supported by modern research in nutritional psychiatry, functional medicine, neurobiology, and psychoneuroimmunology — fields that continue to provide evidence for the connection between mind, body, and environment.
Find Out More About ATMC’s Evidence-Backed Treatment Programs
You are invited to call or email us at any time for more info and to get your questions answered about the treatment programs we offer. We can also help you find out about insurance coverage, costs, length of stay, and other questions. Our philosophy at ATMC is unique and can be life-changing.
3. Auclair V, Harvey PO, Lepage M. La thérapie cognitive-comportementale dans le traitement du TDAH chez l’adulte [Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the Treatment of ADHD in Adults]. Sante Ment Que. 2016 Spring;41(1):291-311. French. PMID: 27570962.[cited 2025 June 4]
This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.
Dr. Samuel Lee
Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology and has a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine. She has proudly worked with the Alternative to Meds Center since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to help the founding members develop this world-class center that has helped so many thousands regain natural mental health.
Medical Disclaimer: Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
Our Success Stories
Medication Withdrawal Success Stories
Can you imagine being free from medications, addictive drugs, and alcohol? This is our goal and we are proving it is possible every day!
One of the advantages of sauna detoxification is that the toxins, such as mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic, etc., can escape through the sweat, which eliminates the burden of stress on the liver, because the liver is not needed in the elimination process.7
These 2 fields are the gold standards for methods of normalizing biochemical imbalances that impact mental health, through improving nutrition and correcting the diet.
At ATMC, holistic does NOT mean unscientific — it means comprehensive. We treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. That includes exploring root causes like toxicity, nutrient depletion, gut health, and trauma — areas often overlooked in traditional psychiatry.
