Staff-Therapists:
Christie Blake, RN, MSN, CS
I am a board certified Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist and have been working in this role since 2005. My primary responsibility at Wilmington Family Counseling is to provide psychiatric and psychopharmacological evaluations to children, adolescents, and adults with a broad range of behavioral and emotional difficulties. I understand that the decision to put oneself or one's child on a psychotropic medication is an important one. I therefore spend a great deal of time discussing treatment options and the potential risks and benefits so that patients and parents can make an informed decision from the start. This approach allows the decision to be a collaborative one between me and my patients.
I have experience treating individuals with a variety of psychiatric conditions, including mood disorders, anxiety, substance use disorders, traumatic stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, disruptive behavioral disorders, and developmental/learning disabilities. I have particular expertise in the area of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is a condition I have been interested in since my undergraduate education at Trinity College in Hartford. After college, I worked as a clinical research manager in the Pediatric Psychopharmacology Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and oversaw multiple ADHD treatment studies. While working there I was introduced to the role of advanced practice nursing. I was immediately drawn to this profession as it combined my interest in the neurobiology of mental illness with a career in which caring for others is fundamental. I obtained my Masters Degree in Nursing from Yale University and trained in numerous settings including community mental health clinics, hospitals, and the world-renown Yale Child Study Center. Although the focus of my training was in pharmacological management of mental illness, I had a great deal of experience providing supportive, cognitive-behavioral, group, and family therapy to my patients. I continually draw on this experience when I meet with patients and families in order to take an integrated and holistic approach to treatment.
In addition to my work at Wilmington Family Counseling, I am on staff in the Department of Psychiatry at Children’s Hospital Boston. I have two publications in child psychiatry journals and have led continued education programs for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. I truly enjoy my work in this field and feel honored every day to have the opportunity to hear my patients' stories and facilitate in their recovery.
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Phone: (978) 658-9889
Fax: (978) 658-5695
Contact us at: wilfamilycounsel@aol.com
