I have been a Nurse Practitioner for approximately three decades. I completed my graduate education in Nursing as well as Public Health from Boston schools. I am board certified as both a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and an Adult (primary medical care) Nurse Practitioner. For approximately the last 16 years, I have focused my career exclusively in the area of psychiatry. However, I integrate my knowledge of psychiatry as well as primary care in my approach to my patients. I have significant experience in working with many diverse populations, including urban and rural populations across all socioeconomic spectrums, age ranges from late adolescents to middle adulthood, professionals and college students of all levels, LGBTQ adolescents and adults, persons confronted with life stage transition issues, persons living with chronic medical disease, and persons with addiction/substance use difficulties. Although I am well experienced in many areas of psychiatry, my focus in telepsychiatry private practice is on managing depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, ADHD treatment with appropriate initial testing, trauma responses, and bipolar disorders without true mania or psychoses. I will not be able to treat psychotic disorders or significant substance use/addiction as a primary diagnosis through telepsychiatry.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

Our first session will be dedicated to introductions, a full in-depth psychiatric evaluation of symptoms and history, psychoeducation regarding diagnoses and medications, supportive counseling tailored to your specific needs, and working out an individualized medication plan that is both safe and effective. At times and depending upon the complexity of the evaluation, psychoeducation, and supportive counseling, this first session may be split into two appointments a week apart. If there is no pressing need or if there is ambivalence or fear regarding starting medication, I will always encourage you to think about the medication plan and come back to the next appointment to discuss your fears and anxieties.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

Treatment methods I employ are the classic psychiatric interview, collaborative treatment plan development, and evidence-based medicine interventions. I also typically gather relevant information from psychotherapists, primary care providers, and/or medical specialists when needed. My treatment methods are diverse and evolve to meet treatment goals and ensure that our work is focused on maximizing therapeutic potentials. To this end, my approach can be comforting, supportive, and patient-driven to directive and therapeutically confrontational if needed to help propel the patient to a higher level of functioning.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

One of my biggest strengths is the length of time I have been in practice and the knowledge gained during this time from direct practice in multiple settings. My practice is always scientific evidence based, although I do process a good working knowledge of alternative treatments and integration of alternative treatments into more traditional treatment approaches. Other areas of strength include my use of humor in my practice. Through personal and professional experiences, I have learned to value to power of humor in healing. Another area of strength, is my ability to quickly form honest, trusted, open, and relaxed therapeutic relationships with my patients. In my opinion, effective psychiatry hinges on these characteristics. My treatment style evolves to meet your needs.

About Kenneth Kavanagh