Meet Safia
I began working in the mental health care field in December of 2016, as a care manager at an assisted living facility for seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's and other debilitating diseases. Since then, I have worked in the mental health care field from outpatient to inpatient levels of care, initially as a certified nursing assistant, to a registered nurse, to my current role as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I graduated in May 2018 with a dual degree in psychology and nursing and then in August 2023 with a doctorate's in nursing practice with psychiatry mental health specialty through the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing. During my career, I have worked with individuals across the lifespan, from early childhood into adulthood, with varying psychiatric and medical complexities and comorbid conditions. I chose to pursue mental health/psychiatry as I lost a close friend to suicide and realized the disparity in those of minority ethnicities seeking mental health support, and wanted to become an advocate for mental health/psychiatry care for those lacking access to quality and affordable care. I use cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, and dialectal behavioral therapy. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time reading a good book, gardening, and with my family, especially my cats.