Cape Cod Therapy & Mental Health

We all have times in our lives where we need a little help. These could be related to relationship issues whether at home or at work, whether with family members, partners, spouses, schoolmates, co-workers, supervisors, friends, children. Then there are those difficult times related to divorce, illnesses, job loss or transition, trauma, disabilities, retirement, loss of a loved one, end of life issues, adjustment to parenting, recent birth of a child, adoption, pregnancy, school, work, moving, direction in one’s life, general life or developmental transitions, spiritual emptiness or maintaining sobriety. Life sometimes gives you a lot to handle!

My Education and Background

In the State of Massachusetts I practice as a clinical specialist in mental health and psychiatric nursing. I am certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, after passing three national exams, one as a clinical specialist in adult mental health and psychiatric nursing, another as an adult psychiatric nurse practitioner, and the last one as an adult nurse practitioner. All these titles refer to an advance practice registered nurse.  Can you believe the confusion!

As a psychiatric nurse, I have worked on a Women’s unit under the Stone Center Model and in an out-patient  Day Program. I have also worked in-patient  in my present role in nursing homes, in the emergency department, in a drug and alcohol out-patient center and presently over several years my own private practice.

I can be categorized as follows: 

• a counselor
• a prescriber
• a mental health provider
• an advanced practice nurse
• a psychotherapist
• a psychopharmacologist

 

My Master’s Degree is from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in mental health and graduate nursing and my Advanced Graduate Studies Certificate in Primary Healthcare is from Simmons College in Boston.

Treatments Available

What this all means is that I treat adult mental health problems like depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety in the outpatient setting of my private office where I provide counseling services (psychotherapy) and/or prescribe medications to assist the client. At times, the client will have their own counselor and therefore I will prescribe medication in conjunction with the input from the client and counselor. I do not provide out-patient detoxification from drugs and alcohol but do provide medication to maintain an established time of sobriety only with clients who have an established counselor and are active in AA. The State of Massachusetts allows me to practice independently in this role. I am supervised by a licensed psychiatrist with whom I meet periodically.

My style of therapy is cognitive behavioral -- identifying problems areas and actively working on strategies of coping with the problems. I also tend to weave in several other types of counseling (therapy). I may explore the client’s spirituality based on the client’s guidance, and only if appropriate to treatment. This supports a holistic view.

As an adult nurse practitioner in primary care, I bring knowledge of physical health problems and their treatments because I work part-time in medicine with two doctors during which I diagnose and prescribe medication for medical problems and perform some procedures. What I like is the ability to advise clients on how to work with their physicians or nurse practitioners or other healthcare providers in order to optimize their physical health, and am able to provide resource and teaching around health related issues. This again supports a holistic view of total health.

How Can I Help You?

Please contact me at 508.292.6022. I am professionally and morally committed to helping you, providing you with the best service for the difficulties that life sometimes presents!