PMHNP, 2 years of experience
Hello, nice to meet you! My name is Alice Raji, I am PMHNP-BC and lives in Georgia in the Atlanta metropolis. I have been working as a professional nurse for close to 30 years and have worked in various nursing disciplines including medical, surgical, critical care, organ transplant, and mental health, and in various settings including acute, long term, and ambulatory care settings. I obtained my Bachelors degree in nursing (BSN) from Grand Canyon University in Arizona, and my Masters of science degree in nursing (MSN) from Walden University in Minnesota. I also obtained my board certification as a psychiatry and mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) through the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC). I have been practicing as a board certified psych nurse practitioner , PMHNP-BC for more than 2 years and and I am very passionate about helping clients who are dealing with overwhelming life stressors navigate life challenges through the acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and the tools they need to empower them in choosing and adhering to the best treatment options to improve their quality of life, and to live to their fullest potentials.
In our first session together we will start with a brief introduction. I will then allow you to talk about your concerns and your reasons and goals for seeking help. My main goal during the first session is for us to get to know each other, and to start a therapeutic relationship build on mutual trust and respect. Whatever information you share with me is safe and confidential and will not be divulged to anyone except as required by law such as 1) providing it to insurance companies for billing purposes 2) As mandated by a court of law 3) when you or other persons life is at stake when you are having an active suicidal ideas or homicidal ideas and are unable to contract for safety I ask you to be truthful and leveled with me because trust is important in a therapeutic relationship just as in any meaningful relationship. I will need to know exactly what your concerns and challenges are, what your treatment goals are so I will be able to work with you and together identify the best treatment options that can be tailored to your specific needs and priorities and to start working towards achieving your goals. Together we can address your concerns and challenges. Your recovery is a journey, and like every journey, it might not be a smooth ride or sail, there might be bumps on the road, the important thing is your commitment and your focus on the outcomes over the long term and not just your immediate symptoms relief. I will be walking alongside you on your journey towards your recovery, and will need you to be committed and be engaged in your treatment decisions.
My greatest strength as a provider is my calm, empathetic, and affable personality which offers my clients a warm and relaxing environment and a sense of security to talk about themselves and share their concerns. My approach is to provide my client with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to feel empowered to take charge over their treatment decisions and plan. My goal is to work alongside them as a guide, coach, and support. I love working with clients of all ages from 12 years to adults ages 65+ . I have had the privilege of gaining the skills to work with clients in this age group through my close to 30 years of nursing experience.
I have experience in working with clients dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD, Bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective disorder, School issues, and self esteem issues among others. I work with clients to evaluate treatment options, and identify and select treatment that are client-centered and tailored to their unique situation and background, and to their specific needs and treatment goals. Treatment usually include pharmacological (medication management) or non-pharmacological approaches such as supportive therapy, Psychoeducation, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or both.
With supportive therapy, I provide my clients with a friendly, safe, and non-judgmental space to express themselves, their concerns, challenges, and needs while I actively listen and validate their feelings so my client will feel understood, valued, and supported. I provide my clients with emotional support through encouragement, positive reinforcement, reassurance, and guidance to enhance their self-esteem and confidence and to find healthy ways to cope with challenges and improve their well-being. My goal is to build a positive and therapeutic relationship that promotes a sense of security and trust and helping my clients in developing coping skills and strategies to manage stress and other challenges.
With CBT, I help my clients to recognize the interconnection between their thoughts, feelings, and actions and its impact on their life, and work with them to identify and develop coping skills and strategies to manage negative and distorted thinking and its impact on their emotions and behaviors using various CBT techniques and approaches tailored to their unique situations, challenges, and treatment goals.
In psychoeducation, I provide my clients with information about their mental health conditions including causes, symptoms, and various treatment options in a clear and understandable way. This helps my clients become well-informed to empower them become active participants and actively engage in their treatment decisions and plans, and promote better treatment compliance. The goal is to empower my clients by increasing their knowledge and understanding of their condition and providing them with skills and coping strategies to manage their symptoms and impact on their life to improve their well-being and their quality of life.