Depressive Disorder

Are you constantly unhappy? Feeling sad is a natural part of life. However, some people feel so “down”, they are no longer able to experience joy or pleasure in their lives.

If you feel you have lost your motivation and energy and seem to be stuck in a dark place, you may be suffering from a condition known as Depressive Disorder.

Depression affects the way you think, feel and behave. It is a more intense form of sadness. Depression can hurt both physically and emotionally. In some cases, severe depression can be disabling.

With proper treatment, you can feel happy again.

People with symptoms of depression often:

Have lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
Don′t want to do things they used to find interesting or fun.
Feel helpless, unworthy, and guilty.
Don′t look forward to anything; nothing in life excites them.
Are pessimistic; have a negative outlook.
Obsess about regrets in life.
Are not motivated to do anything.
Have less energy; can′t concentrate.
Have more physical complaints.
Have problems with sleep; either sleeping more, waking early, or having disrupted sleep.
Do not feel interested in sex.
Have a change in appetite; either eating more or less.
Have uncontrollable crying spells.
Isolate from family and friends.
Avoid interacting with people.
Have a hard time making decisions.
Are unhappy with almost everything in their lives.
Often think about death.

Kyra Sposato, NP

Kathleen Jensen NPP-BC

Frequently Asked Questions

What to Expect During Your First Visit

It is normal to feel nervous during your initial visit.

First, please know that talking to a mental health professional is not as uncomfortable as you think.

Once you come into my office you can relax because I am going to do all of the work. I will be asking you a lot of questions to get a better understanding of who you are. We ease into the session with the basics: name, DOB, medical history, marital status, occupation, current medications and history of prior psychiatric treatment. At this point, I ask you a key question: “If possible, in one sentence please describe how you are feeling- basically what brought you here. Then you can elaborate.” This exercise not only helps guide the rest of your session but it is also a valuable tool for measuring your progress in treatment.

Next, I ask you about your family history and childhood. This helps me determine if your symptoms are due to genetics, trauma or both. Sometimes these questions bring up strong emotions, especially if you have had a history of trauma or abuse.

At the end of the evaluation, we review the information you provided and your goals. We then explore treatment options, including medication. I never pressure you to make any decisions about medication until you feel completely at ease and all your questions are answered.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse (RN) who has completed advanced education (a minimum of a master’s degree) in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions in her/his specialty area, such as psychiatry.

The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. Involving the client in their health care and encouraging them to participate in decisions are central to the care provided by NPs.

Nurse Practitioners are licensed by the state to prescribe medication, provide psychotherapy, make a diagnosis, perform psychiatric evaluations, order diagnostic tests, as well as multiple other responsibilities.

Do you accept insurance?

We are not participants on any managed care insurance panels. However, if you have “out-of-network” benefits, you may be able to get a portion of my fee back from your insurance company. We will provide you with a receipt to submit for reimbursement.

My rates are comparable to those of other practitioners in the area who provide both psychopharmacology and psychotherapy services. Cash, checks, credit cards, Venmo and Zelle are accepted.

Will information and treatment be kept confidential?

Your right to confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us. Without your explicit permission, we will never disclose any information about you, or even the fact that you are a patient in our practice. Of course, in instances where there is an imminent danger to either yourself or someone else, necessary steps will be taken to diminish these risks within appropriate legal and ethical guidelines.

If I am currently in psychotherapy, will you work with my therapist?

Yes, if you are currently in psychotherapy, I will work collaboratively with your psychotherapist, at your request.

What if I need to cancel or re-schedule my appointment?

When you schedule an appointment, please understand that this is time that we reserve exclusively for you. We do not overbook or double book appointments to account for no shows. This allows us to avoid delays and provide you with better care. That is our commitment to you.

Although we have a 24 hour (one full business day) cancellation policy we do request 48 hours notice for cancellations. Please call the office as soon as you need to cancel.

If you are canceling last minute or running late, to avoid paying for a missed appointment, you can request a phone or video session. Leave a message on line 3 to let us know.

If you cancel/re-schedule/miss an appointment in less then 24 hours we assess the full fee.

For New Clients who cancel or miss their initial appointment we asses a $100 fee.