Meet Our Team
Margaret DeCosta MSN, PMHNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Early in my nursing career I recognized that physical symptoms and illness often rooted in mental health, and this inspired me to become a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Having a strong mental well being and connection to wellness leads to better health outcomes overall. Believing that nutrition is a cornerstone of health, and a challenging relationship with food can impact many areas of life, I furthered my education and expertise in Eating Disorders, working in different areas including the acute care setting. ​
​
I am well-versed in treating anxiety disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depressive disorders, mood disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other co-occurring conditions and addictions. I enjoy working with motivated individuals looking to improve their mental health and overall wellness. I strive to provide individualized care with an individualized approach, ensuring that each person’s unique story and needs are central to their treatment.
​​​
I am continuously updating my practice with the latest research and literature to offer the best evidence based medicine. My current focus is integrating a holistic approach into mental health treatment to better support symptom management. I look forward to getting to know you and walking alongside you on your journey to improved mental well-being and wellness.
​​
Medications alone can only take you so far, that is why I have expanded my knowledge in the following therapy modalities- Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma informed care, somatic therapy and sex therapy.
​
I do a combination of medication management and therapy, with a heavy focus on therapy- minimizing the need for medications. If you are seeking therapy without medication treatment I am happy to meet this need for you as well.
Elana Thomas MSW, LCSW
Therapist
I have always had a strong pull towards working with individuals who struggle with mental health needs. Prior to my Masters in Social Work I was already working in the industry, and this lead me to pursue the career.
​
I am a dedicated and compassionate therapist with a strong commitment to supporting children, adolescents, and adults in achieving emotional well-being and personal growth. I've been working with children since the onset of my work as a therapist.
The therapy modalities I specialize in include: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Flash Techniques, play-based and art-focused therapeutic approaches, Trauma- Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). I use play based and art- focused therapeutic approaches to effectively engage younger clients, then incorporate higher level therapy techniques. In my work with adults, I utilizes evidence-based practices including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
​
With over a decade of experience in diverse mental health settings—ranging from crisis intervention and residential care to school-based services, and outpatient therapy—I bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to my practice. I strongly believe in the importance of integrating familial and educational systems into the therapeutic process, ensuring my clients receive the most comprehensive and supportive care possible.
​​
Heather Ford MSN, PMHNP, AGPCNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Are you looking for more than a medication centered approach to your care? If you are wanting to truly be at the center of your own care, I look forward to partnering with you in a holistic approach to your wellbeing. Often a conventional (based on psychotropic medications) approach can facilitate the journey toward mental health as a tool to soften the edges of difficult symptoms. However, those tools are not the final destination. Many people find they don't work well at all. Your symptoms are often rooted in a deeper cause (or causes) that require addressing mind, body, habits and relationships.
I started my career as a primary care nurse practitioner, focused on physical health conditions. I then pursued my psychatric nurse practitioner licensing and began treating both. Now my focus is with mental health treatment. I additionally certified in integrative psychiatry- expanding my holistic approach. While my training includes conventional diagnosis and evaluation, I integrate alternative therapies, including hormone balancing, herbal agents, nutritional strategies, and movement recommendations into your plan to get to your mental health goals. I furthered my education in this approach by becoming certified in integrative psychiatry, as well as additional training in the medication management around concurrent therapeutic psychedelic and ketamine use.
So if you are looking for an alternative to the "pill for every ill" paradigm, I look forward to being part of your journey!
Dr. Meghan Dow DNP-PMHNP, CARN-AP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner & Advanced Practice Addiction Nurse
I spent 12 years in nursing, in a variety of fields before pursuing my doctorate as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. In psychiatry my first passion was working with children and teens, individuals with Autism and developmental delays in particular. As my career progressed I have worked even more so with adults, geriatrics and addictions. I have treated a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders- this is where my dual board certification comes from. I treat Serious and Persistant Mental Illness- Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorders, Mood disorders, Depressive disorders, Anxiety disorders, ADHD, a variety of personality disorders (mainly through therapy) and substance use disorders- through a combination of therapy and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). I believe in meeting people where they are at and working as a team to improve symptoms and outcomes together. You can expect the focus to be on symptoms and getting resolve rather than diagnosis and labels.
​
I believe in being a lifelong learner and work hard to stay on top of the current research and literature to better care for my clients. My practice style is often "out of the box" as I think you get the best benefit from this approach, and it really allows more individualized care. For example, with mood disorders (depression, anxiety) and normal aging hormonal decreases, replacement with biosimilar hormones can improve symptoms relief. In substance use disorders we often see premature hormone decreases and replacement can also support symptoms. This is why I've pursued my biosimilar hormone replacement certification and practice this along with standard psychiatry. I watch for trends I'm seeing in practice and pursue additional treatment modalities to support my clients. I pursued CBT-I training to better support insomnia treatment as medications alone are of lower benefit.
​​​
I believe at the core that a combined approach of therapy and medication management leads to the best outcomes. I offer therapy for the individual and couples. My additional therapy trainings include- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gottman Method, and Somatic therapies.
