Recently Analei Whitlock, one of our nurse practitioners, became Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certified. This new certification allows Analei to expand the current services she offers Family Health Clinic patients. 

Before obtaining her PMHNP-BC, Analei was already a certified Pediatric Mental Health Specialist and a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care. Now, her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree allows her to provide mental health care services from individuals infants to geriatric. 

With the certification, Analei can now:

• Provide comprehensive psychological evaluations to clarify mental health diagnosis
• Assist providers and the patient to work together to make a plan to improve their mental health
• Prescribe and monitor mental health medications through the lifespan
• Order and interpret testing to assist in the mental health diagnosis
• Advocate for those in our communities that struggle with mental health and / or addictions to help increase services and decrease stigma.

We interviewed Analei to learn more about her certification and what it means for our patients and our community!

Why did you decide to pursue this certificate?

During my time working in health care I have noted a great disparity and lack of mental health services for all individuals, especially children and adolescents. I felt compelled to expand the services that I could offer to our community by advancing my education. 

Another compelling reason for obtaining my lifespan mental health degree was to provide full mental health service to the caregivers of the children that I serve. If the care providers have services for their mental health needs met then they are going to be more present and health for their child.

I think that providing healthcare to the family system helps make for more mentally healthy communities.

What new services will the Family Health Clinic be able to provide now that you have this certification?

I am continuing in my role of providing primary medical care to my pediatric patients (newborn to 21 years of age) as well as providing primary mental health care to my pediatric patients.

I am adding the ability to offer consultations on cases with my provider colleagues when current treatments are not allowing for the patient to recover. I am also adding complete psychological assessments to our pediatric and adult patients that may benefit but are under the care of another primary care provider in our organization.

What are some of the reasons you’re most excited about completing this certificate? 

I am excited that I can help families at the time the need may arise such as a mother with new onset postpartum depression that has brought her baby to me for primary care.

I’m also excited about being able to help my pediatric patients obtain mental health care and expand their care plan to include their families if needed.

I look forward to being able to offer collaborative assistance to my nurse practitioner colleagues by reviewing clinical information and making suggestions for further treatment. 

What would you like the community to know about the Family Health Clinic’s mental and behavioral health services?

I would like the community to know about our integrated behavioral health into our primary care services. 

The Family Health Clinic providers offer holistic services to their patients and families.  Our clinic recognizes that patients do not simply have a disease that need to be treated. Our clinic recognizes that each patient is a human that have complex needs that include social, economical, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, cultural, mental, and physical.

The Family Health Clinic strives to meet individuals where they are and address what they deem important, not what we think they may need. 

We have four wonderful mental health therapist to provide therapy services and outreach to our community. We also have referral sources for more advanced mental health assessments. Our many family practitioners recognize the importance of mental health and will provide treatment if needed. We offer Vivitrol program to assist patients who are challenged with alcohol addiction that is combined with addictions counseling.

Make an appointment with Nurse Practitioner Analei Whitlock or one of our behavioral health specialists.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about our mental and behavioral health services, you can call (800) 321-5043 and make an appointment with Analei or one of our behavioral health specialists.