The word psychiatry is drawn from the medieval Latin word psychiatria which means “a healing of the soul.” Healing of the soul is at the very heart of effective psychiatry. True healing is possible inside a therapeutic framework that acknowledges the purpose that each of us was created for, which is to know, love, and serve God in this world and be happy with Him forever in heaven. Psychiatry and psychotherapy are effective to the extent that they are oriented towards our ultimate purpose.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, also known as the Angelic Doctor, offers us a comprehensive analysis of the human person. In great detail, he identifies the different faculties or powers of our soul and shows how these faculties are connected to one another and to the body. The intellect and the will are affected by our emotions and appetites, and we can relieve suffering of the mind by regulating these emotions and appetites. Saint Thomas is arguably the greatest psychologist to ever live, and we can proceed confidently in psychiatry and psychotherapy by employing evidence-based treatments like medication and cognitive behavioral therapy within the framework that he provides for us.
Along with Saint Thomas, other great Doctors of the Church like Saint Francis de Sales, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint Therese of Lisieux highlight for us how indispensable the fundamentals of the spiritual life are in our healing and in our growing in union with God. By practicing more frequent Holy Communion and Confession as well as mental prayer alongside the evidence-based approaches that psychiatry and psychology offer us, we can hope for greater healing than if we used either set of these practices alone.
I am a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner licensed to serve patients located in Maryland and West Virginia. In the outpatient setting, my scope of practice and services are very similar to those of a psychiatrist's. I offer both therapy and medication management. I founded my private practice to provide better quality of care to my patients. I've replaced the far too common 10 minute “med check” with 30 minute appointments focused on getting to the heart of your suffering.
My primary focus is the treatment of anxiety and depression. I am particularly experienced in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder and scrupulosity. My goal is to put you in the driver seat of your treatment at every step by making recommendations, answering questions, supporting you, and fully educating you about treatment options.
If you do not currently have a therapist and you are looking for therapy without medication, then I offer 30 minute weekly appointments initially, unless we agree that there's a need to meet for longer. We'll adjust our appointment frequency along the way based on your needs and feedback.
If you already have a therapist, then I offer add-on psychotherapy that is meant to strengthen and scaffold the work you are doing with them. I am happy to collaborate with your therapist, and it is not my goal to replace them if they have been helpful and you wish to continue your work with them.
My primary approaches in therapy include supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure & response prevention (ERP). The beauty of CBT, ERP, and supportive psychotherapy is that each of these evidence-based approaches can be easily integrated into the framework that the Church provides for us without compromising the fullness of the Truth in any way. I am meticulous about avoiding any New Age interventions.
In addition to therapy, if you feel you are in need of medication, then I am very conservative with prescribing. My goal is to prescribe the fewest number of medications, at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest amount of time, if you decide you would like to try medicine. It is unusual for medicine to address the root of your struggles. However, it can be a useful tool in alleviating anxiety or improving your mood thereby enabling you to more effectively get to the root of your struggles via psychotherapy and the fundamental practices of the spiritual life.
If you feel like the services I offer are a good fit for your needs, please complete and submit a new patient questionnaire.
All of my services are offered exclusively via telemedicine using a HIPAA compliant secure video conferencing platform called Doxy.me. You will be able to meet with me from the comfort and convenience of the private location of your choice using a cell phone, tablet, or computer. I work with adult patients only, ages 20 and up.
Complete QuestionnaireI completed my undergraduate studies at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where I earned degrees in Catholic Theology and General Biology. After discerning a call to nursing, I earned an undergraduate degree in nursing at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD. While working as an inpatient psychiatric registered nurse in Carroll County, MD, I went on to earn a Masters of Science in Nursing at University of South Alabama. Currently, I am a certified registered nurse practitioner specializing in psychiatry and mental health (CRNP-PMH) with a private telemedicine practice serving Maryland and West Virginia patients.
In the outpatient setting, my scope of practice and services are very similar to those of a psychiatrist's. I diagnose, prescribe psychiatric medication, and deliver psychotherapy. I am able to work with patients of all backgrounds, but I particularly enjoy working with patients who are open to integrating their faith into evidence-based treatments.