Hidden Gems: Meet Sasha Bravo of Bravo Mental Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Bravo.

Hi Sasha, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
I’ve always been interested in human behavior and how the brain works. It’s an organ just like the kidney or liver, but yet is so much more complicated! I took an AP Psychology course in high school, which solidified my intrigue. From there, I went on to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UNC-Asheville in 2004. After college, I worked in various roles, including research for Duke University and later managing intakes and prescription refills for a large practice of therapists and prescribers. This was my first exposure to Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (I didn’t even know this was a career choice!), and I knew pretty instinctively that this would be the perfect intersection of my interests. In 2012, I completed an accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Program at Western Carolina University, where I received an “Outstanding ABSN Student” award. After graduation, I went directly into psychiatric nursing, where I spent 8.5 years working in various roles in the psychiatric inpatient world, including as a nurse manager overseeing a large inpatient psychiatric facility. After a couple of years in management, I knew that what I really wanted to do was to provide direct care clinical services, so I returned to school get my Master’s of Science in Nursing from East Tennessee State University, where I was trained as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). After working for other organizations for a few years, I knew I wanted to deliver care in a specific way (longer intakes, longer follow-ups, time to collaborate with patient’s therapists and other involved parties, practicing evidence-based medicine), so I opened my own practice, Bravo Mental Wellness, in May 2023. As of October, we have over 100 registered patients and are steadily growing. I believe this is because we offer a personalized, tailored approach to psychiatric care that it is hard to find with the large, chain, “big box” psychiatric providers. However, we still accept most insurance plans to keep care accessible and affordable. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anyone that tells you that opening a small business is a “smooth road” is probably lying. There have been some very long days and nights where I have spent countless unpaid hours launching my practice. I have taught myself everything from web design to marketing to bookkeeping. For me, though, the journey has been a bit like parenting. People say parenting is “the hardest job you will ever love,” and it so true. Similarly, opening my private practice has easily been one of the hardest things I have ever done, and yet I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love what I do, and I feel honored to have the opportunity to help people reduce their mental health symptoms and live more fulfilling lives. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I provide psychiatric medication management (with some brief supportive therapy) to patients ages 16 and up. While my practice does not yet offer individual therapy, I know many local therapists and collaborate with my patient’s therapists on a regular basis. We are able to accept most private insurances, including Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, and United/Optum/UBH. I think what sets me apart from other providers is that I genuinely care about helping my patients find a medication combination that really works for them. I stay on top of the latest literature and spend many hours educating myself on current best practice. I personally have encountered many providers that still practice the same way they were taught 10-20 years ago, and in medicine, you can’t just sit back on your laurels; you have to be committed to being a life-long student. We decided to incorporate “BMW” into our logo not only because it’s the same letters as our practice name, Bravo Mental Wellness, but because I want patients to understand that the experience they get at my practice will feel different than the “big box” psychiatric practices where you may see someone will little to no actual psychiatric training, or who will rush you in and out the door in 10-15 minutes. I allot 90 minutes for all my intakes and 30 minutes for all my follow-up appointments (and sometimes more, if needed) because it is important to me that my patients feel like they are really being listened to and we are getting to the core of their presenting problems, not just masking them with a pill. 

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was painfully shy as a child. I also struggled with my weight from an early age and was teased quite a bit for that as well as for my red hair (which I used to hate but now love!). From what I am told, I was almost held back in kindergarten, not because I struggled academically, but because I struggled socially. Later, my family moved from Oregon to North Carolina right before I started high school, and I remember struggling with my identity as the things there were “cool” in Oregon at the time (think grunge, Kurt Cobain, etc.) were not at all cool in North Carolina. Looking back, though, I wouldn’t change anything I went through. If I hadn’t struggled, I don’t think I would be able to relate to my patients in the same way. 

Pricing:

• Self-Pay Rates: $250 for initial visit; $150 for follow-ups
• Insurance Rates: Varies significantly with each individual plan. We will provide an estimate before services are rendered

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bravomentalwellness.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/bravomentalwellness?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090088975956
• Other: To request an initial appointment: https://www.bravomentalwellnss.com/request-an-appointment/new-patient-appointment-request