Hi! I am a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Temple University and worked for several years in the mental health field prior to becoming a registered nurse. These experiences include working as a mental health specialist at So Other’s Might Eat in Washington, DC, a rehabilitation specialist at Arundel Lodge in Annapolis, MD, and as a psychiatric tech at Dominion Hospital in McLean, Virginia. I decided to become a registered nurse to get a better understanding of physical health and wellness. Some of my experiences during my 17 years of nursing include working in the burn/trauma/surgical intensive care unit for Medstar Health, as a community health nurse for Health Care for the Homeless of Montgomery County MD government, and as a psychiatric nurse at Dominion Hospital. I have a passion to break the stigma that often comes with mental illness. Now as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I aspire to empower people with mental illness to be their best advocates. I believe that this can be done through education, self-awareness, accountability, and encouragement. By doing this, clients will become more educated on their mental health, learn how to successfully manage it, work collaboratively with their providers, and no longer see mental illness as something that one should be ashamed of. My areas of interest are anxiety and depression.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In the first session, I will be trying to get to know you a little bit better. I will be asking you a series of questions to include current symptoms, past psychiatric history, medical history, social history, and family history.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
The treatment methods that I use include supportive therapy, motivational therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. I can also prescribe medications if needed. I do not prescribe controlled substances.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My biggest strengths include great listening skills, critical thinking, patience, empathy, and relatability.