{"id":40200,"date":"2024-11-12T16:03:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T21:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/?p=40200"},"modified":"2024-11-12T16:03:44","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T21:03:44","slug":"psychiatric-nurse-practitioner-continues-to-improve-treatment-methods-for-her-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2024\/11\/psychiatric-nurse-practitioner-continues-to-improve-treatment-methods-for-her-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Continues To Improve Treatment Methods For Her Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Susan McDermott recently opened Saratoga Wellness.
Courtesy of Saratoga Wellness<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Christine Graf<\/p>\n

After more than three decades of working in the healthcare profession, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Susan McDermott has opened\u00a0 <\/span>her own practice, Saratoga Wellness, PLLC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Located at 7 Hemphill Place in Malta, Saratoga Wellness offers a comprehensive range of psychiatric services to adults 18 and older. These services include psychiatric evaluations, individual therapy, medication management, nutritional and physical wellness assessments, and psychotherapy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was while working as a family nurse practitioner that McDermott made the decision to continue her education. Returning to college, she earned a post-master\u2019s degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University-College of Nursing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked as a family nurse practitioner for about eight years, and in doing so I saw the need for additional support for patients with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since becoming licensed as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in 2020, McDermott has worked in the inpatient units at both Glens Falls Hospital and Saratoga Hospital. She currently splits her time between her private practice and Four Winds Hospital.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI opened my private practice in June, and I also work at Four Winds where I work with inpatients as well as in their partial hospitalization program,\u201d said McDermott. \u201cThat\u2019s given me the opportunity to see real acute pathology complicated by substance use, PTSD, ADHD, and those sorts of things.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was through her work at Four Winds and other local hospitals that McDermott recognized that mental health disorders need to be treated with more than just medication. She referenced the Star*D trial, a study that assessed the effectiveness of depression treatments in patients diagnosed with major depressive order.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThat was a pivotal study. It showed that only one third of people who use antidepressants will actually reach remission, which is where you have no symptoms at all,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat I set out to do with my practice was to support people where they\u2019re at while also trying to find some alternative methods to help them \u2013things that went above and beyond using medications. I\u2019m all about incorporating evidence-based practices, ones that have good outcomes for people. That\u2019s where my passion lies.\u201d<\/p>\n

When working with patients in her private practice, McDermott begins with an initial consultation, one that lasts 90 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look at the whole picture. How is their appetite? How are they sleeping? Do they have other health issues that could be contributing to their symptoms?\u201d she said. \u201cI also consult with their primary care physician when necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to McDermott, some of her patients express a desire to reduce their reliance on mental health medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think people are looking for more than just medications. I have people who come in and say, \u2018I want to come off my medications. I want to try different things.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

McDermott cites nutritional psychiatry– the practice of using food and food supplements as alternative treatments for mental health disorders–as one of the evidence-based practices that she utilizes in her practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is wonderful now is that we have all of these great studies that show there is a connection between your gut and your brain. All of the systems in the body work together. That doesn\u2019t mean that you may not ever need a medication, but if you do you can try to use the lowest dose, one where you will have the least amount of side effects,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

McDermott is also in the process of become certified as a yoga therapist, receiving her training at Yoga Mandali in Saratoga.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to see what else I could offer to help my patients above and beyond giving them medications,\u201d she said when explaining her motivation for pursuing her yoga therapist certification. \u201cThere is so much research on the physical and mental benefits of doing yoga. It\u2019s all about using yoga to regulate your nervous system. It\u2019s a restorative practice, and it really takes people out of their fight-or-flight state and into their rest-and-digest.\u201d<\/p>\n

McDermott is also incorporating the Well Steps program into her practice. Originally designed to support corporate wellness programs, Well Steps has been expanded to be used in other applications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited about it because it\u2019s something that I can tailor to my practice. It helps patients stay on task,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Although McDermott works with adults of all ages, the lion\u2019s share of her patients are between the ages of 20 and 35.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat age group is really struggling,\u201d she said. \u201cMost of what I see in my practice is anxiety, and I think social media plays a big part in that. And then you had COVID, which may have impacted their ability to go to work, go to school, and meet their goals. It was just a state of chaos and I think that is what propelled a lot of the anxiety for that generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

McDermott is currently accepting new patients and accepts CDPHP, MVP, and Aetna insurances. She is in the process of becoming credentialed to accept United Health.\u00a0 <\/span>For more information, visit saratogapsychiatricwellness.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Christine Graf After more than three decades of working in the healthcare profession, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Susan McDermott has opened\u00a0 her own practice, Saratoga Wellness, PLLC.\u00a0 Located at 7 Hemphill Place in Malta, Saratoga Wellness offers a comprehensive range of psychiatric services to adults 18 and older. These services include psychiatric evaluations, individual therapy, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":40201,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[136],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\r\nPsychiatric Nurse Practitioner Continues To Improve Treatment Methods For Her Patients - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2024\/11\/psychiatric-nurse-practitioner-continues-to-improve-treatment-methods-for-her-patients\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Continues To Improve Treatment Methods For Her Patients - Saratoga Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Christine Graf After more than three decades of working in the healthcare profession, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Susan McDermott has opened\u00a0 her own practice, Saratoga Wellness, PLLC.\u00a0 Located at 7 Hemphill Place in Malta, Saratoga Wellness offers a comprehensive range of psychiatric services to adults 18 and older. 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