Christine Farina

I'm a psychiatric nurse practitioner with a decade of experience helping patients who struggle with a multitude of mental health issues. I have two bachelor's degrees in psychology and nursing and a master's degree in psychiatric nursing. I spent the first part of my career in the hospitals and transitioned to outpatient working in a community mental health clinic, which prepared me to treat the most complex patients. I got into psychiatry because of my family and personal history of mental health and there's nothing more gratifying to me than seeing patients heal. As a proud lesbian, I also emphasize treatment for the LGBT+ community as we face unique challenges related to our identity. My style is laid-back but direct; I don't sugarcoat things, but I also think psychiatric care should come with compassion, humor, and collaboration.

I work with individuals navigating Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, identity exploration, and life transitions. I see medications as a tool in a toolbox; there is (unfortunately) no magic pill that can cure symptoms. It's a combination of medication, therapy, coping skills, and lifestyle changes. I see each individual as unique and a sum of their parts, not a diagnostic checklist.

A thorough interview with goal setting, medication review, suggested lab work and genetic testing when appropriate. The first appointment takes around an hour to complete.