Q&A

What is your favorite movie: I am more of TV person, I enjoy the evolving story lines. If I had to pick a few it would have be some classics such as Matilda, The Goonies, Little Rascals, and Fried Green Tomatoes.

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Favorite superhero: No favs, top three Deadpool, Doctor Strange, and Wolverine!

If you could have a superpower, what superpower would you pick: Teleportation! I love to travel and who wouldn’t want to get to their destination in seconds?!

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Favorite bands/singer:   I can listen to almost anything. I love listening to the 90s for a feel-good mood. I also enjoy alternative rock, punk, hip hop, reggae, indie, rap, pop, and country. Top favs across the board would be The Offspring, Tool, Alkaline Trio, Train, Sublime, Garth Brooks, The Distillers, Ice Cube, Dre, Lizzo, and Taylor Swift (no apologies). 

If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for:  

1. Ensure everyone has a home

2. For my children to live their lives happily and never be in need of anything

3. Level up quickly on any skill I choose

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What are you most passionate about in the mental health field? I am passionate about education, listening to my patients, and empowering them to advocate for themselves to better overcome the barriers that have existed for so long. Stigma remains a significant obstacle in mental health, preventing many from seeking the care they need. If I can change even one person’s perspective on behavioral health, it brings us one step closer to meaningful change.

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What diagnoses are you most comfortable and experienced working with? I am most comfortable treating anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders, and ADHD/neurodevelopmental disorders.

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What are other things you feel could be beneficial to improve mental health other than
medications?: There are several studies that recommend therapy as first line treatment in many conditions. In addition, lifestyle changes such as exercise, proper nutrition, and good sleep can help further promote a good mood. I find mindfulness techniques to be very helpful in improving motivation and reducing stress levels when patients are stuck on how to start.

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Tell us about your experience working in behavioral health the past few years: My experience with behavioral health began as a nurse working in the neurology department and later with patients experiencing crisis in the emergency department. Through my experience as a nurse I was able to fully realize the impact of untreated mental health and the difficulty there was in obtaining that care. This led me to pursue becoming a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and over the last couple years have been working primarily in private practice. My experience includes treating patients 6 years old and up, combining holistic and medication management techniques. I also have a special interest in psychedelics and have experience providing Spravato and IV ketamine treatment to patients experiencing treatment resistant depression.

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What is your philosophy on using medication to treat mental health? Are medications lifelong? Does a patient who sees you HAVE to be on medication?  Medications are just one of the tools we have in our behavioral health bag. They are not always needed or wanted. Therapy, exercise, lifestyle changes, and supplements are often incorporated with treatment plans in variable combinations. My experience working with medications is that they can help make day to day functioning and participation in therapy easier if you’re having a hard time. The question comes down to, “How much are you struggling?”

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I am passionate about education, listening to my patients, and empowering them to advocate for themselves to better overcome the barriers that have existed for so long. Stigma remains a significant obstacle in mental health, preventing many from seeking the care they need. If I can change even one person’s perspective on behavioral health, it brings us one step closer to meaningful change.

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Do you have any personal experiences regarding mental health you are open to sharing?

I come from a culture where mental health is solved by “pulling up your pants,” or  “trying harder.” No matter how high my pants were and how much I kept pushing, it wasn’t enough and it just led to more issues. I finally exhausted myself and realized mental health was for me, not anyone else. Only I could determine what was right for myself and quite frankly it was no one else’s business.

How do you feel about marijuana? Marijuana is legal in Arizona and patients have the right to consume if they wish. Marijuana like any other drug or supplement has its risks and benefits. As a provider I acknowledge that patients benefit from different avenues of care. Every BODY is different. Some people do well with moderation and others struggle and exacerbate their symptoms. Together we can explore what is right for you in a judgement free zone.​

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What are your thoughts about treating adult ADHD? There shouldn’t be any difference in the treatment of adult ADHD. That is, every condition should be assessed for and ruled out when meeting new patients. ADHD should always be considered for patients struggling with concentration, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. Mental health has not been perfect in the past, and many adults including myself were not diagnosed appropriately as a child. Of course stigma plays a huge role in this. I want my patients to feel comfortable asking about any symptoms or concerns they have without fear of being judged or discriminated.

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