What can a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner do for me?
A Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is a certified advanced practice nurse professional that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental illness and psychological problems. I do not provide primary therapy services. In this setting, my primary role would be to recommend and manage medications when appropriate and review risks, benefits, and alternatives to medications. I tend to be very conservative when it comes to use of benzodiazepines and stimulants. My Family Medicine background will also be helpful to consider other diagnoses that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Often times, patients would also work with a therapist or sometimes a psychologist for therapy sessions. Visits with me tend to be shorter and less frequent, whereas, visits with a therapist tend to occur more frequently and last approximately an hour. I will be working with an on-site therapist if you desire to utilize both services at one site.
What will happen during my first appointment?
I think of this as our “Discovery Session” where I will meet with you for an extensive interview and psychiatric evaluation in which I will gather information such as your history, symptoms, and family dynamics. Within this first session together, we will determine the best plan of action to move forward. The first visit is always the longest; it gets better after that!
Will my treatment be kept confidential?
I will not reveal any information regarding what happens within the work that we do together unless you have signed the Authorization to Disclose Information form. In the instance that you are in danger of harming yourself or another, then we are obligated by law to notify the authorities of this. Please note that I STRONGLY prefer to work with those who have a Primary Care Provider (PCP). If you currently do not have one, I urge you to please do so as it may have implications to treatment options.
Will the cost of my treatment be covered by my insurance plan?
I am currently contracted with WPS, Arise, and Network Health commercial insurance plans (unfortunately not Medicaid/BadgerCare) but primarily am self-pay. For those with high deductible insurance, you will likely find that my rates are much lower than the industry average and this is beneficial to you. You may inquire with your insurance company to see if your psychiatric service fees could be considered out-of-network charges.
How long will my treatment last?
There are no precise determinations that I can make regarding the length of your treatment. Generally speaking, the longer you have had your mental illness not medically acknowledged, the longer the treatment will take. Certain conditions do not require a lot of time to treat, and others considerably more. Certain mental illnesses require just a couple of visits, and others require life long maintenance. I believe that you should seek treatment as soon as possible, for the best outcome. I will be providing lifestyle recommendations as well as medication recommendations as I feel that greatly aid in your recovery.
What if I have an emergency or an urgent situation come up?
If you find yourself in the midst of an emergency, please immediately call 911. If you have an urgent situation, call the office, and I will see you as soon as I can.
