Why Choose Balanced Mind Mental Health?
Balanced Mind Mental Health offers patient-centered care with a holistic approach that integrates mind, body, and spirit, inspired by the wisdom of Proverbs 17:22—“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Services are tailored to meet the unique mental health needs of women and girls, with a special focus on hormonal mood disorders influenced by puberty, reproductive transitions, and metabolic changes. A lifestyle and metabolic psychiatry model emphasizes nutritional psychiatry, stress-reduction strategies, and behavior-based interventions to support mood stability, emotional resilience, and overall well-being. This comprehensive approach takes into account both hormonal and metabolic influences on mental health, allowing for deeper insight and truly individualized treatment planning. Pharmacogenetic testing is available to guide medication decisions. Choose this practice for supportive, evidence-informed care tailored to the unique needs of women and girls.
Patient Benefits
Serving Florida and Maryland
Video/Audio Virtual Sessions
Online Scheduling
Extended Hours
Services
Personalized Care You Can Trust
Take the first step toward a brighter, more balanced future. Schedule your appointment today!
Psychiatric Evaluation
Lifestyle Psychiatry
Medication Management
Women's Mental Health
Adolescent Mental Health
Pharmacogenetic Testing
Did You Know?
The Mental Health Gap: How Hormones Impact Women & Girls
Did you know that hormonal and metabolic fluctuations significantly impact the mental health of women and girls? Conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), PCOS-related mood changes, postpartum depression, and perimenopausal mood shifts are often overlooked or misdiagnosed as ordinary emotional struggles. Research shows that PMDD affects 5 to 8% of women, leading to severe mood swings, anxiety, and depression tied to hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle. Women and girls with PCOS also face an increased risk of anxiety and depression stemming from underlying hormonal and metabolic imbalances.
Despite these challenges, many do not seek help—assuming their symptoms are “normal” or fearing dismissal. Mood disorders are real and treatable, not just a matter of moodiness or stress. Understanding the connection between hormones, metabolism, and mental health is essential for emotional well-being.
If you experience severe mood swings, depression, anxiety, or difficulty focusing around your cycle, you don’t have to suffer in silence. With a personalized approach, including lifestyle interventions, nutritional strategies, metabolic insight, and evidence-informed care, restoring balance is possible. Take the first step today by requesting an appointment and receiving the care you deserve.
Sara Gena Israel
PMHNP-BC
Meet Sara Gena Israel
Learn about her commitment to helping you achieve a balanced life.
Getting Started
Path to Balance and Wellness
Welcoming women up to 50 and girls starting at age 12. Here’s how to begin:
1.
Submit Pre-screening Form
Click the link to request an appointment, complete the form, and submit it.
2.
Activate the Patient Portal
Once insurance is verified and approved, accept the email invite from CharmHealth to activate your patient portal.
3.
Schedule Your Appointment
After activating the patient portal, schedule the your initial appointment through the portal or call for assistance.
4.
Complete Intake Forms
Submit all required forms by 6:00 pm the business day before the appointment to avoid cancellation.
5.
Appointment Day
Meet your provider in a supportive space. Be ready to provide vital signs including weight, blood pressure, and heart rate, as these are required for your visit.
Ready to start?
Insurance
Accessible and affordable mental health care is offered, with a variety of insurance plans accepted.
Unsure if your insurance is accepted? Complete the Insurance Eligibility Verification Form, and benefits will be confirmed within 48 hours. An email will be sent detailing your coverage and any out-of-pocket expenses.
Reviews
What People Are Saying
Sara Gena Israel, formerly known as Gena Penn.
Sara has been my provider for several years now and I have nothing but positive things to say! She always makes it easy for me to receive the care I need. She listens and is easy to talk to. I’ve had many providers over the years and Sara is by far the best!
- Karli C.
Sara Gena Israel is an exceptional mental health professional who truly cares about the patient. From the very first session, she created a safe and welcoming environment where I felt understood and supported. Her professionalism, compassion, and expertise are unmatched, and she provided thoughtful guidance and a personalized care plan that has made a real difference in my well-being. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking outstanding mental health care.
- D. Padilla
Dr. Sara Gena Israel is absolutely wonderful. She took the time to get to know me and asked questions to help support me. She really is the definition of a great psychiatrist because she really gets down to the root of things and won’t just throw medication at you like other psychiatrists. Highly recommend her!
- Gloria
Sara was really kind. She listened carefully, and helped explain and put together experiences I've been feeling into terms that could better help me understand what was happening. She carefully explained things and made sure I understood what was being discussed. For a first appointment, she made me feel comfortable and like I would be well taken care of!
- Eli K.
I had my first visit with Sara today and she was amazing. She was very thorough in her evaluation.
She is a great listener, compassionate and encouraging. I highly recommend her to anyone needing help.
- Jacqueline M.P.
