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My passion for psychology began in college, in an introductory psych course taught by Dr. Ron Mack, a smiling, energetic man who did not lecture but told stories, making all the concepts come to life not as abstract ideas but as meaningful ways of understanding people. I was so enthralled by what I was learning that, despite there being nearly 500 students in the auditorium, the professor singled me out and nicknamed me “Twink” because of the twinkle in my eye that he could see from the stage! Dr. Mack became my mentor for many years, and although I lost him, too early, when I was 30, his legacy lives on as I still feel that twinkle every day when I go into my office to listen to people share their stories.

I have always enjoyed listening to people and being someone that others felt comfortable turning to with their problems or concerns. When I entered my Nurse Practitioner program, I began to truly appreciate the value of a holistic approach. I believe that understanding not only the workings of the mind, but of how the body and mind work together, enables me to give my patients a better level of care. As a clinician, it is important for me to work collaboratively with my patient in developing the best treatment plan, whether medication management, therapy, or both. While I have the knowledge and experience to offer recommendations, I do not pretend to know your body better than you do. It is vital that patients feel comfortable sharing with me what does and does not work for them. My goal is that my patients and I will make the journey to recovery together.

My first encounter with the term “EQ” (which stands for “Emotional Quotient” or Emotional Intelligence) happened during my second year of graduate school while working on an inpatient psychiatric unit. An astute nursing supervisor casually praised my EQ as “exceptional and uncanny.”