Starting in the Body

I am a Doctor of Nursing Practice, dually-board certified Acute Care (AGACNP-BC) and Psychiatric (PMHNP-BC) Nurse Practitioner, and fellowship trained Integrative Psychiatry and Functional Medicine specialist. My path reflects my interest in the dynamic interplay between the mind and body.

Throughout my journey at Vanderbilt University, where I completed my AGACNP and DNP training, I enjoyed exploring the extremes of human experience from a physiologic perspective. After completing this path, I found myself practicing hospital and critical care medicine but gravitating toward those with complex blends of psychological and physiological dynamics.

Expanding into the Mind

After listening to the growing voice in me who urged movement toward psychiatric practice, I returned to Johns Hopkins for post-degree training. I appreciated their inclusion of an alternative to the biopsychosocial model (the perspectives model). At this point, I had a well-grounded understanding that your model is everything. What you believe about experience will drive the way you act on it. And this was a constant frustration in my efforts to weigh several diagnostic and formulation models.

Movement into psychiatry training coincided with some practice-related shifts, including experience in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatry. And an upregulation in more consult-liaison-type work in the hospital setting.

Putting It All Together

After Johns Hopkins I entered into fellowship aiming to integrate functional and conventional medicine perspectives. Here, I was able to find some like-minded individuals who were passionate about the mind-body connection. This opened up a space to begin putting the pieces together.

Through a combination of deep reflection, practice, and teaching I discovered a way to organize this material so that it makes sense. A way that not only organizes content but also organizes a way to formulate care that goes beyond antiquated reductive models and instead appreciates the complexity of human experience.

Does This Sound Familiar?

If you've come this far in the page, you must be interested in something I've said. Something has resonated with you. Let me ask you a few questions to see if you're in the right place...

• Are you trying to transition from academia to practice, frustrated with either the quality or the organization of course material?
• Are you examining diagnostic and formulation frameworks, trying to figure out the best way to put together the pieces of human experience in a meaningful way?
• Are you looking to go beyond the superficiality of DSM diagnoses and explore a deep and holistic framework for care?
• Are you interested in going beyond the mind and incorporate advanced laboratory and diagnostic studies to explore the mind-body interface in more detail?
• Are you exploring ways to expand your intervention repertoire to include nutraceuticals, lifestyle modification, and transdiagnostic psychotherapeutic strategies?

Well, if you've answered yes to any one of these, you're in the right place. And this means I can help you! So, start your journey today by getting access to my FREE video and content series to see if my model aligns with you.