MEET OUR PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONERS

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Dr. Amy Kotarski is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, with training and experience treating children, adolescents, and adults with psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.  Before completing her doctorate program, Dr. Kotarski worked as a Registered Nurse on an inpatient psychiatric unit for several years. She helped stabilize and care for patients experiencing mental health crises.  She graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with honors with a doctorate degree in Nursing Practice and has experience prescribing and managing medications while providing psychosocial support for clients and their families.  Dr. Kotarski practices a compassionate philosophy of holistic and scientific care for mind and body, and a steadfast commitment to comprehensive care. 

View her profile at: https://provider.kareo.com/dr-amy-kotarski-1 

Dr. Kristin McKenzie is a Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience treating children and adults across the lifespan.  She has helped treat over 1,500 patients in an Office of Mental Health accredited outpatient clinic.  Some of her areas of expertise include perinatal and post-partum health disorders, bipolar disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, adjustment disorders, PTSD, and trauma-related dissociative disorders.  Dr. McKenzie provides a safe place for patients to learn more about their mental health, using a holistic approach to provide psychiatric assessment, medication management, and psychotherapeutic approaches to help manage symptoms in their day-to-day lives.

**Accepting new patients now**

Bio coming soon!

**Accepting new patients now**

Medication management begins with an Initial Psychiatric Assessment in which your provider will discuss how medication may or may not be a helpful part of your mental health journey.  Your provider will assess and create an individualized treatment plan for you.  The need and frequency of appointments for medication management will be continually assessed throughout your treatment.   

Please note, we do not specialize in ADHD evaluations for adults.

 Telemedicine is the process of providing health care from a distance through technology, often using videoconferencing. The American Psychiatric Association (APA), defines telepsychiatry as a subset of telemedicine, which can involve providing a range of services including psychiatric evaluations, counseling, client education and medication management. 

Telepsychiatry can improve access to mental health care, allow one to receive mental health care in the privacy of their own home, improve continuity of care and follow-up, reduce the need for time off work and childcare services, and reduce possible transportation barriers

 New York State Medical Marijuana Program

New York State has approved the use of Medical Marijuana in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  Prior to being treated with medical marijuana, the provider will review past treatments as well as complete a thorough assessment to determine if the client is likely to receive therapeutic benefit from medical marijuana, in the treatment of PTSD.

Benefits of medical marijuana may help in reducing anxiety rather then relying on addictive medications such as Xanax or Valium.

*Medical Marijuana is not recommended for clients with PTSD under 18 years of age.

 GeneSight is a pharmacogenomic test that analyzes clinically important genetic variations that may affect your response to medications. The results of the test can provide us with information about which medications may be more likely to work for you. It can also identify medications that may require dose adjustments or have an increased risk of side effects based on your genetic makeup. 

Many commercial and government insurance plans reimbursed for all or part of the cost of the GeneSight test. For clients with commercial insurance, there is also an opportunity to apply for the GeneSight Financial Assistance Program. 

You can learn more about the cost of the GeneSight test, the Genesight Financial Assistance Program, and the GeneSight Interest Free Payment plan at www.genesight.com/cost.