Jennifer Collins
Mrs. Collins was born and raised in a small town in Western KY. She was transplanted to the Volunteer State through marriage and has been with Athena Consulting since July of 2019.
Her background in healthcare includes working many years in surgery as a technician and a first assistant, home health and hospice, dialysis, education, and medical missions to several overseas countries and in the Appalachians. She also served as an American Red Cross First Aid and CPR instructor for several years. Previous psychiatric employment includes community mental health and the Veterans’ Administration.
Medication management is provided for ages 6 and up for a variety of mental health diagnoses. Therapy, individual and family, is strongly recommended for first- line treatment in young children as opposed to medications. Few mental health medications have FDA approval for children under the age of 6; therefore, it is highly recommended that therapy be consistent and frequent, involving the primary caregivers for the child as well.
She strongly encourages her clients to be active in their own care. Medications are tools, not cures, and clients need to practice positive lifestyle habits to keep the brain itself as healthy as possible for the most optimum outcome. Avoiding alcohol, toxins, and drugs- including nicotine and marijuana, will help the brain to stay in good health and keep those neurons from dying prematurely.
Education
2014- University of So. Indiana- Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
2001- University of Louisville- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
1995- University of KY Community College- ADAS- Nursing
1986- Health Occupations Vocational School- Diploma – Surgical Technology
Board Certification:
2019- renewal ANCC
2014- ANCC- PMHNP
Licensure
APRN- TN and KY
RN- Compact sate licensure for TN, previously with KY
DEA
Professional Memberships:
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Neuroscience Education Institute
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonel