David Earley, MSSA, LISW-S

Better Brain Health through Functional Medicine

As living tissue, brain and nerve cells can become dysfunctional under various conditions, potentially manifesting in mental health issues such as chronic anxiety and depression. Many people recognize that factors like diet, lifestyle, and stress can significantly impact mental health; Functional Medicine (FM) takes this understanding a step further by investigating deeper biological root causes. These may include metabolic and gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, and exposure to toxins that can contribute to mental health challenges.  Other cognitive issues such as ‘brain fog’, concentration problems, and both short and long term memory issues may also respond to a Functional Medicine approach.

In addition to his mental health practice working with individuals to improve depression, marital challenges, and parenting issues, Dave specializes in helping clients take greater control of their mental well-being through diet and lifestyle interventions with a holistic Functional Medicine approach. By addressing underlying causes, his clients have seen significant improvements in their mental health. Dave’s Functional Medicine interventions often complement ongoing counseling with another mental health professional, and he frequently collaborates with other practitioners at Chrysalis Family Solutions. In some cases, referrals for specialized testing are made to regional Functional Medicine practitioners.

While applying a Functional Medicine approach to chronic mental health issues is relatively new, the results are promising. The field is sometimes referred to as Functional or Integrative Psychiatry. Both Harvard and Stanford Universities have established departments dedicated to Nutritional and Metabolic Psychiatry. Dave recently graduated from the Health Coaching program at the Institute of Functional Medicine, and has begun specialized training in Dr. Dale Bredesens’ ReCODE protocol designed to reverse cognitive decline.

Professional Background

Before co-founding Chrysalis Family Solutions, Dave spent nearly two decades in senior leadership roles at Village Network, Inc., including Regional Clinical Director, Northeast Regional Director, Director of Treatment Foster Care and Adoption, and Quality Improvement Director. His career highlights also include serving as the Western Region Director at the Griffiths Center for Children in Colorado, where he founded a residential treatment program for teen girls based on the Sanctuary Model of trauma-informed care. This innovative program incorporated animal-assisted therapy, expressive arts, wilderness experiences, spiritual development, and non-combative Tae Kwon Do.

In addition to his work at Chrysalis, Dave has served on the Board of Directors for the Family Focused Treatment Association, the leading association of Therapeutic Foster Care and Community-Based Care agencies in North America. He is also entering his 19th year of service on the Board of Directors at Andrus Children’s Center in Yonkers, New York, home of the Sanctuary Institute model of trauma-informed care, where he serves on the Executive Committee and chairs the Program Committee.

Commitment to Innovation and Excellence

Dave’s deep experience in trauma-informed care and mental health, combined with his ongoing training in Functional Medicine, uniquely positions him to offer clients an integrative approach. His commitment to exploring the biological and environmental factors that impact mental health allows him to provide clients with cutting-edge, research-backed solutions for their well-being.

CREDENTIALS

Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the College of Wooster, Cum Laude

Master of Science in Social Administration from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University of Cleveland, Ohio.