Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Zitnick.
Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I had a tumultuous late teens and early 20’s. After leaving an abusive relationship as a single mother, I decided to pursue nursing school to ensure I could always take care of myself and my child. Working as a nurse has offered the opportunity to be flexible with my schedule allowing me to be present with my family, but also provide for them. When the Covid pandemic hit, it altered healthcare in the hospital in a completely unexpected way, planting the idea in my mind for a change that would allow me to be completely in charge of my career in the event of another unprecedented event. A family history of mental health challenges along with a desire to better understand myself and my actions curated a passion for psychiatry and mental wellness. Adding to that passion was the experience of working with individuals and families in the hospital setting and witnessing first hand how mental health ties into every aspect of health led me to seek out a career as a psychiatric provider. I was able to leverage my nursing background to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. In this capacity, I would able to work with clients seeking help for mental health. A year after graduation, and after many job interviews that just were not resonating with how I wanted to provide services, I opened Yellowood Psychiatry LLC, a telehealth psychiatric and mental health practice in Florida. Right now I see clients from all areas of the state, offering traditional mental health services blended with collaborative, holistic, compassionate care where clients can feel empowered in their treatment.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is any road ever smooth? I doubt for anybody it is, and I am no different. However, those bumps were definitely the guiding factor in my career and life. Becoming a young mother in an unhealthy relationship forced me to find a way to make sure I could provide for myself and my son without relying on someone who could hurt and control us. The covid-19 pandemic caused a loss of autonomy in my RN role in the hospital which inspired me to find a way to be more independent in my practice but also continue to help people as a nurse practitioner. I have experienced great accomplishments and significant losses along the way, most recently losing my brother unexpectedly at a young age. I see my children excel and struggle everyday and I know that is par for the course. My hope is that they can leverage their talents to become successful at what they love and their struggles to become stronger, kinder humans.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Yellowood Psychiatry LLC?
Yellowood Psychiatry LLC is my telehealth mental health private practice in Florida. I provide evaluations, medication management, complementary and alternative therapy guidance, and basic psychotherapy with and without medication. I believe what sets me apart is my willingness to listen to my clients and be open and honest with them. Their thoughts and beliefs always guide treatment and I spend a lot of time explaining treatment options and the hows and whys behind them. There is always a backup plan so they know there are options to prevent frustration. I let my clients know I am available to reach out to with concerns and they will always be working with me directly. If for some reason I believe they need care I cannot provide, I will help them find a more appropriate option treatment. The thing I am most proud of is when my clients thank me for listening to them.
What’s next?
I am currently participating in a psychotherapy cohort with one of the leading psychiatrists on psychodynamic psychotherapy in the United States, with a group of psychologists, therapists, and other psychiatric providers from all over the country and the world. I hope to be able to offer more in-depth therapy to assist my clients in more meaningful ways than just prescribing medication. Medication has its use and place, but research continually shows that when medication and therapy are used together, mental health outcomes are better. When I can provide both services. it decreases the amount of effort needed on the side of the client in seeking out both services.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yellowoodpsychiatry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellez_psychnp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567810494477
Image Credits
N/A I own these headshots
