Ascend Health, PLLC

As a Certified Physician Assistant with nearly 20 years of experience in practice in the Roanoke Valley, I have worked in multiple specialties and acute care settings, and I have loved the opportunity to serve patients of all ages and all walks of life throughout my career to this point. Many of us are no strangers to mental health struggles, and many of us have dealt with anxiety and depression in some form at some time in our lives. I believe that the most crippling lies we entertain in those hardest times include believing that something is wrong with us that cannot be fixed, that we will never be good enough or of any significant value, and that we are alone. Mental health care is not a "one size fits all" specialty, and determining the best treatment requires time, effort, and patience from all of the members of the team; the provider, the patient, and the patient's advocates. We consider the possibility that medical issues may be causing or contributing to feelings of sadness, low energy, anxiety, and other bothersome symptoms for some patients. We will usually order screening blood tests to check for medical, hormonal or vitamin related issues that may be at play, as such conditions are often relatively easy to catch and treat. We have partnered with Genesight Genetic Testing to be able to offer testing that gives guidance regarding your individual metabolism of specific nutrients and medications and how this may impact your response to certain treatments. Medication or medications are often used to help manage symptoms associated with mental health conditions. Sometimes medication treatment is brief (3 to 6 months, for example), and some conditions respond best to long-term treatment with medication. We will work as a team in deciding which approach will be best for you or your loved one. We have good working relationships with many medical providers, therapists, psychologists and other mental health professionals who offer various specialized services based on the individual client's specific needs. We are happy to provide referrals and facilitate appointments if these types of additional services will likely prove helpful in your specific situation. You are NOT alone. You CAN feel better. Looking for help and support is the first step, and you should feel proud for taking care of yourself or your loved in in this way. Now it's time to work together.