Functional Psychiatry

Functional Psychiatry

Beyond Diagnosis.
A Complete Picture of Your Mental Health.

Advanced diagnostics, integrative treatment, and direct access to your physician. For patients and families interested in understanding the root causes.

Mindbodygreen     Harvard Medical      Training     Functional Medicine Certified     Institute for Functional Medicine     A4M Member Practice     Board Certified Physicians

Featured In & Trusted By

Clinical Focus

Psychiatry That

Looks Beyond Symptoms.

We pay attention to biomarkers, genetics, and lifestyle, and we support making the changes that matter the most.

We specialize in the evaluation and treatment of:
  • Depression & Mood Disorders

    Investigating metabolic, nutritional, toxin burden load, and microbiome mapping as contributors to persistent low mood, including thyroid function, vitamin D, inflammatory markers, and nutrient deficiencies.

  • Anxiety & Panic

    dentifying the physiological triggers of chronic anxiety and panic, including adrenal and cortisol biomarkers, insulin regulation, magnesium levels, and neurotransmitter precursors.

  • ADHD & Attention Difficulties

    A comprehensive evaluation of attention and executive function that goes beyond behavioral checklists to examine the biological and nutritional factors involved in focus, impulsivity, and cognitive performance.

  • OCD

    A multi-layered assessment of obsessive-compulsive presentations drawing on 100+ biomarkers and adrenal function, alongside evidence-based psychiatric treatment and the biological contributors rarely examined in a standard evaluation.

  • General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

    Specialized care for younger patients across the full range of childhood and adolescent psychiatric presentations, from anxiety and ADHD to mood and behavioral concerns, with a nutritional and functional lens applied throughout. Dr. Cammarata brings dual board certification and over four decades of experience to every pediatric case.

A diagnosis tells you what is happening. Functional psychiatry asks why. Every evaluation at CorAeon begins with a thorough biological and clinical picture, because lasting mental health improvement requires understanding the full story.

Conditions We Evaluate

Are these your symptoms?

Dr. Cammarata evaluates each of these through the lens of functional psychiatry, looking beyond surface-level symptoms to examine the metabolic, nutritional, and biological factors that standard psychiatric care rarely investigates.

Depression

  • Persistent sadness, emptiness, or a sense of hopelessness that does not fully resolve
  • Fatigue and low energy even when sleep appears adequate
  • Loss of interest in activities, relationships, or goals that once mattered
  • Negative thinking patterns, difficulty concentrating, or feelings of worthlessness
  • On antidepressants but still not feeling well, or looking for a non-medication approach

Anxiety & Panic

  • Persistent worry that is difficult to control, even when there is no obvious cause
  • Racing heart, chest tightness, or shortness of breath that comes on suddenly
  • Restlessness, irritability, or a constant sense of being on edge
  • Sleep disruption driven by worry or an inability to wind down mentally
  • Avoiding situations or places because of how they make you feel physically

OCD

  • Repetitive behaviors or mental rituals performed to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome
  • A need for things to feel exactly right before being able to move forward
  • Significant time spent on routines that interfere with daily responsibilities
  • Tried therapy or medication without meaningful or lasting relief

ADHD

  • Persistent difficulty sustaining attention
  • Chronic difficulty sustaining attention, especially on tasks that require mental effort
  • Disorganization, missed deadlines, or an inability to follow through on plans
  • Impulsive decisions or difficulty waiting before acting or speaking
  • Diagnosed as a child but never revisited as an adult with a complete evaluation

Mood Disorders & Bipolar

  • Mood that cycles between periods of elevated energy and low, depressive episodes
  • Difficulty maintaining stable relationships, work performance, or routines
  • Emotional swings that feel disproportionate to circumstances
  • Prescribed multiple medications over time without a clear, lasting improvement
  • Family history of bipolar disorder and seeking a comprehensive evaluation

Why CorAeon

Functional psychiatry is built around the whole person and not just symptoms.

Dr. Cammarata brings over four decades of psychiatric experience together with nutritional and integrative medicine to deliver a standard of care that goes well beyond what a conventional psychiatric visit was designed to offer.

Area of Care

Conventional Psychiatry

CorAeon Functional Psychiatry

Diagnostics

x Diagnosis based primarily on symptom checklists and brief clinical observation. Biological testing rarely included.

Evaluation includes functional lab work examining thyroid function, inflammatory markers, nutrient levels, and metabolic health alongside a thorough psychiatric assessment.

Treatment Approach

x Medication prescribed as the primary or sole intervention. Lifestyle and nutrition rarely addressed in meaningful depth.

