It's time for some real talk! Today, I want to open up about something many of us struggle with – self-doubt. It's not always easy for me to talk about this, as it's a feeling I still battle with from time to time. But I know that sharing our vulnerabilities can be empowering, so here's my take on it… Imposter Syndrome: A Universal Struggle The elephant in the room – imposter syndrome. That nagging feeling that you're not good enough, that you're somehow tricking everyone into believing you're competent. Guess what? You're not alone. It's something that even experienced professionals wrestle w ..read more

As a private practice owner, creating a calm and peaceful environment for your patients is essential. It can help them feel more comfortable and at ease improving the quality of your sessions and ultimately benefit their mental health. Here are some tips for creating a tranquil atmosphere in your psychiatry practice: Consider the furniture in your office-- Soft couches or chairs can provide a comfortable seating option for your patients. Avoid using furniture that’s too stiff or rigid, which can cause your patients to feel on edge. Choose calming colors for your walls and decor. Shades of blue ..read more

Everyone worries from time to time, and feeling anxious once in a while is normal. But when everyday worries and anxious moments take over your life, you may be struggling with the most common mental health diagnosis worldwide–an anxiety disorder. While there are a few unique types of anxiety disorders, all are characterized by excessive fear or worry in situations that are not threatening, and all can be debilitating.  Specifically, for those with social anxiety disorder, the fear that permeates social interactions and experiences has a devastating impact on one’s quality of life.  ..read more

Mental health is a complex and multifaceted aspect of our overall well-being, often influenced by various factors, such as genetics, relationships, and personal experiences. In many cases, effective mental health treatment requires a combination of approaches to address these diverse components. In this blog post, we will explore the ways in which therapy and medication can work together to provide a holistic and comprehensive treatment plan for mental health challenges. Mental health disorders are often multi-factorial, which means that they can stem from a variety of sources. Some individua ..read more

Read full article written by CEO Alysha Woods, PMHNP-BC here ..read more

Melatonin is a fascinating nature made and artificially made hormone that supports sleep. But how does it do that? Let’s start with the basics. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and it is released to encourage what is sometimes referred to as "quiet wakefulness” which promotes sleep. It is not a sedative. It is often produced in response to darkness and most brains start producing it around 9pm. Therefore exposing yourself to lights (devices, phones, tablets), can negate the effects of natural or supplemental melatonin. Melatonin is most often used for adult sleep disturban ..read more

Searching for professionals that support mental health can be confusing and tiring! In this post I’m aiming to tackle a few of the most frequently asked questions that I’ve had from patients seeking mental healthcare for the first time. What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? To put it very simply there are clinicians that do primarily therapy and clinicians that primarily prescribe medications for psychiatric conditions. There are also some that are trained in both. If you are looking for someone to talk to and work on skills to address your symptoms you may consid ..read more

Let’s talk about sleep! One of the top concerns I have found in my patients have been the inability to get to sleep, stay asleep, and feel rested. This has been a worry of many of my patients whether they are in the hospital, in a program, or are an outpatient. Many psychiatric conditions come with insomnia as one of the core symptoms. So how do we treat this from a holistic perspective? This question comes with several answers but I want to share one specifically with you in this blog posting. When we think about sleep in a general and simplified sense, the core of it is that we are asking ou ..read more

When the planning for this private practice began it was just a few seeds. Seeds that sprouted into questions like, “how do we serve our community?”, “what do patient’s value in a practitioner?” and “how do people truly recover?”. These ideas needed some time, support, and nurturing. They needed roots. When considering a plant that is well rooted, one may picture an established, healthy, deep, and stable system. Systems such as these take time and care. This feeling is reminiscent of my view of recovery from mental illness, difficult experiences, or any emotional pain. I learned the principles ..read more