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Psychiatric Medication Tapering Masterclass
Safely taper SSRIs and benzodiazepines with a structured, evidence-based framework that integrates naturopathic and functional medicine — and earn pharmacy-focused CE along the way.
Psychiatric Medication Tapering: A Naturopathic Approach
A 12-week live masterclass to help you become the clinician patients seek for safe, integrative psychiatric medication tapering.
- 12 live weekly sessions (90 minutes each) focused on taper protocols and clinical decision-making
- 3 live interactive case clinics (60 minutes each) for real-world troubleshooting
- 21 CE hours total: 12 pharmacy hours + 9 general hours
- NANCEAC Certified — certificate of completion provided
- Lifetime replay access to all recordings and clinical reference materials
Who this masterclass is for
Designed for clinicians who want to confidently guide psychiatric medication tapers while integrating naturopathic and functional medicine approaches.
Naturopathic doctors (NDs/NMDs)
Build a high-demand niche at the intersection of mental health, nutrition, and functional medicine with structured tapering protocols and pharmacy CE.
Primary care & integrative clinicians
You are already prescribing or managing psychiatric medications — this course gives you a safer, more systematic way to taper and co-manage, backed by pharmacy hours.
Mental health professionals
Therapists and counselors who collaborate with prescribers gain a deeper understanding of taper dynamics, withdrawal, and supportive strategies within their scope.
The growing demand for tapering expertise
Psychiatric medication use has surged, yet evidence-based tapering guidance is scarce. Patients are actively seeking clinicians with the skills to help them step down safely.
Market reality
Long-term psychiatric medication use is now commonplace, yet only half of patients respond to the first antidepressant prescribed.
Patient need
Patients are searching for safe, guided withdrawal options. Holistic centers report 75–87.5% long-term success using integrative tapering approaches.
Practice opportunity
Tapering expertise positions you as a specialist in an under-served area, driving retention, referrals, and collaborative care with prescribers.
What you'll learn
A clinically grounded, naturopathic framework for safely tapering psychiatric medications while supporting the whole person.
- Safe tapering protocols for SSRIs and benzodiazepines
- Assessing patient readiness and clinical risk
- Motivational interviewing for taper conversations
- Withdrawal physiology, metabolism, and half-lives
- Nutritional, herbal, and amino acid restoration strategies
- Managing withdrawal symptoms and crisis stabilization
- Gut-brain, sleep, and neuroendocrine recovery
- Case-based learning with real patient scenarios
How the program works
Structured weekly sessions, interactive case clinics, and lifetime replay access so you can integrate the material into your real-world practice.
Live instruction
12 weekly 90-minute sessions covering protocols, frameworks, and clinical strategies.
Case clinics
3 live Q&A case discussions (Weeks 4, 8, 12) for troubleshooting active tapers.
Replay access
All sessions recorded with lifetime access so you can revisit complex topics anytime.
Time commitment: 90 minutes weekly live instruction plus a 60-minute case clinic during Weeks 4, 8, and 12.
Curriculum at a glance
A carefully sequenced progression from foundations and assessment through taper design, monitoring, and long-term recovery.
Build a safe, ethical foundation
- Course overview, scope, safety, and ethics
- The Carter Lecture: dependency vs. addiction
- Motivational interviewing for tapering
- Mechanisms of SSRIs/benzodiazepines & withdrawal physiology
- Metabolism, half-lives, and pharmacokinetics
- Nutritional medicine and holistic frameworks
- Clinical assessment, baseline labs, and pre-taper stabilization
Live Case Discussion #1: Assessing readiness and setting initial taper goals.
Design protocols & manage active tapers
- Designing taper schedules (step-down protocols)
- Symptom picture, addiction level, and genetic factors
- Drug-specific strategies (SSRIs vs. benzodiazepines)
- Liquid forms, microdosing, and titration approaches
- Nutrient, herbal, and amino acid restoration
- IV Glycine/GABA, taurine with calcium, nervine herbs
- Organ and detoxification support during taper
Live Case Discussion #2: Troubleshooting active tapers and managing acute withdrawal.
Support long-term recovery & integration
- Monitoring, safety, and crisis stabilization
- Relapse and withdrawal management strategies
- Sleep and circadian rhythm repair
- Gut-brain restoration and serotonin’s role in the gut
- Neuroendocrine recovery and homeostasis
- Nutrition protocols for recovery
- Case documentation, ethics, and CE evaluation
Live Case Discussion #3: Completion, reintegration, and long-term follow-up.
David Arneson, NMD
Course Instructor & Clinical Consultant
Founder, The Source Naturopathic Medical Clinic
Clinical instructor, Sonoran University of Health Sciences
Meet your instructor
Dr. Arneson brings over 25 years of specialized clinical experience in psychiatric medication tapering, addiction, and chronic disease treatment.
As founder of The Source Naturopathic Medical Clinic (established 2000), he has developed proven protocols for safe psychiatric medication withdrawal using naturopathic and functional medicine approaches. His expertise has led to consultant roles with residential holistic treatment facilities across the country.
Since 2007, Dr. Arneson has trained and supervised student doctors at his clinic while serving as part-time clinical instructor at Sonoran University of Health Sciences, helping the next generation of clinicians integrate mental health, addiction, and functional medicine.
Education
- Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (2000)
- B.S. Double Major in Biology and Psychology with Honors, University of Texas at El Paso
Clinical focus
- Psychiatric medication tapering & withdrawal management
- Alcoholism and substance dependency treatment
- Functional medicine approaches to mental health
- Nutritional and orthomolecular psychiatry
Dr. Arneson has published in naturopathic medical journals and is recognized as an expert in integrative approaches to medication dependency and withdrawal.
Investment & CE credit
A premium, practice-transforming training designed for clinicians who want to confidently lead psychiatric medication tapers and earn pharmacy-focused CE.
Tuition
$2,997
per student
Enjoy a 20% tuition discount.
Your enrollment includes:
- 12 live 90-minute instructional sessions
- 3 live 60-minute case discussion Q&A sessions
- Replay access to all sessions (lifetime)
- Clinical protocols and reference materials
- Certificate of completion for 21 CE hours
- CE breakdown: 12 pharmacy hours + 9 general hours
- NANCEAC Certified continuing education units
Frequently asked questions
Still deciding if this masterclass is the right fit? These answers may help.
Ready to enroll?
Reserve your place in the Psychiatric Medication Tapering Masterclass and begin building a high-impact, naturopathic approach to medication withdrawal — while earning 12 pharmacy and 9 general CE hours.
NDNR’s Applied Natural Medicine members automatically receive a 20% discount during registration.