Nutrition, lifestyle, and supplements integrated with medications when indicated.

Exomind

x Not available in conventional psychiatric practice.

Exomind is CorAeon's dedicated functional psychiatry program offering physician-led mental health care that combines advanced diagnostics with nutritional and integrative psychiatry including an innovative TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) treatment under Dr. Cammarata.

Appointment Time

x Initial evaluations average 45 to 60 minutes, with follow-ups often reduced to brief medication management visits with limited physician time.

Every visit is physician-led with dedicated time to review your history, lab results, and treatment progress. You are never handed off to support staff for ongoing care.

Child & Adolescent Care

x Pediatric psychiatric appointments are among the most difficult to secure. Waitlists commonly extend months or more in the NJ area.

Dr. Cammarata holds dual board certification in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, with over four decades of specialized experience caring for children, adolescents, and their families.

How to Get Started

Four steps to your first visit, in person or virtual.

No referral required. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks. Each step is built around your biology, your history, and your goals.

1

Comprehensive Evaluation

A physician visit covering your psychiatric history, symptoms, prior treatment, and family history. Extensive lifestyle and nutrition questionnaires are completed before your visit.

2

Functional Lab Work

A panel of 100+ biomarkers examining the biological contributors to your mental health. Toxin burden testing and GI map included when clinically indicated.

3

Personalized Treatment Plan

A written protocol integrating psychiatric treatment with nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle. Built around your results, not a template.

4

Ongoing Physician Care

Scheduled follow-ups with Dr. Cammarata to review progress, reassess biomarkers, and refine your protocol over time.

How We Work With You

One physician. Two ways to meet.

Come to our Caldwell, NJ clinic or connect by secure video from New Jersey or Florida. The format changes. The depth of care does not.

In-Person

14 Smull Ave, Caldwell NJ

Private psychiatric evaluation and ongoing care at our Caldwell, NJ clinic. No referral required.

Book In-Person Consultation

Virtual

NJ and FL

Consultations available by secure HIPAA-compliant video for patients in New Jersey and Florida.

Book Virtual Visit
IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL  ·  EVERY PATIENT, SAME PHYSICIAN
  • Direct access to Dr. Cammarata at every appointment, no handoffs
  • A written psychiatric treatment protocol tailored to your specific evaluation

  • Functional lab panels ordered, reviewed, and explained by your physician
  • Structured follow-up visits tracking your clinical progress over time
Your Physician

Dr. Sandra Cammarata

Board Certified Psychiatrist · Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · Caldwell, NJ/h6>

Dr. Sandra Cammarata graduated Summa Cum Laude from Catania Medical School in Italy before completing her residency and fellowship training in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. With over four decades in private psychiatric practice in New Jersey, she brings a depth of clinical experience that is rarely found in a single physician.

Recognized by Castle Connolly as one of New Jersey’s top child and adolescent psychiatrists for multiple consecutive years and named among their Exceptional Women in Medicine in 2020, Dr. Cammarata has built her practice around a principle that the best psychiatric care cannot be separated from an understanding of the whole patient, including their biology, nutrition, lifestyle, and environment.

She successfully integrates nutrition and functional medicine principles into her psychiatric treatment approach, working with patients across the full spectrum of mood, anxiety, attention, and behavioral conditions. In addition to her clinical work, she co-authored The Sicilian Secret Diet Plan with CorAeon co-founder Dr. Giovanni Campanile and co-hosts the podcast The Rest is Health.

At CorAeon, Dr. Cammarata leads the Exomind functional psychiatry program, offering in-person care in Caldwell, NJ and telemedicine consultations for patients across New Jersey and Florida.

Board Certifications & Recognition
  • Board Certified, Psychiatry
  • Board Certified, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Residency & Fellowship, Tufts Medical Center, Boston
  • Medical School, Catania University, Italy  ·  Summa Cum Laude
  • Castle Connolly Exceptional Women in Medicine, 2020
  • Castle Connolly Top NJ Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, multiple years
  • Over 40 years in private psychiatric practice

Patient Experiences

What our patients say.

These are real words from women who came to CorAeon feeling dismissed by conventional care and found something different here.

I had been on antidepressants for three years with minimal improvement. Dr. Cammarata ran labs no one had ever ordered before and found that my thyroid function and vitamin D levels were significantly off. Within four months of addressing those, I felt better than I had in nearly a decade. I wish I had found her sooner.

