Joseph Walker, Licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

In our work together, you can expect personalized, holistic care. I will take the time to get to know you, understand your challenges, and focus care on meeting your goals. Our sessions are a safe, non-judgemental space where you can be heard and get the care that you need.

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What to expect when we meet

We follow up-to-date, clinical guidelines to guide you through 4 phases of care. Our first session will be 60 to 90 minutes long, and we will emerge from this meeting with a diagnosis and a plan for treatment. This meeting is long enough for you to feel comfortable with me and to get a comprehensive assessment of your needs.

We provide personalized, evidence-based care in a supportive environment, guiding you through every step of your mental health journey.

Personalized, holistic care

01

Acute Care Phase

In the follow-up meetings, we will monitor your progress and check if the care plan is working. The care plan will be continuously updated in response to emerging needs or new goals. Medications may need to be adjusted to suit your response to them. Therapies may need to be added or changed. During this phase, expect to meet frequently as changes are being made to your treatment plan. Once we are confident that you are in a good place and your symptoms have improved or gone away, we can move into the maintenance phase.

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Maintenance phase

In the maintenance phase, our visits will be less frequent and you can expect medication prescribed for longer periods of time. During his period, we will check in periodically to make sure that you are feeling and functioning well. We will remain vigilant for changes and emerging needs, and we remain available should you need us.

03

Discontinuation phase

Over time, as you experience stability in your emotional health and you feel good about where you are, you can consider moving to the ending of care/discontinuation phase. We may be able to formulate a plan to wean you off of medication completely, or you may be able to receive medication from your primary care provider if your medications no longer need changes and you feel well. You may decide to check in from time to time in the future, or if you feel that you need some additional support.

Holistic support – helping you structure your life for optimal results

Taking small steps in your everyday life can make a big difference to your mental health outcomes. Without overwhelming you, we will work towards moving towards a more holistic lifestyle that supports emotional wellness. These may include eating a more balanced diet, making healthier lifestyle choices, developing a structured morning routine, planning for daily activities, or building time for exercise and spending time outdoors into your day.

Not every patient will need to make so many changes, and we will focus on moving slowly. We will look for the actions that you can actually take, that won’t be difficult for you, and can make a significant difference in your mental health. Feeling more in control of your schedule, and implementing healthy changes, can help reduce anxiety and depression.

For many clients, holistic choices are a way to feel and function better with less reliance on medication. Our focus is always on your emotional wellness. We will harness all the tools available to help you – medication, holistic choices, and therapy.

Initiation Phase (Getting started) — This can be anywhere from one to three sessions

Our first sessions are about getting to know you and making a plan for your treatment, your health, and your goals. During these sessions, we will work together to create a complete care plan to meet your goals. The first meeting will be a DSM (Diagnostic and Statistic Manual) based interview to determine your clinical diagnosis. Other meetings in this phase will focus on placing this diagnosis in the context of your own life and tailoring a treatment plan to suit your specific needs. In this phase, you will be started on any medication that may be indicated, and appropriate therapies will be started.

Comprehensive First

A DSM-based interview to understand your symptoms, establish a diagnosis,

Personalized Care Plan

Ongoing sessions focused on tailoring treatment, starting medication

Experience

I bring training and practice experience delivering evidence-based patient-centered care to our relationship. I have worked with patients in community outpatient settings, in acute psychiatric care facilities, and in hospital emergency rooms. You can expect me to apply this wide range of experience to deliver the best care that I can for your emotional health needs.

Collaboration with other members of your care team – experience collaborating with multiple disciplines to treat patients suffering from acute psychiatric crises in an inpatient setting and patients in community settings.
Listening to client concerns and symptoms.
Taking the time to carefully diagnose.
Empowering patients through psychoeducation about mood disorders, anxiety management, and psychotic disorders.
Medication management and helping patients understand medication use. We will take the time to understand your goals for medication.

Education and Credentials

ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Board Certification

Master of Science in Nursing with Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialization, Statesboro, GA, Georgia Southern University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Valdosta, GA, Valdosta State University
Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner – Georgia
Registered Professional Nurse – Georgia

Depression free life!

Therapy – as a complement or alternative to medication management

Therapy can be an important part of your recovery. I can work with your psychologist or psychotherapist to coordinate care. For some clients, I provide brief evidence-based therapy in addition to medication management. Therapy with me may include Motivational Interviewing or Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT).