Hi! I am a nurse practitioner based in California. I obtained my Masters from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and have been practicing for almost 15 years. My experience lies in various clinical settings including inpatient psychiatric units, outpatient clinics and residential long-term care facilities. With a 2nd NP specialty in primary care, I can view the client holistically and ensure underlying medical reasons for mental health challenges are not overlooked.

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

I strive to create a comfortable environment where you feel safe to be your true self as we move towards meeting your goals. The initial evaluation will prioritize a thorough collection of medical and social history. Next, we will move into the specifics of your symptoms. By the end of our session, we can work together to develop a treatment plan specifically tailored to best suit your symptoms. You can expect to have routine follow-ups to ensure medication tolerability and efficacy.

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

As a clinician, I understand that the decision to take medications for your mental health condition is not an easy one. My approach to prescribing medications is conservative, as often times, overprescribing can be problematic in psychiatry.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I love working with clients who are new to psychiatry as they are the most open to learning about their diagnosis and have the greatest motivation towards change. I also have a second nurse practitioner specialty in gerontology. Improving the quality of life for patients with dementia has been a long-time passion of mine.

About Ani Balabegian