Grinnell Regional Mental Health Center welcomes Megan
D. Berryhill, ARNP, to the team of mental health providers. Berryhill brings six
years of psychiatric nurse practitioner experience to the clinic, located on
the third floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building.
Berryhill earned her master’s in nursing science from
the University of Illinois at Chicago. She also has an associate’s degree in
nursing from Iowa Central Community College, and a bachelor’s from Iowa State
University. She is board certified in family psychiatry by the American Nurses
Credentialing Center.
Previously Berryhill practiced psychiatry at Capstone
Behavioral Health in Newton and UnityPoint Counseling and Psychiatry Clinic in
West Des Moines as well as psychiatric clinics in Illinois.
The passion to enter mental health services came later
in life for Berryhill. She says, “My decision to practice psychiatry was a
mid-life career change after working in public policy. Over the years, I
saw precious friends and family suffer with mental illnesses and
addiction. I can think of no better way to spend my energy than trying to
relieve this pain.”
She describes her style of practice as more of a
personal relationship.
“I build a relationship with my patients that goes
beyond diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medicine. My interest is in
maximizing their quality of life, and this entails a significant amount of
discussion. I wouldn't enjoy my work if I didn't get to know my patients
as people,” she says.
Berryhill treats children, teens, and adults, like the
other providers at Grinnell Regional Mental Health Clinic. Her approach with
adults focuses on finding pleasure in relationships and activities, in spite of
what cannot be changed.
“Few of us go through life without experiencing some
really awful – even traumatic – stuff. The universal challenge is, I
think, to take pleasure in and get meaning from what we do, even while
suffering,” Berryhill says.
When not at the clinic, she enjoys spending time with
her daughter, reading the New York Times,
mushroom hunting, time spent drinking coffee and discussing public policy and
science with her brother, and trying to understand why her standard poodle does
what he does.
For more information on the Grinnell Regional Mental
Health Center or to make an appointment with a provider, call 641-236-2347.
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