It can be very frustrating and at times completely overwhelming to be seen by multiple providers and never receive the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for mental health concerns. Mental health is a very misunderstood and often misjudged illness. It is as necessary to a person’s wellbeing as physical health is and should be treated as equally important. I work very hard to help my patients not only get diagnosed appropriately but also to assist them in receiving the correct treatment so they can enjoy as full of a life as possible. I incorporate both physical health and mental health when finding the correct diagnosis and treatment for each patient. I understand the frustration from being incorrectly diagnosed and work hard to make sure each patient not only gets the correct treatment but understands why they feel the way they do and the appropriate options available to help them have a healthier fuller life.
I work with all ages and all diagnoses. I enjoy seeing children and adolescents that have behavioral issues, and ADHD in addition to any other concerns. I see patients with bipolar disorder, focusing on diagnosing and treating not just bipolar 1 but also bipolar 2depression which is the most undiagnosed mental illness these days. It is easy to confuse depression with bipolar depression and the treatments can be very different.
My educational background includes being an RN for 25+ years working in trauma, community health, school nursing, just to name a few. I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner in addition to certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I have spent the last 7 years focusing specifically on working in the mental health care field.
