Psychiatric Clinician/Medication Management
Merjurie Fair Ricklefs, APRN, PMHNP-BC, RN-BC
"Invest in yourself, and when the time comes, invest in others, and you will leave the world a better place than when you found it."
This is a quote that Merj lives by daily. Merj is a Board Certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing degree and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification as one of the top students at Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii, graduating Cum Laude. Passionate and driven, Merj is on her final classes and will soon have her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) education.
Her experience includes working in the medical-surgical unit and behavioral health facility. In addition, as a military spouse, she volunteered as an American Red Cross Registered Nurse at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. While there, she managed the care of service members and their dependents who were in treatment struggling with various mental health concerns such as substance misuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression and more.
Merj is a passionate mental health provider that concentrates on the patient's needs and holistic well-being. Culturally competent and empathetic, she focuses on getting to know her patients and hearing their stories.
She serves clients of different races, religions, and the LGBTQIA+ community. She will be available to see clients across the lifespan, from pediatrics to adulthood, struggling with mood and bipolar disorders, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, religious trauma, ADHD, and more.
Certifications/Certificates:
Certified Mindfulness Informed Professional (CMIP). Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Certification Training in Treating Anxiety Disorders inChildren & Adolescents, Certified Grief Counseling Specialist (CGCS), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).
Services Offered: Medication Management (alone), Therapy (alone), Medication Management + Therapy. Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
When Merj is not working, she enjoys painting, doing home improvement projects, shopping, sightseeing, and spending time with her family and 5 dogs.
Ronnie Palache, MSN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, APRN
"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." - Douglas Adams
"I feel so lucky and blessed to have been a nurse for over 40 years. I graduated with my RN in 1978 and worked in several different settings: hospice and palliative care, kidney dialysis, and case management. I connected with my patients as we worked through life's ups and downs. I returned to school for my Family Nurse Practitioner and then for my Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner."
Ronnie sees patients of all ages, from childhood to the elderly. She is particularly interested in working with patients on the spectrum with proficiency in navigating IEPs in the school system.
Ronnie's hobbies include playing the piano. She started playing at 4 years old and is still playing. She loves dogs and has a 10-year-old Old English Sheepdog. She has a son, age 31, who is currently doing his internship for his doctorate in psychology.
Get in touch!
If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment, please don't hesitate to reach out.