Lori Ball

Lori Ball is a dually certified Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) specializing in General Psychiatry and Family Medicine. She provides psychotropic medication evaluations and management, as well as supportive and educational psychotherapy to both individuals and families. Lori completed her graduate work at both Virginia Commonwealth University and Belmont University. She has a wide scope of interests and experiences including substance use disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-informed care, crises of faith, grief and family/marital discord.

She practices genuinely integrated care, considering the whole person with regard to mind, body and soul. She frequently refers her patients to lifestyle practices observed in the world’s “Blue Zones” (National Geographic, 2016) where life expectancy exceeds the US average of 77.8 years with the core belief that we are in control of the choices we make on a daily basis. Change is embraced and hope can be found regardless of one’s circumstances or history.

Lori is especially intrigued by how change and growth occur when one examines the environment, family dynamics, relationships and foundational childhood beliefs. She utilizes Salvador Minuchin’s family systems approaches in working with clients and their families to guide them toward improved communication, clear roles and expectations and ultimately harmony.

Psychotropic medications such as Zoloft, Lexapro, Abilify, Lamotrigine, Vyvanse can be very helpful, but rarely are the only answer to improving a person’s well-being. Psychiatric medications are a tool to be utilized safely and with consideration to the individual’s situation, age, biology and severity of illness. There are many people who invest in lifestyle changes first and then consider medications. There are others who suffer with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms and need medicine and other “somatic” treatments before behavioral changes can be made.

Time, strong communication and shared decision making, all help identity pathways toward well-being.