Behavioral Health

What is Behavioral Health?

Behavioral health connects a person’s habits and the health of their body, mind and spirit. Encompassing both physical and mental health allows behavioral health specialists to better treat their patients and includes the continuum of prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery support services. Virginia Gay Hospital offers behavioral health resources with outpatient services for those 5 and older. These services include psychotherapy and medication management. Patients may need to be referred outside the clinic for testing, such as neuro-psych and psychological testing and can follow up with Virginia Gay.

Common Diagnoses Include:

  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Depression
  • ADHD
  • PTSD
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Schizophrenia
  • ODD
  • Phobias
  • Substance Abuse
  • Eating Disorders
  • Emotional Dysregulation Disorders

Individual Psychotherapy Services

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or counseling, is a form of therapy where a patient talks to a mental health provider. This service helps teach the patient healthy coping skills to improve responses to challenging situations. It can also be useful for those who do not have a mental illness but need help responding to conflict or stress in their day-to-day lives.

We offer:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Interpersonal Therapy (IBT)
  • Solution-Based Therapy
  • Supportive Therapy
  • Mindfulness-Based Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Psychodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Medication Management

Medication management is a form of therapy to make sure patients are receiving the proper medication for their needs. Effective medication management includes reviewing medications, ongoing monitoring, short and long-term plans and education. We are also able to offer pharmacogenetic as a treatment option. The GeneSight Psychotropic test can be a useful tool to understand how each patient may respond to different medications based on their individual DNA. Psychotherapy and medication management can be useful in treating several mental health disorders, including anxiety, mood disorders, addictions and eating disorders. You will meet with one of our two board-certified PMHNP providers to go over concerns. Once this happens, an individualized treatment plan will be created. This may include medication management, psychotherapy or a combination of both.

Meet Our Providers

Sam Jirak, DNP, ARNP, FNP-GC, PMHNP

Sam’s education and career as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner is grounded in holistic care by targeting the mind, body and soul connection. Her experience in both medication management and psychotherapy allows her to identify current challenges and work towards individualized goals for her patients’ futures.

Sam’s passion for mental health grew from her desire to provide comprehensive rural health care, which she has done at Virginia Gay Hospital for several years. She has experience working with patients of all ages and stages of life due to her background in pediatrics, mother/baby and family practice.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Iowa; Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Iowa

Beth Hunt, DNP, ARNP, PMHNP

Beth’s desire to improve mental health for all came from working as a nurse in surgical and the neuroscience ICU for six years. She has a passion for supporting and caring for individuals in their best and worst moments. This experience led her to obtain her Doctorate degree as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and specialize in mental health. She works with adults and children with mental health concerns of all varieties.

Beth is most passionate about helping individuals find their true self in their healing journey through psychotherapy techniques. She is passionate about listening, understanding and treating each individual in a holistic way. Her approach combines therapy, medication management and coping skills such as mindfulness and breathing techniques.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Mount Mercy University; Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Iowa

Schedule your appointment with our behavioral health providers by calling 319-472-6300!

Additional Resources
https://genesight.com/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/