Dr. Thorkelson, MD is the founder and Medical Director of the Center for Child and Adult Psychiatry. He is board certified in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry. He finished his adult psychiatry training at Temple University and went on to complete a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed additional psychodynamic fellowship training at the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. At the University of Pittsburgh, he served as Associate Medical Director at the Center for Integrative Medicine, as a staff psychiatrist at the John Merck Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, and as a psychiatrist with the Visceral Inflammation and Pain (VIP) Center based in the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. He is the former Medical Director of Behavioral Health at The Children's Institute in Pittsburgh.
Dr. Thorkelson has completed additional clinical training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) with Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, and Saki Santorelli, EdD. He has advanced training and clinical experience with both Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and hypnotherapy, and studied advanced nutrient therapies under Dr. William Walsh. Additionally, he completed foundational coursework in Functional Medicine, training alongside staff from the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine.
He has written multiple book chapters, co-authored nearly two-dozen publications, led workshops for Fortune 500 companies, and provided expert opinion for wide ranging media outlets from NBC and Today.com to Men’s Health Magazine. He is also a founding member of the Center for Mindfulness and Consciousness Studies at the University of Pittsburgh where he continues to teach residents, fellows, and medical students.
Fun Fact: When not caring for patients, Dr. Thorkelson enjoys spending time with his family. He recharges by hiking, biking, traveling, and listening to jazz. He also has a special affinity for airplanes and space.
Chapter 18 - Diagnosis and Management of Agitation in Children and Adolescents in The Diagnosis and Management of Agitation, Cambridge University Press
Chapter 25 - Meditation and Mindfulness in Integrative Therapies for Depression: Redefining Models for Assessment, Treatment and Prevention, CRC Press
Numerous journal articles published in Psychodynamic Psychiatry, Journal of Psychiatric Practice, Gastroenterology, Alternative and Complementary Therapies, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Conference presentations with the following organizations: American Academic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), American Psychosomatic Society (APS), American Psychiatric Association (APA), Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, Institute on Psychiatric Services, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) , National Pancreas Foundation, American College of Gastroenterology (ACOG), Autism Society of America, International Congress for Clinicians in Complementary and Integrative Medicine.
Rebekah started her career path as a Registered Nurse working at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital - a national leader in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of mental health and addictive disorders. This experienced ignited her passion for mental wellness. After working at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, she went on and earned her Master of Science in Nursing and completed her certification for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Wilkes University. She has over 15 years of experience and has cared for individuals with a variety of mental health challenges, including autism, mood disorders, depression, OCD, and anxiety. Rebekah’s time at Western Psychiatric Hospital afforded her the ability to work extensively on a unit specializing in acute behavioral and emotional problems in individuals who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, intellectual disabilities, and other developmental disorders. In addition to Rebekah’s mental health specialized education and work history, she also received her certification for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from Beck Institute. Her non judgmental attitude, strong belief and focus on holistic treatment allow her to personally tailor care plans to help each individual patient achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
Fun Fact: When she is not caring for her patients, Rebekah can be found spending time with her family, watching football games, and getting her daily workout in.
After years of caring for patients with different psychiatric conditions in both inpatient and outpatient environments, Brittani developed a strong passion for mental health care and completed her graduate degree in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Since then, she has been practicing as Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), treating both children and adults with psychiatric conditions. Brittani provides medication management and supportive psychotherapy for patients with depressive and mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and autism. Brittani believes in doctor-patient collaboration, clearly defined and achievable treatment goals throughout the treatment process.
Fun Fact: When not caring for patients, Brittani enjoys hiking, boating, being outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends.
Michelle completed her post master's certificate in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program at Robert Morris University and her master's degree in nursing at the University of Pittsburgh. She has half a decade of experience working in behavioral health and over 20 years of experience in health care in general, including private practice, hospitals, home care, and most recently a pediatrician's office where she worked as part of the integrated care team. Michelle enjoys working with patients of all ages, especially children, adolescents, and young adults. She treats patients with a variety of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, autism, ADHD, and PTSD. Her particular interest is caring for patients who have experienced trauma utilizing her extensive training in CBT and EMDR. Michelle takes pride in providing compassionate, patient-centered care.
Fun Fact:
When notworking, Michelle can be found spending time with her five dogs (a Great Dane and four Labs), gardening, kayaking, cooking, doing projects around the house, or doing something crafty.
Danielle graduated from Seton Hill University with a BS/MS in Physician Assistant Studies. She has experience treating all ages as well as a wide range of psychiatric conditions including anxiety, panic, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar, and schizophrenia disorders. With training from the Beck Institute, Danielle is able to offer CBT as well as medication management and psychotherapy and is licensed in both PA and Florida, where she provided care in an outpatient community mental health center. Danielle's hobbies include hiking, traveling, DIYS, cooking.
Fun Fact: I'm left handed
Melanie Valenti is a Board Certified Doctor of Nursing Practitioner (DNP) specializing in Psychiatry and Mental Health at the Nexus Group. She completed her doctorate degree at the University of Pittsburgh.
Prior to joining the Nexus Group, Melanie had over 6 years of experience working at Western Psychiatric Hospital, caring for children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and ADHD.
Additionally, she has experience working with Veterans experiencing acute mental health needs related to PTSD and mood disorders, as well as working in a psychiatric consultation and liaison role in the medical hospital setting. Melanie is also trained and certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and clinical strategies in addressing issues often faced by LGBTQ+ Youth.She is passionate about whole body approach toward mental health and always looking for optimal evidence-based treatment options for her patients.
Fun Fact: As an avid runner, Melanie has a goal of running at least 5 miles in every state she visits.
Amber joins us with an educational background in business marketing and child life advocacy. Her professional experience includes working with pediatric populations, customer service and helping manage a child life department at a children’s hospital. She has been in an array of healthcare settings, with vast amounts of knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Amber’s experiences have aided in the motivation she has to ensure excellent patient care. She appreciates being on a team that is compassionate and dedicated. The Center for Child and Adult Psychiatry goes above and beyond for their patients, and she is excited to do the same and make a difference. When she is not working you can find Amber swimming at the beautiful beaches in Florida.
Fun Fact: Amber’s favorite place to visit is her family’s hometown in Dominican Republic because of their great food and eccentric atmosphere. Ask where to get any authentic Dominican dish in Florida and she knows!
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