Sweetgrass Therapeutics
Rooted in Hope
Psychiatric Care
Amy C. Hodge
RN -BSN, MSN - CNP, PMHNP-BC
MEET AMY
RN - BSN, MSN - CNP, PMHNP-BC
HELLO! My name is Amy & I'm a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner proud to have been born and raised right here in Rapid City, South Dakota.
I completed my BSN through the University of South Dakota and my Masters of Science in Nursing through the University of North Dakota.
I treat patients across the lifespan with a special interest in work with teens and young adults as they navigate the transition from high school to, "real life." I am particularly interested in the study of addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, bereavement, ADHD, and executive functioning. I also enjoy working with other medical professionals and first responders who struggle with the effects of compassion fatigue, burnout and PTSD. I focus on a holistic and foundational approach to your physical and mental health goals.
No matter your reason to reach out, know you are brave for doing so (probably the hardest part of this whole thing).
I can't wait to meet you!
- Amy
Psychiatry & You
Brain Anatomy
Everyday experiences and essential functions like breath and digestion show how our brains constantly work without having to intentionally think about it.
Some days might feel like a NASA rocket launch team is running the show, others, it's Homer Simpson in the control room at the nuclear plant.
Psychiatry studies brain structure and function and its connection to the body, with medications helping to correct imbalances. The brain uses neurotransmitters to communicate, and disruptions this system lead to symptoms. Factors like diet, exercise, environment, genetics, and social connections all influence our mental health.
Psychopharmacology & you
Mind & Body
Depression
Medications like antidepressants can work by adjusting levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, helping to lift mood, improve sleep, and restore energy.
Anxiety
Different classes of medications can calm the body's stress response, reducing feelings of panic, persistent worry, and physical tension.
ADHD & Executive Functioning
Stimulant or non-stimulant medications can enhance the brain's signaling pathways, particularly those involving dopamine and norepinephrine, which directly improves focus, concentration, and impulse control.
Executive functioning (EF) is a set of higher-level cognitive skills that act as the brain's "air traffic control system" or "chief executive." These mental processes are essential for goal-directed behavior, helping you manage thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve a goal.
They allow you to think before you act, resist impulses, stay focused, and adapt to new situations. Executive functions are primarily governed by the prefrontal cortex of the brain and continue to develop into a person's mid-twenties or early thirties.
Labs & Genetic Testing
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Lab work can provide insight to underlying health issues that can contribute to and impact your mental and general health.
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Pharmacogenomics (PGx): This type of testing analyzes specific genes (e.g., in the CYP450 enzyme family) that code for the enzymes responsible for metabolizing psychiatric medications. The results help predict:
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Which medications may be most effective.
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Which medications might lead to severe side effects.
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The optimal starting dose for a particular individual, moving treatment away from a trial-and-error approach.
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Nutritional Genetics (Nutrigenomics): This testing looks at genetic variations that affect how the body processes key nutrients, such as the MTHFR gene, which impacts the body's ability to utilize folate (a critical component for creating neurotransmitters). Identifying these genetic differences allows for highly personalized supplement and dietary recommendations
Sleep
Psychiatry strongly advocates for and often provides the most effective non-pharmacological treatment for chronic sleep disorders, particularly insomnia.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT)
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Lifestyle and Sleep Hygiene: Crucial lifestyle modifications, including consistent sleep schedules, light exposure management, and limiting substances (caffeine, alcohol) that interfere with sleep.
By addressing the intertwined nature of the mind and sleep, the aim for holistic recovery where improved sleep stabilizes mood, and stable mood reinforces healthy sleep, breaking the cycle of illness.
Neuroplasticity, Nutrition
& Functional Medicine
The brain is highly metabolically active and requires a constant supply of specific nutrients to function optimally.
Functional medicine offers a root-cause approach to mental health, viewing psychiatric symptoms (like anxiety or depression) as potential reflections of underlying physical imbalances rather than just isolated brain chemistry issues.
Counseling &
Medication Management
Initial Consultaiton
During our 90-minute initial consultation, we'll thoroughly review your current concerns and past medical history to create a tailored plan that truly meets your health needs and goals. Together, we’ll explore both behavioral and pharmacological interventions to find the best path for you! Plus, we’ll set a follow-up session in 30 days to keep you on track and celebrate your progress!
Follow Up Appointments
During a 30 -minute follow-up appointment we will assess your progress or potential barriers to progress since our initial assessment and adjust areas of your treatment plan that just aren't working out. We'll take the time to discuss how your journey is unfolding and understand that most psychiatric medications typically require about 4 weeks to truly take effect. Plus, if you're looking for a bit of support, we can easily add a 30 minute counseling session to your appointment.
Counseling
Executive Functioning
I am excited to offer personalized support primarily through the principals of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).
Thoughts become words, words become actions. When we are aware of what we think and how we frame the world around us, we can be more in tune with our perception and in turn, reactions to our lived experiences. CBT can help you identify areas of your life where a bias may exist that pulls you to a certain behavior, even if you know it is not the most healthy or best option for you in the long run. Here's the thing, even if that behavior isn't the most beneficial for you, you return to it for a reason... When we can identify our why, the how, to make change, becomes more clear.
Enjoy the flexibility of 30-minute sessions added to your medication follow-ups.
60 and 90-minute counseling options to best your needs. All new patients will start with a comprehensive 90-minute initial consultation and assessment to determine the best path forward as we work towards your goals!
The development of Executive Functioning skills can help you to identify and outsmart the symptoms of ADD/ADHD that get in your way. Executive functioning skills are beneficial in tandem with pharmacological modalities or by them self to help you marshal expressions of ADHD and ADD.
Are you always late? ("optimistic," about how much time you think you have versus actual for what needs to be done).
Do you interrupt others during conversations? (I am just so excited and don't want to forget!) Do you feel like you are always, just, kinda... winging it? (Hey, I am easy going and open to anything .... Just, OMG, please don't make me make a decision).
Focusing on Executive Function skills such as time management, impulse control and routine development, can help you to dial in your day, month, year, life...
All treatment plans are specifically tailored to your goals!
Rapid City, South Dakota
Tele-Health
Available to South Dakota Residents
Brick & Mortar
Coming Soon!
Use the contact form above to
GET IN TOUCH!
