About Me

My Story

     Thanks for reading this. I am a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner who works with clients ages 10 to 86 struggling with depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance abuse and other issues through medication management and therapy. I studied at Rutgers University, where I obtained my graduate training in psychiatric care and have been in practice since 2012. I have worked in many settings, including inpatient, outpatient, residential care, and in correctional system. For some clients, I provide both therapy and medication management; for other clients, I work closely with their therapists to optimize their medication experience. I help my clients to find and maintain stability.

     I see medications and therapy as working together to help people heal. I understand that many people have mixed feelings about medication and I respect all views. Side effects are a real concern, and should not be ignored. It is your quality of life; the choices should be yours too. When it comes to medications, I am a guide, not a dictator.

     I respect the autonomy of the people I work with. I simply provide information, and help you to make the best decisions for you. I have training in Natural Medicine, and can offer these alternatives when someone is interested. I try to maintain an empathetic and nonjudgmental stance. I hope that clients take away a sense of empowerment from our visits.

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What is a Nurse Practitioner? (or: Advanced Practice Nurse?)

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       A Nurse Practitioner is a graduate-level trained health care provider.  I am a Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioner, meaning that my graduate degree was focused on Psychiatric Mental Health only, throughout the lifespan.  I have a BSN (Bachelors in Science of Nursing), which was a general degree, and also an MSN (Master's of Science in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing).  I completed clinical training as part of my graduate degree. 

       My education differs from that of a physician (a medical or osteopathic doctor), in that their graduate degree is four year of general medical training, then they do a specialized residency in their focus area.  They have more training in managing people with complex medical issues, who also have psychiatric issues.  As I do not that this level of general medical training, I do not work with clients with complex medical issues.  I refer them to see a physician for the level of care they require.  I have a unique understanding of the differences between these levels of training as I went to medical school years ago and did not complete the degree.  I did finish the first 2 years, passed the first of the three board exams required to become a physician, and left for personal reasons during the third year, after completing a rotation in psychiatry and passing the "Shelf exam" in psychiatry.   So, I do respect the differences between these two similar professions, and I do not try to practice outside my lane.

       Some clients say they prefer to work with nurse practitioners because of the difference in bedside manner.  There is a saying that a nurse practitioner has the "brains of a doctor and the heart of a nurse."  I aspire to both.  ​​​​​​​​

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