Sara is amazing! She’s kind, understanding, and really takes the time to listen. I always feel comfortable talking to her, and she makes me feel seen and supported. She truly cares about her patients and works with you to find what’s best for you. I’m so grateful to have found her! Highly recommend.
- Chelsea O.
Sara is a wonderful provider and I have had a great experience with her so far!! I can tell she really knows what she is doing and is very knowledgeable with her craft. She works with you to figure out the best treatment for your specific needs.
- Shyla N.
Gena is such an attentive and caring provider. I always feel heard and that she is in my corner working towards solutions with me. I am so happy with her care and would recommend her to anyone I know.
- Adri A.
Dr. Sara Gena Israel was a Godsend. Finally a doctor who listens and takes her time to get to know her patients. Great bed side manner and very respectful. My child felt comfortable opening up and I felt safe speaking to a seasoned professional. As a woman of color my daughter searched high and low for a provider who she could relate to, as she said. Thankfully we found just that in Dr. Israel. Thank you!
- Sara Sofia R.
Sara has been my provider for over a year. She is great. She listens and is compassionate. She is helpful and provides suggestions. She has a great schedule (night or day). I highly recommend Sara for your medication needs.
- Amanda K.
Very caring and a good listener.
- Lady D.
I can't say enough great things!! Balanced Mind and Sara Gena Israel have been such a pleasure to work with. I struggle with anxiety, but I was able to find the care I needed to manage and handle my mental health. I feel seen, heard, and understood through my mental health journey!
- Karlie
An excellent psychiatric nurse practitioner who is an active listener and empathetic!
- Anonymous
As usual Ms. Penn is awesome. I truly appreciate and value her advice, knowledge and making it so comfortable with talking to her. She understands what I'm experiencing which makes me very hopeful and optimistic that this too shall pass!
- Eulena H.
Gena is so easy to work with. Kind and to the point, she makes managing care a breeze. I appreciate all she does!
- Rebecca T.
Sara was great to chat with and asked questions to get to know me. She was a thoughtful listener and helped me to understand the type of care that would suit me best.
- Stefanie K.
She's been attentive and so punctual. She will listen to your concerns and is knowledgeable to work around to get to her client's needs. Highly recommended.
- Anonymous
Gena Penn is AMAZING!!! Easy to talk to, was a great listener, and very friendly. She made scheduling easy and fast. She was patient and understanding with me when I had questions or needed her to repeat something. She also provided a lot of concrete information that was very easy to understand and follow.
- Vanessa D.
Gena is wonderful! Great listener, always on time, & always responds promptly.
- Ashby P.
I would go back again and again.
- Tamica B.
I felt so much at ease with Ms. Penn! She was very kind and clear with her explanations. I feel like progress was already made from the first evaluation.
- Crystal S.
I just had my first session with Gena and have nothing but good things to say. She was very thorough, reviewed everything i sent prior to our session and was very easy to talk to. She’s very attentive and reassuring. I’m looking forward to my next session.
- Christina S.
Miss Gena was really helpful and precise in her diagnosis. Already have my next appointment to see her to help me in my healing journey. It’s clear to me that she knows what she’s doing.
- Ludmila F.
Gena Penn Very Helpful! Help me get though what I was going through Thank You SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Help me through my problems very nice talking to Ms. Penn and felt comfortable 😌 speaking with Ms.Penn Thank you so much for everything ❤.
- Discolored
Great provider! Clear communication and kind.
- Anonymous
I’ve had great care since my first visit. She is sincere, listened to my concerns, and has helped get me the care I needed!
- Jordan T.
Gena was great. Very helpful. Great listener.
- Amanda K.
I began seeing Sara just under two years ago, and I am very grateful to have done so. Our first appointment took place during a transitional period in my life, as I was exiting a treatment center and in need of ongoing support for my medication regimen. Since then, Sara has been wonderful in a myriad of ways. She's helped adjust my medications as needed a few times until we found a balance that worked. Being in recovery, it was important for me to meet with someone who understood that I can't be taking anything with addictive potential. I've had questionable experiences with mental health workers in the past and so I was initially apprehensive, but was immediately made to feel comfortable by her expertise, professionalism, and attentiveness. In the rare event of any need to cancel or reschedule, things have always been smooth, which is a huge plus. All in all, I highly recommend Sara to anyone in need of psychiatric care. I'm truly grateful for her help, and wish you best of luck if you choose to seek care!
- Rob
She has a warm, inviting spirit. I did not feel rushed. I am feeling great about our interaction.
- Tamara S.
She's been attentive and so punctual. She will listen to your concerns and is knowledgeable to work around to get to her client's needs. Highly recommended.
- Anonymous
She is excellent! Great listener and I felt very heard when I spoke with her. Looking forward to continuing to work with her. Also, I like how her approach considers the health/well being of your whole body.
- Ashby S.
