My ideal client is a client with good insight to their psychopathology with a short-term goal of obtaining symptom relief, with a long-term goal of obtaining remission. I am especially interested in clients with comorbid substance use disorders, who have been marginalized and have not had their needs met. I feel our community is full of these individuals, resulting in catastrophic outcomes, that has fueled the overdose crisis in the state of West Virginia. For the past four and a half years, I have been on the frontlines of the overdose crisis, and far too often I have seen patients present to emergency departments and receive minimal mental health support. My goal as a PMHNP is to work with these clients and their families to address these issues head-on to promote recovery and reduce relapse. Serious mental illness is a huge problem not only in our community and state, but our country and it is imperative we have providers emerge that are willing to spearhead a multidisciplinary approach to formulate an effective treatment plan. Untreated or undertreated serious mental illness results in high morbidity and mortality, which strains the system. I want to work with clients who have not been given a fair shot and work to improve their quality of life, utilizing an evidence-based approach through psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, in addition to newer innovative treatment modalities.

In addition to being a newly board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I am specifically trained, and board certified in medical toxicology. I possess skills that only a handful of individuals in the state of West Virginia possess and I am eager to apply my unique skillset to my clients. I have spent the past four and a half years assessing, diagnosing, planning, implementing, and evaluating clients overdosed on substances. Many of these substances involve common psychotropic medications such as lithium, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Not only do I understand the therapeutic use with these agents, but I know what misuse looks like and how to treat it. These skills will be especially useful as a new prescriber, as I will be able to properly initiate safe medication combinations that can be used to effectively treat psychopathology. I am used to making treatment recommendations directly to physicians and other prescribers throughout the state. I have superior critical thinking skills that allow me to work through emergent situations, to support evidence-based treatment modalities that improve outcomes and reduce fatalities. My strong interpersonal skills and nonjudgmental approach have been tailored to treating clients struggling with mental wellness that provides the framework for an effective therapeutic alliance. I feel my unique skillset sets me apart from other psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and that I am an asset to Harmony.

I was born and raised in the great state of West Virginia. At the age of 15, I started my own business while simultaneously pursuing higher level education. I achieved great success and became internationally recognized for my work. However, as I was meeting my professional goals, my community was hurting. The opioid epidemic was wreaking havoc, and I noticed a serious lack of mental health services across the state. I had lost family members, friends, and was deeply troubled by the continuing trend of people dying. In May 2015, I felt called to do more than run a business and focus solely on my own professional aspirations. After careful thought and consideration, I knew the way forward was to pursue a career in health care. I went back to school to become a registered nurse where I worked in critical care and later as a member of the state’s poison control center. While working at the poison center, I saw firsthand the damage a lack of mental health care services was doing to our state. That is when I knew I had to do more to reverse this troubling trend and decided to go back to school to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Now that I am here, my goal is to provide high quality mental and behavioral health services to my community. I am ready to treat depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, substance use disorder, and all other mental disorders. My career to date as prepared me with strong interpersonal skills to go along with superior knowledge in identifying and treating mental illness. I am ready to meet clients where they are and walk along with them on the journey to achieve mental wellness. I will not rest until needs are met and clients are restored to live the life they were intended to live.