Regina Macharia PMHNP-BC

Through experience in my personal life and in the management of multiple behavioral conditions, I know that acceptance of oneself, and the past is critical to beginning the healing journey. Acceptance and commitment therapy facilitates mindfulness and focus on the present without judgment. As a prescriber, I have seen that being 'stuck' in the past, self-judgment, and self-deprecation can prevent the beginning of healing as well as impede progress.

As a CBT provider, I understand that it is not as simple as turning a switch! Changing the way one thinks takes time, understanding, and commitment from both the client and prescriber. It also requires a caring and empathetic approach from the prescriber, which I am and do. I also continue to work on myself to become a better prescriber and provider.

Our emotions influence our actions either positively or negatively. As thus my vast mental health care experience, as well as personal experience, has built my skills in teaching clients, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, and emotional regulation.

I understand depression and its debilitating effects on the client. However, it is important to distinguish between situational, seasonal, and chronic depression as the treatment approach must be tailored to match the type. As a prescriber, I encourage psychotherapy with the goal of self-understanding. Medication management for depression in concert with psychotherapy has been shown to be superior and my expertise in both allows me to customize the client's treatment.

In my experience anxiety can have an organic origin or be related to a situational stressor or past trauma. As such, I undertake a comprehensive client assessment so as to reach the right diagnosis, followed by a treatment plan. I encourage all clients with anxiety to seek therapy and utilize medication management as an adjunct. The goal is for the client to be able to use the learned coping skills to prevent/mitigate/manage the anxiety and not require medication forver.

it is a complex and often difficult condition, however, with commitment from both ct and prescriber that incorporates comprehensive initial assessment, ongoing assessments, therapy, medication management, and treatment adherence, I have had success in reestablishing clients to their functional level.