About Us

Welcome!

Meet Dr. R. Alexander Padilla, DNP, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP 

FOUNDER

On his wholistic philosophy:

“Wholistic” is a non-academic term that refers to the consideration of the entire structure or makeup of a person, which includes the body, mind, spirit, and social factors. There really is very little difference in meaning between the terms “wholistic” and “holistic.” However, right or wrong, a modern association with alternative medicine such as homeopathy and naturopathy has been applied to the term “holistic.” Though I am a proponent of alternative medicine, and I have had training in the past, I have yet to incorporate this discipline into my practice of psychiatry. In order to avoid misdirection or confusion, I feel this distinction should be clarified at the outset. I do incorporate non-medicinal treatments, such as sleep hygiene, exercise, meditation, and prayer, and I am an advocate for psychotherapy.

My faith in wholism started at the Jesuit preparatory high school I attended. They exposed me to a plethora of religions, as well as taught me to view and embrace spirituality from various aspects, including those who are agnostic and atheist. They also equipped me with the knowledge and faith required to reconcile the scientist in me with my spirituality.

Other influences not only reinforce my faith in wholism but also help to expand my understanding regarding the complexities of this philosophy: Carl Jung and Murray Bowen, my years in the Marine Corps and the corporate world, and my time with the developmentally disabled and as a single father were all significant influences in my life. 

My career experiences in the medical field have all been significant in developing my viewpoints and attitudes as well. Having started as a unit clerk while in nursing school, moving on to become a certified nursing assistant and home health aide, eventually becoming a registered nurse working in a myriad of medical specialties, as well as my years as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, have all helped shape my medical philosophy.

However, the greatest impact on my philosophy was my time working in hospice and simultaneously, by chance, starting the practice of the martial art Kyudo. Irrespective of how hard one works, hospice always ends in tears. Many have difficulty accepting this conundrum, and this is a large component in the burn out that many experience in the specialty. Kyudo is a very spiritual martial art that does not focus solely on outcome but more so on the journey (though outcome does have importance). Kyudo was able to provide me enlightenment and peace regarding the painful realities of hospice by helping me gain perspective regarding the importance of journey. Another result was that my wholistic philosophy evolved to include past, present, and future of the mind, body, spirit, and social factors. I often say to my students, “when a patient comes into my office, I'm not just looking at them for the NOW, but I am also looking at them 5, 10, 30 years into the future, while never forgetting that the past is a prologue.”

On his experience: 

Throughout my career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I have been treating children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients in the inpatient setting as well as in numerous outpatient programs with diverse mental health specialties, including combat PTSD, military non-combat PTSD, non-military PTSD, and co-occurring (mental health with substance use) to name a few.

I have a passion for helping people overcome substance use disorders. My clinical training for my Bachelor’s degree was spent at a detoxification-rehab center that provided both outpatient and inpatient services. For my Master’s degree, most of my clinical training was spent at a large New Jersey hospital system that had adolescent and adult psychiatric inpatient units, some being dedicated to detoxification-rehab. This large organization also had various types of outpatient programs. 

Over the years, I have noticed that fellow psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, and primary care providers have a tendency to diagnose their patients too quickly with ADHD and bipolar based on what I call "superficial symptoms.” Unfortunately, based on these types of superficial symptoms, powerful and potentially addictive medications are prescribed incorrectly, which could lead to problems in the future. Other aspects of a person, which may include past trauma, family dysfunction, poor sleep, etc, are therefore not assessed properly. Because of this, I teach my students not to fall into the" flavor of the month” trap. In psychiatry, what may appear obvious oftentimes is not the case. This is why I have created a thorough initial intake form that, admittedly, is long but does provide information to help with more accurate diagnosing and prescribing.