Today we’d like to introduce you to Annamaria Pagani.
Annamaria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I first became a nurse, I started on an orthopedic and trauma unit. It was an incredible experience that helped me grow as a nurse and pushed me to challenge myself. But deep down, I always knew I wanted to work in psychiatry. Helping people has always been my passion. As a child, I struggled with anxiety and now what I know as OCD, but I didn’t understand what it was or why it was happening. Everyday was a struggle. Over time it worsened, and by college, I reached my breaking point. I was really struggling and felt like I couldn’t do it on my own. I was constantly having panic attacks everyday and I couldn’t function. I felt like I was watching my life slowly pass me by. That’s when I decided to seek help. I began therapy and medication, taking the time to focus on my own healing. Through that process, I realized I wanted to help others the same way I had been helped, because without the support I received, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. That is why I am so passionate about what I do. I hope to help people before they get to their breaking point like I did.
Eventually, I landed a job on a psychiatric unit as a nurse, which was the beginning of my journey toward becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I graduated and passed my boards in February of 2022, and my journey began. I first started in private practice as a nurse practitioner, gaining invaluable experience working with patients from all walks of life. I knew that I wanted to grow and spread my wings, but I wasn’t sure when. One day, a colleague of mine, Amy Everhart of Well Balanced Women, encouraged me to take the leap and start my own business. At first, I was scared and uncertain about what that might entail. But as time went on, my excitement grew, and that’s how Mind and Body Psychiatry came to life.
To me, the name Mind and Body Psychiatry perfectly reflects the approach I strive to bring to my practice. I believe in treating the patient as a whole, not just focusing on their diagnosis. It’s crucial to consider not only medication, but also other factors like medical conditions, genetics, environmental influences, and coping mechanisms. Mental health doesn’t just affect the mind—it impacts the entire body, and vice versa. My goal is to provide the same kind of support and care that helped me during my own struggles. I want to leave a lasting impact and make a meaningful difference in the world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As you can tell from my background, I don’t come from a business-oriented background, which made starting my own practice a real challenge. I had to learn how to be not just a psychiatric provider, but also how to run and maintain a business. Every day has been a learning experience, and I’m still figuring things out as I go. I’ve invested a lot of time and effort into areas that I hope will help my business grow. Another challenge has been finding the balance between work and home life. I often pour so much time and energy into my work that I forget to take care of myself. It’s something I’m actively working on, learning to strike a healthier balance. Ultimately, my goal is to reach as many patients as I can and be the best provider and support I can be for them. It’s been an amazing experience to create my own brand and build my practice around the philosophies I truly believe in. I’ve been able to shape the way I approach patient care based on what matters most to me and how I want to support my patients’ well-being.
As you know, we’re big fans of Mind and Body Psychiatry. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mind and Body Psychiatry is a telehealth service offering psychiatric medication management for patients ages 15 and older in Ohio. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I can assess, diagnose, and prescribe medication to address the mental health challenges patients face. My approach goes beyond just medication management; I focus on identifying additional factors that may impact a patient’s mental health, such as medical conditions, lifestyle habits, coping skills, genetics, and more. In my sessions, I can also provide brief psychotherapy, which allows me to treat patients in a more holistic way. I prioritize empowering my patients to take an active role in their treatment decisions. I always encourage participation in therapy as well, as I believe it plays a crucial role in their mental health journey.
I also offer GeneSight testing, which analyzes how a patient’s genetics may influence their response to psychotropic medications. This can help reduce the trial and error often associated with finding the right medication. It can help explain why previous medications may not have been effective or may have caused side effects. It’s an important tool that provides my patients with greater confidence and peace of mind when starting a new medication.
I work with a variety of diagnoses, though the most common ones I treat are depression, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, trauma disorders, and bipolar disorder.
I am extremely passionate about mental health and have poured my heart and soul into Mind and Body Psychiatry. Mental health is just as important as physical health and I want to advocate for my patients in order to help them become the best versions of themselves. I am here to help my patients live their best lives.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are several ways people can work with, collaborate with, or support me:
Referrals: If you know anyone who could benefit from psychiatric medication management, sending them my way is one of the best ways you can support my practice. This includes patients in need of mental health services or even other healthcare professionals who may not specialize in psychiatry.
Partnerships and Collaboration: I’m always open to collaborating with other healthcare providers, including therapists, primary care doctors, and specialists. A strong network can improve patient care, and I’d love to build partnerships that help patients get the comprehensive care they need.
Social Media and Word of Mouth: Sharing my services or my posts on social media is a great way to help me reach more people who may benefit from medication management. Even simple word-of-mouth referrals can make a huge difference for a small business like mine.
Community Outreach: If you’re involved in any local events or groups (like support groups, schools, community organizations), I’d be happy to participate in speaking engagements or offer educational resources.
Pricing:
- I accept most major insurances including- Aetna/Meritain, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Oscar, Carelon Behavioral Health, Quest Behavioral Health, Oxford, United Healthcare/UMR/Optum, and Allied
- I also offer a self pay option I am not in network with your insurance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindandbodypsychiatry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindandbodypsychiatry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562672805929
- Other: 614-482-2591 (call or text)
Image Credits
Lindzy Lee Photography
