Nurse Practitioners

Shannon Brill, PMHNP-BC
​Owner PsychNP Wellness Center, LLC
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified

Shannon was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then moved to Maryland where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Maryland. She went on to work as an ICU nurse until beginning her graduate studies a few years later.  She graduated with a Master of Science specializing as an Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner / Clinical Nurse Specialist.

​Since then, she has worked in a variety of settings including in-patient psychiatry, psychiatric ER/crisis intervention, consultation services in the general hospital population, nursing homes, assisted living and outpatient psychiatry.

Shannon's experience is broad treating a range of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and psychotic disorders. She sees patients aged 18 and older.      ​

Dr. Teri Murtha, DNP, PMHNP-BC
​Owner PsychNP Wellness Center, LLC
Doctor of Nursing Practice, ​Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified

Teri is a graduate of the Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She has a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a post-master’s doctorate from the University of Massachusetts. She has over 20 years of experience ranging from addictions, mental health, research, and education. 

Teri has been trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and has led DBT groups. Teri received her certificate of Advanced Trauma Treatment, Level One. Teri has extensive experience in the evaluation and treatment of patients with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. She is certified to administer Suboxone, and also provides Vivitrol injections. 

Teri practices Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP) and utilizes creative approaches to develop successful interventions that will help meet the unique needs of each individual client and their family members.

Simon Freyou, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC   
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified

Simon has been an Adult Nurse Practitioner for more than 20 years.  He recently completed his post-doctoral Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Wilkes University Passan School of Nursing and now holds dual certifications. He is a lifelong learner and has earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Maryland, a post-masters Adult Nurse Practitioner certificate from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing Care Delivery and Management from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Southwestern Louisiana School of Nursing. 

​Additionally, he is certified as an occupational health nurse by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses.  Areas of interest include mental health support for first responders, individuals experiencing work difficulties, and the LGBTQ community.  His various work settings have included occupational health, college health, and oncology.  He is an avid gardener and an experienced traveler.  His journeys have included more than forty-five countries which has led to a great appreciation for human diversity.

Dr. Shannon Kelso, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified

Shannon completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice / Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Her prior degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science, both from the Johns Hopkins University.

​Shannon has previously worked in inpatient psychiatry at Sheppard Pratt and in outpatient addiction treatment and the NeuroCare ICU at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Shannon enjoys keeping up with the latest scientific research, and has also previously worked in the areas of neuroscience and nursing research.

Jessica Ditto, MS, CRNP, PMHS

​Jessica is a pediatric nurse practitioner and pediatric mental health specialist who has been working in the field of developmental/behavioral pediatrics for almost 14 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Delaware in 1996, and her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland in 2005. She began working as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit and then moved on to a developmental focus. She works part-time at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where she has been for her entire nurse practitioner career. She cares for children from birth to age 21 who have any type of developmental or behavioral/mental health difficulties, such as ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, or intellectual disability. Jessica is married with two teenagers and loves to travel when she can get some time off!

Dr. Tarleen Weston, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Doctor of Nursing Practice, ​Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified

Tarleen earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at University of Maryland School of Nursing this May. Her previous degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. She is concurrently an Assistant Professor in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Family specialty with the University of Maryland School of Nursing where she teaches psychiatric mental health nursing to future baccalaureate prepared nurses. Tarleen also has facilitated nursing research with the multiple nursing educational institutions. Her clinical experience includes working in the inpatient child psychiatry unit at Children's National Medical Center and spending over five years working with children with autism and their families as an applied behavioral therapist. Tarleen believes in treating her clients holistically to help them achieve optimum levels of wellness. ​

Veronica Garcia, PMHNP-BC 
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified

Veronica Garcia, MSN, is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) who assesses and treats adults and young adults with depression, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and personality disorders.
As part of a multidisciplinary team, she also works in collaboration with other treatment providers.
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Prior to joining PsychNP Wellness center, she was a Nephrology nurse for 12 years.
Veronica earned her Master of Science in nursing from Walden University. She earned her bachelor's degree in nursing at Notre Dame University.
She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

Kacie Naylor, PMHNP-BC 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified
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Kacie earned her Masters of Science in Nursing from Shenandoah University. She is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and is able to provide care to patients across the lifespan, including children and adolescents.  She completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Drexel University and worked as an emergency room nurse at the University of Pennsylvania. After moving to Maryland, she worked in inpatient and emergency room psychiatry at Meritus Medical Center. Prior to her career in nursing, Kacie proudly served for eight years as a medic in the United States Air Force, where she received specialized training and certification in pre-hospital trauma and life support. She believes that empathy and building a trusting relationship with her patients and their families is vital to any treatment plan. She assesses the needs of the whole patient and encourages her patients to be active participants in their care. 

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Ursula Lacher, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified
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Ursula is a psychiatric nurse practitioner who has provided mental health care for
clients for 25 years – 10 years as a practitioner. Ursula received her RN degree from Harford Community College. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Villa Julie College and a Master of Science degree in nursing – Lifespan Psychiatry from University of Maryland. Ursula is Certified through the American Nursing Credentialing Center.
Ursula has skills with mental health issues such as: Depression; Anxiety & Panic Disorders; ADHD; Bipolar Disorder; Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders; and Life Stages. Ursula truly believes in the quote from George Bernard Shaw, "We do not quit playing because we grow old; We grow old because we quit playing."

Therapists

Cheryl Caplin-Zalis, LCSW-C, LCADC
Licensed Certified Social Worker, Licensed Certified Addiction Counselor

​Cheryl is an intuitive therapist, who has a direct approach when working with patients.  Throughout her career, she has been the clinical director in both inpatient and outpatient settings for young adults with dual diagnoses.  She is well versed in how to create the most effective treatment for those suffering from addiction.  Cheryl is a licensed social worker/supervisor and licensed substance abuse counselor/supervisor.   She has an abundance of experience working with those challenged by substance abuse and those struggling with transitioning from high school or college or other life transitions, such as changing a career, or ending a relationship.
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Cheryl provides individual, family, and couple therapy and uses cognitive/behavioral or mindful techniques to that help provide a successful outcome.

Christine Wirsing, LCPC 
Licensed Certified Professional Counselor 

​Christine specializes in working with adolescents, adults and families struggling to cope with co-occurring disorders, anxiety, depression, bipolar, psychotic disorders, dissociative, personality disorders, substance abuse and trauma. She has extensive experience working in a range of mental health and substance abuse programs. She emphasizes the positive benefits of building a healthy therapeutic relationship with her clients through a strength-based, person-centered approach with dignity and respect of all persons. 
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Her psychotherapy approaches include evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy, sensorimotor-informed (mind/body), neuropsychology-informed, Internal Family Systems-informed (IFS), DBT-informed, multicultural strategies (including working with certified translators), Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP) as well as creative approaches to develop successful interventions that will help meet the unique needs of each individual client and their family members. 
Christine is a Nationally Board Certified Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Maryland. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Chapman University in Orange, California and her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling with distinction from Capella University, Minneapolis, MN.  ​