Welcome
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 below outlines the practice model, who may be a good fit, services offered and not offered, expectations regarding medication and communication, and what to expect as a new patient.
Taking a few minutes to review this page can help you determine whether the practice aligns with your needs and support a thoughtful start to care.
About This Practice
This is an outpatient telehealth psychiatric practice providing secure virtual care 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, walk-in evaluations, after-hours support, 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
- PCOS (PMOS)-related mood or hormonal concerns
- 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 hormonal, lifestyle, and emotional factors influencing mental wellness
Care is best suited for patients who are able to engage in scheduled telehealth visits and are seeking ongoing psychiatric support rather than urgent, crisis-level, or intensive services.
Services Offered
This practice offers outpatient psychiatric care, including initial evaluations, follow-up appointments, medication management, and brief supportive therapeutic strategies integrated within psychiatric visits. Care is tailored to each patient’s individual needs and provided through scheduled telehealth appointments.
For details on conditions commonly supported and areas of specialized focus, please visit the Areas of Care page.
Services Not Offered
This practice does not provide urgent, emergency, intensive, or specialized psychiatric services that fall outside the scope of outpatient telehealth care. Patients seeking these services will be encouraged to connect with appropriate resources or higher levels of care when clinically appropriate.
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, medications are approached thoughtfully and individualized to each patient’s clinical needs, history, and goals. Prescribing decisions are based on careful evaluation, clinical guidelines, and ongoing assessment.
Stimulant Medications
Stimulant medications may be prescribed for ADHD when clinically appropriate and supported by a thorough evaluation. Decisions regarding stimulant treatment are based on the overall 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, including for patients who have previously received these medications elsewhere. For anxiety and related concerns, evidence-based non-benzodiazepine treatment options and supportive strategies are used. Patients seeking ongoing benzodiazepine therapy are encouraged to establish care with a provider whose prescribing approach aligns with those treatment needs.
Other controlled substances are not prescribed through this practice.
Crisis & Communication
This 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 worsening or new symptoms 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. Messages are reviewed and responses are typically provided 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, weekends, or 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
- Request an Appointment — Review the new patient information and complete the inquiry form.
- Activate the Patient Portal — Watch for an email after your inquiry is reviewed and your insurance is verified.
- Schedule Your Appointment — Book through the patient portal.
- Complete Required Forms — Complete any required intake and consent forms in the patient portal before your first visit.
- Appointment Day — Your first visit will be a comprehensive evaluation conducted via secure telehealth.
After submitting the inquiry form, you may receive an email with next steps, including additional intake and consent forms to complete before your first visit.
Ready to Get Started?
Thank you for taking the time to review this information. If this practice feels like a good fit and you are ready to move forward, please complete the inquiry form below to begin the process.
By submitting a request, you acknowledge 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.
