Angela Palakanis

I’m Angela Palakanis, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-C, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and the founder of Kintsugi Care. My approach to mental health is reflected in the meaning behind our name. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, honoring the cracks rather than trying to hide them. To me, it is a beautiful reminder that the difficult parts of our stories do not diminish our value. Healing isn’t about becoming the person you were before; it’s about moving forward with greater understanding, resilience, and compassion for yourself.

My nursing background has given me experience caring for people across a variety of medical and mental health settings, including forensic nursing and psychiatric care. That experience shaped my belief in looking at the whole person and understanding how physical health, life experiences, relationships, trauma, and environment can all influence mental well-being.

In my practice, I provide individualized psychiatric care for concerns including depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, trauma/PTSD, and mood disorders. I incorporate medication management with evidence-based treatment options and take a collaborative, judgment-free approach to care. I want my clients to feel comfortable asking questions, expressing concerns, and being active participants in their treatment.

Above all, I believe every person has value, including during the chapters of life when they may have difficulty seeing it themselves. My goal is to provide a space where you feel genuinely heard, respected, and supported as we work together toward a life that feels meaningful to you.

My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to you. I believe the best psychiatric care starts with truly listening, not just identifying symptoms, but understanding the person experiencing them. I take time to learn about your history, relationships, physical health, environment, strengths, challenges, and what you want your life to look like.

I view treatment as a partnership. I’ll explain my clinical reasoning, discuss options openly, and make sure you understand the potential benefits and risks so we can make decisions together. My goal is never to simply prescribe a medication and send you on your way. Medication can be an incredibly valuable tool, but it is only one part of mental health care.

I specialize in treating depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, trauma/PTSD, and mood disorders, with a particular interest in individuals who have struggled to find relief with traditional treatment. When appropriate, I can incorporate or explore options such as psychotherapy, EMDR, TMS, and ketamine-based treatment alongside psychiatric medication management.

Most importantly, I want you to feel safe being honest with me. You won’t be judged for where you are, what you’ve been through, or what has or hasn’t worked in the past. We’ll meet you where you are and build a treatment plan that makes sense for you.

Your first session is about getting to know you, not rushing to fit you into a diagnosis. We’ll talk about what brought you in, what you’ve been experiencing, your medical and mental health history, previous treatments, and what you hope will be different moving forward.

I strive to create a relaxed, conversational, and judgment-free environment where you can ask questions and share at your own pace. I have a "comfort menu" including complementary coffee, tea, water, snacks, low ambient lighting, weighted blankets and regular blankets, and more.

Together, we’ll identify your most important concerns, discuss possible diagnoses when appropriate, and develop realistic treatment goals that reflect what matters to you.

By the end of our first visit, my goal is for you to leave with a clearer understanding of what may be contributing to your symptoms and a plan for what comes next. That may include medication, therapy, lifestyle considerations, additional evaluation, or other treatment options. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you walk through the door; that’s something we can work through together.