PMHNP, 20 years of experience
I have been working in healthcare for nearly 30 years and love helping others just as much as I did on day 1. Nursing is definitely a calling placed on my life from childhood. I believe that connection, compassion and collaboration are vital to improved mental health. We all struggle, and I feel blessed that I am able to help others on their journey using active listening, empathy, connection and just a splash of medication when needed.
Listening is critical and so many of my clients tell me that their prior clinician "did not listen to them". It is important that each client I meet is able to share their journey so that I can find out how to best help them with their struggles. Sometimes that includes mental health medications and sometimes that does not. Let's find out together what will work best for you. (Please note that I do not prescribe/continue long term benzodiazepine use (ie. Xanax) and do not prescribe or continue prescriptions for multiple controlled substances). While I am able to manage ADHD, non stimulant options are always recommended and preferred.
Active listening, partnership approach, empathy and compassion are vital to me. Medication is secondary to therapy and having a good therapist as part of our team is necessary.
I am comfortable and experienced treating a wide variety of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, panic, insomnia, PTSD, mood disorders and ADHD. My philosophy is using the least amount of medication, for the shortest period of time needed, to treat the most symptoms and with the least possible amount of side effects. We are a team and my goal is to help you feel better quickly and achieve remission.
MI used to help identify barriers to change, readiness for change and support change.