Welcome / Introduction
Thank you for considering Balanced Mind Mental Health for your care. This page is designed to help you understand how the practice works before requesting an appointment.
The information here covers the practice model, who may be a good fit, the services offered and not offered, expectations around medication and communication, and what to expect as a new patient.
Taking a few minutes to review this page may help you decide whether the practice aligns with your needs and ensure a thoughtful start to care.
About This Practice
Balanced Mind Mental Health is a low-acuity outpatient telehealth psychiatric practice. All care is provided virtually through secure video visits for patients located in Florida or Maryland at the time of their appointments.
Care is provided by Sara Gena Israel, APRN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner.
The practice operates by appointment only. Crisis services, after-hours support, walk-in evaluations, and emergency psychiatric services are not provided through this practice.
Who May Be a Good Fit
This practice may be a good fit for adult women seeking outpatient psychiatric care for mood, anxiety, hormonal, and lifestyle-related concerns. Common reasons patients seek care include:
- Persistent low mood, depression, or seasonal mood changes
- Generalized anxiety, panic, or social anxiety
- Premenstrual mood symptoms or PMDD
- Postpartum or perimenopausal mood changes
- Difficulty with sleep, focus, or daily functioning
- ADHD evaluation or ongoing management
- Stress, life transitions, or adjustment to change
- Interest in a whole-person approach that considers lifestyle, hormonal, and emotional factors influencing mental wellness
Care is best suited for patients who are managing day-to-day functioning, able to engage in care through scheduled telehealth visits, and looking for an outpatient psychiatric provider rather than urgent, intensive, or crisis-level support.
Services Offered
This practice offers outpatient psychiatric care, including initial evaluations, follow-up appointments, medication management, and brief therapeutic support integrated within psychiatric visits. Care is provided through scheduled telehealth appointments and tailored to each patient’s individual needs.
For details on conditions commonly supported and areas of specialized focus, please visit the Areas of Care page.
Services Not Offered
This practice operates as a low-acuity outpatient telehealth psychiatric practice and does not provide higher-acuity, urgent, emergency, or specialized services that fall outside its scope. Patients seeking these services will be encouraged to connect with appropriate resources or higher levels of care.
For a complete list of services that are not offered, please visit the Areas of Care page.
Medication & Prescribing Philosophy
Medication is one part of a broader approach to mental health care. When prescribed, medication is approached thoughtfully and individualized to each patient’s clinical needs, history, and goals. Decisions about prescribing are based on careful evaluation, clinical guidelines, and ongoing assessment.
Stimulant Medications
Stimulant medications may be prescribed for the treatment of ADHD when clinically appropriate and supported by thorough evaluation. The decision to initiate or continue stimulant therapy is based on a complete clinical picture, including symptom history, prior evaluations, current functioning, and safety considerations. In some cases, additional records, evaluation steps, or follow-up visits may be needed before stimulant medications are prescribed.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, and Valium) are not prescribed through this practice. This includes patients who have previously been prescribed these medications elsewhere. For anxiety and related concerns, evidence-based non-benzodiazepine medication options and supportive strategies are used. Patients who require benzodiazepine therapy are encouraged to seek care with a provider whose prescribing approach aligns with that treatment.
Other controlled substances are not prescribed through this practice.
Crisis & Communication Expectations
Balanced Mind Mental Health is an outpatient psychiatric practice and does not provide 24/7 care, crisis intervention, or emergency services. Patients experiencing a mental health emergency, safety concern, or urgent symptom change should not wait to be seen through this practice.
In a Crisis or Emergency
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, please use one of the following resources:
- Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
- Call 911
- Go to the nearest emergency department
For additional support options, please visit the Crisis Resources page.
Communication Between Visits
Non-urgent questions and routine messages may be sent through the patient portal. Responses are provided during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time) and may take 1 to 2 business days. The patient portal is not monitored after hours, on weekends, or on holidays, and should not be used for urgent or emergency concerns.
Prescription Refills
For prescription refill requests, please visit the Contact page.
Technology Requirements
Telehealth visits require a stable internet connection, a device with a working camera and microphone, and a private, quiet space free from distractions. Patients must be physically located in Florida or Maryland at the time of each appointment.
New Patient Process
The process for becoming a new patient is outlined on the homepage under Path to Balance. This includes the steps from initial inquiry through scheduling your first visit.
After submitting an appointment request, you will receive an email with next steps, including additional intake and consent forms to complete prior to your first visit.
To review the new patient process, please visit the Path to Balance section on the homepage.
Next Steps / Request Appointment
Thank you for taking the time to review this information. If this practice aligns with your needs and you are ready to move forward, please submit a new patient appointment request below.
By submitting a request, you confirm that you have reviewed the information on this page, including the practice model, services offered and not offered, medication and prescribing approach, and crisis and communication expectations.
Once your request is received, you will be contacted to confirm next steps and schedule your initial visit if the practice is determined to be an appropriate fit.
