These behaviors, varying from poor impulse control and aggressive outbursts to rule-breaking, bullying, truancy, substance use, and deceitful actions, can disrupt family life and the child's ability to function effectively at home, school, and in social settings. Often, these behaviors can be responses to underlying pain, trauma, or an inability to cope with certain stressors.
Understanding each child's unique situation is crucial. During the intake process, our skilled clinicians carefully assess the child to determine the most effective treatment approach. This could involve individual therapy with a trauma-informed focus, helping the child work through past adverse experiences and develop healthier coping mechanisms. For some, a behavioral approach like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) might be more suitable, teaching new skills and behaviors for better adaptation to their environments. Group therapy can also be beneficial, providing a supportive space for children to enhance their social skills and build confidence in interacting with others.
Once we identify the most appropriate treatment options, our clinicians build rapport with the child and conduct sessions in our comfortable office environments or through telehealth video sessions, as needed. We also offer psychiatric evaluations to manage symptoms associated with conditions like Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, etc., alongside the therapeutic interventions.
Mind Align Psychiatry is dedicated to providing compassionate, innovative, and research-backed care. We focus on using minimal and effective doses of medications where necessary, while also incorporating psychiatric care, therapy, life coaching, and dietetics to support the child's overall mental health and well-being. Our goal is to help each child and their family navigate these challenges and foster a healthier, more harmonious environment.
Joseph Gagnon Jr., CRNP, PMHNP-BC
Joe is a proficient Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with specialized training in treatment-resistant psychosis. His expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder with psychotic features. With a deep understanding of these complex conditions, Joe employs a range of advanced therapeutic techniques and medications, tailored to effectively manage and support patients dealing with these challenging mental health issues. His commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments in the field ensures his patients receive comprehensive and cutting-edge care.
Joe specializes in the treatment of ADHD (including in children, teens, adults, older adults, and adult-onset ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety Disorders (including OCD), Depression, Movement Disorders (specifically Tardive Dyskinesia and Akathisia), Psychotic Disorders (including early onset Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder), Bipolar Disorder, and Addictive Disorders (Substance Abuse, Binge Eating Disorder, and Gambling Use Disorder). He has extensive experience in treating both children and adolescents. Additionally, he holds a waiver for completion of specialized training in the use of Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) for assisting individuals struggling with Substance Use Disorders. Joe is our Senior Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and he provides weekly supervision sessions with each of our other nurse practitioners.
Joe has nearly two decades of psychiatric experience including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency crisis response center settings. His psychiatric work experience includes positions at Lehigh Valley Health Network, The Horsham Clinic, The University of Pennsylvania Health System (Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center), Thomas Jefferson University Health System, Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern Pennsylvania, Berkshire Psychiatric, and Penn Psychiatric Center.
In addition to his role as an outpatient psychiatric provider, Joe also has experience presenting nationwide to other prescribers regarding the treatment and diagnosis of Tardive Dyskinesia, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Depression, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar Depression. Joe maintains active adjunct faculty status in the Department of Nursing at Montgomery County Community College where he teaches undergraduate nursing students in both the clinical and classroom setting. Additionally, he has served as a clinical faculty instructor for graduate and doctorate level students at Anderson University, Chamberlain University, Drexel University, Eastern Kentucky University, Herzig University, La Salle University, Liberty University, Maryville University, Montgomery County Community College, Post University, Rocky Mountain University, Spring Arbor University, University of Cincinnati, Walden University, and Wilkes University for students studying to become Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners.
Joe graduated Summa Cum Laude from Walden University with a Master of Science in Nursing and he is board-certified as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to treat across the lifespan by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). He is also board-certified by the ANCC as a Psychiatric Registered Nurse. Joe is licensed as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in both PA and NJ. He also has supplemental education in Plant-Based Medicine through Cornell University.
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