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Empowering Women.
Supporting Girls.
Achieving Emotional Balance.

Helping Women & Girls Flourish

Helping Women & Girls Flourish

Lifestyle & Integrative Psychiatric Care for Women and Girls

Our Patients Love

Patients Love:

Virtual Appointments
Insurance Coverage
Flexible Scheduling
Extended Hours
Medication Management
Holistic Care

Refresh Your Mind

Refresh Your Mind, Anytime, Anywhere!

Perfect for:

Busy Schedules
Single Parents
College Students
Working Professionals
Mobility Issues

Remote Areas
Limited Transportation
Immunocompromised Individuals
Chronic Illnesses

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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 17:22β€”β€œA merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Care is designed to meet the unique mental health needs of women and girls, addressing hormonal mood disorders influenced by puberty, reproductive transitions, and metabolic changes. A lifestyle psychiatry approach emphasizes nutritional psychiatry, stress management, and behavioral strategies to support mood stability, emotional resilience, and overall well-being. This comprehensive psychiatric approach considers hormonal and metabolic factors, offering deeper insight into mental health and treatment planning. Pharmacogenetic testing is available to guide medication choices when appropriate. Choose this practice for understanding, supportive care tailored to the 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 fluctuations significantly impact the mental health of women and girls? Conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), PCOS-related mood disorders, postpartum depression, and perimenopausal mood changes are often overlooked or misdiagnosed as typical emotional struggles. Research indicates that PMDD affects 5 to 8% of women, leading to severe mood swings, anxiety, and depression linked to menstrual cycle changes. Additionally, girls with PCOS face a higher risk of anxiety and depression due to hormonal imbalances.

Despite these challenges, many women and girls do not seek help because they assume their symptoms are “normal” or fear being dismissed. Hormonal mood disorders are real, treatable conditions, not just moodiness or stress. Understanding the connection between hormones, metabolism, and mental health is key to improving 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. The right approach, including lifestyle psychiatry, nutritional support, and personalized care, can help restore balance. 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

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.

Acceptable Insurance Plans

Florida
Aetna logo
Carelon Behavioral Health logo
Cigna Healthcare logo
Florida Blue logo
Humana logo
Oscar logo
Optum logo
United Healthcare logo
Oxford Health Plans logo
AvMed logo
Maryland
Aetna logo
Cigna Healthcare logo
Humana logo
Optum logo
Oscar logo
Carelon Behavioral Health logo
United Healthcare logo
Oxford Health Plans logo
Reviews

What People Are Saying

Sara Gena Israel, formerly known as Gena Penn.

Karli Corey

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 Corey

D. Padilla

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

Gloria

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

Shyla Nuxol

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 Nuxol

Sara Sofia Rojas

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 Rojas

Lady D.

Very caring and a good listener.

- Lady D.

Karlie

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

Anonymous 1

An excellent psychiatric nurse practitioner who is an active listener and empathetic!

- Anonymous

Eulena H.

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.

Rebecca T.

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.

Amanda Knapp

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 Knapp

Anonymous 2

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

Vanessa D.

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.

Ashby P.

Gena is wonderful! Great listener, always on time, & always responds promptly.

- Ashby P.

Tamica B.

I would go back again and again.

- Tamica B.

Crystal S.

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.

Crystal S.

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.

Crystal S.

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.

Christina 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.

Ludmila F.

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.

Eulena H. 2

Ms Penn was professional, patient, caring and understood the fragile state I was in. Definitely, will be returning. Truly she was a blessing in so many ways.

- Eulena H.

Discolored

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

Anonymous 3

Great provider! Clear communication and kind.

- Anonymous

Jeffrey J.

Caring and compassionate.

- Jeffrey J.

Amanda K.

Gena was great. Very helpful. Great listener.

- Amanda K.

Ediann I. G.

Really easy to talk to. I felt very comfortable sharing my current experience and how I felt at that moment.

- Ediann I. G.

Anonymous 4

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

Ashby S.

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.

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Crisis care is not provided. In an emergency, call 911 or visit your local ER. For mental health crises, call or text 988. Or,use these resources for immediate help.

Β© 2024 by Balanced Mind Mental Health, LLC