Women’s & Perinatal Mental Health

My passion is women’s and perinatal mental health. As a nurse midwife, I delivered over 1,000 babies and cared for thousands of women as they have embarked upon motherhood.  My past experience in that role and my role as a professional and a mother, has given me a unique perspective and understanding of the many transitions’ women face throughout their lives.

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Besides caring for women in pregnancy and the postpartum period, I provide care to women and evaluate the role that hormones play in mood and determine how abnormal hormone levels can result in psychiatric symptoms. I provide consultations for preconception planning and pregnancy and postpartum care. I also work with women or couples experiencing infertility, miscarriage and fetal loss, infant loss, and parents facing specific issues, such as special needs parenting, empty nest adjustments, and other parenting issues. 

As a women’s health expert, I often see that during pregnancy, the physiological and hormonal changes, become the dominant focus of care. The emotional and psychological changes associated with pregnancy and parenthood are often overlooked.  During the perinatal period, many women revisit unresolved issues from childhood, previous traumas, or issues surrounding trust, relationships or abuse.  I am here to help women and their families address mental health issues and emotional experiences during this transition period. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy which is indicated for trauma work for individuals who have past trauma from childhood, birth trauma, dysfunctional relationships, or military service.

As one of the few providers who specializes in caring for women with postpartum psychosis (PPP), I have completed additional certifications, including being a certified forensic nurse (CFN), a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE), and have also completed an advanced certification in perinatal mental health (PMH-C). As the Postpartum Psychosis Coordinator for Postpartum Support International, I work with women and their families with PPP on a regular basis. 

As a researcher, I developed the Davidson Conceptual Model of Prodromal Postpartum Psychosis Symptomology, which is used to develop postpartum psychosis care management protocols. I speak nationally on women’s mental health and postpartum psychosis and also provide testimony as an expert witness on matters related to postpartum psychosis and perinatal forensic issues. I also am available to provide one-time comprehensive consultations as well as second opinion consultations on postpartum psychosis management.  I also provide therapy and coaching for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

General Psychiatry

I help individuals struggling with multiple mental health issues, including anxiety, depression/ mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief, bereavement, adjustment disorder, and other common mental health conditions. My practice is inclusive of a broad range of families including military families, LGBTQIA families, families with children with neurotypical children, those with children with special needs, military families and culturally diverse families.

I use a holistic approach that includes therapy, self-care skills, cognitive behavioral strategies, and medication management. I provide extensive resources to my clients to help them learn about their mental health and ways to support and nurture their mind and body.  I work with other professionals to ensure the optimal state of health for my patients.

As a university professor, I have helped hundreds of young adults with learning challenges and academic transition issues, including ADHD, thrive in the academic setting. I have an advanced certification as an ADHD-CCSP (Certified Clinical Services Provider). I combine behavioral strategies with medication management to help individuals with ADHD learn strategies to overcome distractibility, lack of focus, and hyperactivity.