Rachel S.Patient, Montclair NJ

We brought our 14-year-old to Dr. Cammarata after three other providers gave us three different diagnoses and conflicting medication recommendations. She took the time to do a thorough evaluation, ordered the right labs, and gave us a clear plan for the first time. We finally felt like someone was actually listening and thinking carefully about our son.

The Morales FamilyPatients, West Orange NJ

I came in convinced I just needed a higher dose of my anxiety medication. Dr. Cammarata suggested we look at what was actually causing the anxiety first. Turns out my blood sugar patterns and magnesium levels were a significant part of the picture. Addressing those changed everything. The medication is still part of my plan, but it is actually working now.

James K.Patient, Livingston NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions, Answered

What is functional psychiatry and how does it differ from conventional psychiatric care?

Functional psychiatry investigates the biological, metabolic, and nutritional drivers behind mental health conditions. Where conventional psychiatry assigns a diagnosis and prescribes medication, functional psychiatry asks what is causing those symptoms in the first place.

At CorAeon, that means evaluating thyroid function, inflammatory markers, gut health, nutrient status, blood sugar regulation, hormonal balance, and toxin burden alongside a full psychiatric assessment. The goal is not to replace psychiatric treatment but to make it more precise.

Can nutrition and lifestyle changes actually improve depression, anxiety, or ADHD?

Yes, and the evidence continues to grow. Deficiencies in vitamin D, B12, folate, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc are linked to depression, anxiety, and attention difficulties. Thyroid dysfunction, even subclinical, is a well-documented contributor to mood disorders.

Gut microbiome imbalances affect neurotransmitter production including serotonin and dopamine. Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a driver of treatment-resistant depression. At CorAeon these factors are evaluated and addressed alongside psychiatric care when indicated.

What does a functional psychiatry evaluation at CorAeon include?

Your evaluation begins before your first appointment with extensive lifestyle and nutrition questionnaires. The initial visit covers psychiatric history, current symptoms, prior treatments, family history, and your full biological and lifestyle context.

This is followed by a comprehensive lab panel of 100 or more biomarkers including thyroid function, inflammatory markers, metabolic indicators, nutrient levels, and hormonal status. Toxin burden testing and a GI map are ordered when clinically relevant. Everything is reviewed personally by Dr. Cammarata.

What is TMS and is it available at CorAeon?

TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that uses targeted magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. It is primarily used for depression that has not responded adequately to medication, with no anesthesia and no systemic side effects.

At CorAeon, TMS is offered through the Exomind program under Dr. Cammarata’s direct supervision, integrated within a broader functional psychiatry treatment plan rather than as a standalone procedure.

Does Dr. Cammarata see children and adolescents, and what conditions does she treat?

Yes. Dr. Cammarata holds dual board certification in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry with over four decades of experience. She evaluates and treats anxiety, ADHD, depression, OCD, mood disorders, and behavioral concerns in younger patients.

Her approach examines the biological contributors to symptoms rather than defaulting immediately to medication. Families frequently come to CorAeon after receiving conflicting diagnoses elsewhere, seeking a more thorough and integrative evaluation.

Does CorAeon accept insurance, and what does care cost?

CorAeon is a private, cash-pay functional psychiatry practice and does not bill insurance directly. This allows Dr. Cammarata to spend meaningful time with each patient and order diagnostics based on clinical need rather than coverage limits.

Many patients submit superbills to their insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA funds are generally applicable. Pricing is discussed during your discovery call.

Is virtual psychiatric care available, and is it as effective as in-person?

Yes. CorAeon offers HIPAA-compliant virtual psychiatry consultations for patients in New Jersey and Florida. Virtual patients complete intake questionnaires and lab work at a local draw site before their appointment, then meet with Dr. Cammarata by secure video.

The treatment protocol, diagnostic depth, and follow-up structure are identical to in-person care. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks of booking.

What if I am already on psychiatric medication — can I still work with CorAeon?

Yes. Many CorAeon patients come already managing a diagnosis and taking medication, often feeling their current treatment is only partially effective. Dr. Cammarata reviews your full history and current regimen to understand what is and is not working.

The functional evaluation frequently identifies contributing factors — nutrient depletion, thyroid dysfunction, gut imbalances, inflammatory load — that medication alone cannot address. The goal is a more complete picture, not an abrupt change to what is helping.

Currently Accepting New Patients · NJ & FL

Start with a free 15-minute conversation.

No commitment, no paperwork. Just a brief call to talk through what you are experiencing and whether CorAeon is the right fit for you.

Book a Free Discovery Call

15 minutes  ·  No obligation  ·  Virtual