Courtesy of Saratoga Wellness
By Christine Graf
After more than three decades of working in the healthcare profession, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Susan McDermott has opened her own practice, Saratoga Wellness, PLLC.
Located at 7 Hemphill Place in Malta, Saratoga Wellness offers a comprehensive range of psychiatric services to adults 18 and older. These services include psychiatric evaluations, individual therapy, medication management, nutritional and physical wellness assessments, and psychotherapy.
It was while working as a family nurse practitioner that McDermott made the decision to continue her education. Returning to college, she earned a post-master’s degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University-College of Nursing.
“I worked as a family nurse practitioner for about eight years, and in doing so I saw the need for additional support for patients with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety,” she said.
Since becoming licensed as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in 2020, McDermott has worked in the inpatient units at both Glens Falls Hospital and Saratoga Hospital. She currently splits her time between her private practice and Four Winds Hospital.
“I opened my private practice in June, and I also work at Four Winds where I work with inpatients as well as in their partial hospitalization program,” said McDermott. “That’s given me the opportunity to see real acute pathology complicated by substance use, PTSD, ADHD, and those sorts of things.”
It was through her work at Four Winds and other local hospitals that McDermott recognized that mental health disorders need to be treated with more than just medication. She referenced the Star*D trial, a study that assessed the effectiveness of depression treatments in patients diagnosed with major depressive order.
“That was a pivotal study. It showed that only one third of people who use antidepressants will actually reach remission, which is where you have no symptoms at all,” she said. “What I set out to do with my practice was to support people where they’re at while also trying to find some alternative methods to help them –things that went above and beyond using medications. I’m all about incorporating evidence-based practices, ones that have good outcomes for people. That’s where my passion lies.”
When working with patients in her private practice, McDermott begins with an initial consultation, one that lasts 90 minutes.
“I look at the whole picture. How is their appetite? How are they sleeping? Do they have other health issues that could be contributing to their symptoms?” she said. “I also consult with their primary care physician when necessary.”
According to McDermott, some of her patients express a desire to reduce their reliance on mental health medications.
“I think people are looking for more than just medications. I have people who come in and say, ‘I want to come off my medications. I want to try different things.’”
McDermott cites nutritional psychiatry– the practice of using food and food supplements as alternative treatments for mental health disorders–as one of the evidence-based practices that she utilizes in her practice.
“What is wonderful now is that we have all of these great studies that show there is a connection between your gut and your brain. All of the systems in the body work together. That doesn’t mean that you may not ever need a medication, but if you do you can try to use the lowest dose, one where you will have the least amount of side effects,” she said.
McDermott is also in the process of become certified as a yoga therapist, receiving her training at Yoga Mandali in Saratoga.
“I wanted to see what else I could offer to help my patients above and beyond giving them medications,” she said when explaining her motivation for pursuing her yoga therapist certification. “There is so much research on the physical and mental benefits of doing yoga. It’s all about using yoga to regulate your nervous system. It’s a restorative practice, and it really takes people out of their fight-or-flight state and into their rest-and-digest.”
McDermott is also incorporating the Well Steps program into her practice. Originally designed to support corporate wellness programs, Well Steps has been expanded to be used in other applications.
“I’m excited about it because it’s something that I can tailor to my practice. It helps patients stay on task,” she said.
Although McDermott works with adults of all ages, the lion’s share of her patients are between the ages of 20 and 35.
“That age group is really struggling,” she said. “Most of what I see in my practice is anxiety, and I think social media plays a big part in that. And then you had COVID, which may have impacted their ability to go to work, go to school, and meet their goals. It was just a state of chaos and I think that is what propelled a lot of the anxiety for that generation.”
McDermott is currently accepting new patients and accepts CDPHP, MVP, and Aetna insurances. She is in the process of becoming credentialed to accept United Health. For more information, visit saratogapsychiatricwellness.com.