I am happy to announce the newest addition to the Abound & Flourish family (who happens to be related to me), Stephanie Dang, APRN, MSN, ACNS-BC, PMHNP-BC (she owns half the alphabet)!
Stephanie is a a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and I have had the pleasure of being able to consult and collaborate with her on many cases. I’m thankful for her expertise, compassion for clients who are suffering from mood disorders and PTSD (the population I specialize working with), and the continuity of care she and I are able to provide to those in need. It’s a bonus that she is my sister and friend. I highly respect her profession and medication management often benefits the therapeutic work I am doing with clients.
I wanted to take some time to introduce her to you with a short interview.
Q: What drew you to the mental health field?
A: What drew me to the mental health field was observing the significant need in almost, if not every encounter I had with patients. I previously treated the medical needs of patients, but quickly learned their mental health and psychological needs impacted their medical health and often times were neglected.
Q: What do you most enjoy about your job?
A: What I enjoy most is providing hope for patients who are in the midst of their most difficult days. I also enjoy meeting patients where they are in their treatment and addressing their questions and concerns in order to empower them, this allows patients to participate fully in their care.
Q: What do you find most challenging your job?
A: What I find most challenging is the process itself. Addressing mental health needs does not occur quickly and is not always straight forward. It can be discouraging especially when the patient is eager to improve. I have to remind myself to set reasonable expectations, but also confidence in the process.
Q: What would you say to someone uncertain whether or not medication management is needed in their case?
A: If a patient is uncertain about the recommendation to initiate medication I would want to understand their hesitation and address their concern. I would also educate the patient on how medications addresses the neurobiological component of mental health. As important it is for patients to also address their behaviors and environment, it is also important to address the neurobiological factor.
Q: What would you say to someone who thinks therapy/exercise/diet is enough to treat their symptoms? Or vice versa, that medication is enough to treat their symptoms?
A: If a patient believes therapy/exercise/diet and other behavioral modifications are sufficient to treat their symptom and find themselves in remission, then I would support their plan of care. And vice versa. However, often times addressing behavioral modifications or medications alone is not sufficient and patients still remain with unmanaged symptoms. As a provider I am here to educate and recommend safe and evidence based practices to help reach patients' goal of remission. Studies and data have shown both behavioral modifications and medication management has better outcomes.
“As a provider I am here to educate and recommend safe and evidence based practices to help reach patients’ goal of remission. Studies and data have shown both behavioral modifications and medication management has better outcomes. ”
Q: What do people often misunderstand or have concerns about mental health and medication management?
A: Some of the common misunderstanding or concerns about mental health and medication management is taking prescribed medications leads to apathy or feeling "Zombie like", dependency, too many side effects, "putting a bandaid and not fixing the problem," and the chronic treatment. With all medications there are side effects and the recommendation for medication management in treatment mental health disorders is not to numb your personality or who you are, but rather allows you to become more of who you are. It is about finding the right medication that minimizes the negative side effects. It is also important to participate in psychotherapy to address the underlying issues as to not put a "bandaid." Some patients over time are successful to discontinue medication management under the care of their provider while others maintain on medications indefinitely.
Q: How can someone go about seeing if you might be a good fit for them?
A: It is important for patients to feel comfortable and safe with their provider. It is also important for the patient to feel heard and participate in their treatment. I suggest having a few appointments to become familiar with my approach and if it meets their needs. It would be my pleasure to join patients in their process to healing and well being.
“What I enjoy most is providing hope for patients who are in the midst of their most difficult days. I also enjoy meeting patients where they are in their treatment and addressing their questions and concerns in order to empower them, this allows patients to participate fully in their care. ”