Email: essentiafallriver@gmail.com
Hello, from all of us at Essentia!
Jessica Ventura, DNP, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC, AQH
Jessica is co-founder/owner of Essentia Health and Wellness Center. She is a dual board certified nurse practitioner (NP) in Psychiatry/Mental Health and Adult Health. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2013, obtained her doctorate in 2017, and received her psychiatric/mental health certification in 2020 from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. Her NP background thus far has been in the fields of neurology, mental health, chronic pain management and hospital medicine. Jessica has an added qualification in headache management and also has published research in the areas of chronic pain and mental health in the "International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing" and the "Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services". She is a certified reiki provider and is currently conducting her own independent research on essential oil therapy for use in various medical and psychiatric conditions. Jessica believes in treating the 'entire' person, feeling mentally well can make a significant difference in how one feels physically.
For more information, visit Jessica's provider profile @ https://provider.kareo.com/jessica-ventura-1
Contact Jessica at (774) 322-1809
Kerry Taveira, DNP, MBA, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Kerry is co-founder/owner of Essentia Health and Wellness Center. She is a board certified nurse practitioner (NP) in Adult Psychiatry/Mental Health and Adult Health. She graduated from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in 2004. Since then, she has worked in several capacities, including: medical hospitalist in the behavioral units at Carney and Norwood Hospital, psychiatric consultant in skilled nursing facilities in the Boston area, and most recently at South Coast Behavioral Health and DLH Consulting and Psychiatric Services. In addition, she has worked as a NP for the Centers for Pain Management at Steward St. Anne's Hospital. Her interest in mental health was sparked when she started working in the research department at Corrigan Mental Health Center in Fall River in 1999. She believes in the holistic approach to patient care using both conventional and complementary therapies in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Personalized treatments are developed to suit each person's lifestyle and strengthen self-awareness and resources for self-care.
Contact Kerry at (774) 322-1922
Barbara Fontaine, LMHC
Barbara is co-founder/owner of Essentia Health and Wellness Center. She is a licensed mental health clinician (LMHC), a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth clinical psychology program, and a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society.
Barbara began her career as a certified Applied Behavioral Analyst (ABA) therapist working as a contractor in local schools. She was a program director for the Portuguese Youth Cultural Organization’s Parent Mentor and Safe Child Visitation programs where she became a certified trainer for Family Development Credentialling (FDC). In 2007 she was honored by the governor, the Children’s Trust Fund, and the FDC for her dedication in the protection of children from child abuse and neglect, and for her efforts to strengthen children and families.
Early in her career, Barbara recognized the need for a more comprehensive approach to mental health and wellness, and she began conceptualizing a wellness center which understood that there are multiple pathways to wellness, with the fullness of wellness defined as one that incorporates the mind, body, and spirit. It is from that framework that Essentia Health & Wellness was born.
Barbara is a devout Christian who understands the healing power of faith and prayer. It is her faith that guides her career and when appropriate she will incorporate her faith into her work.
Barbara is a Reiki therapist who strives to assist others in utilizing the tenets of Reiki to achieve a state of self-healing. Reiki has proven to be an effective and useful tool for restoration of balance and healing associated with both physical and mental health issues.
Barbara has specialized interests in trauma-related disorders including PTSD, Complex Trauma, and substance use disorder (SUD). Mother to a child in recovery, Barbara has worked tirelessly to educate the community on the origins of SUD, citing the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM) disease model of addiction. She has partnered with Recover Fall River in a campaign aimed at decreasing the stigma associated with SUD in the local hospitals, and both she and her daughter, alongside a small working group, was instrumental in bringing Project Reconnect, an outreach service provided to individuals and families who have experienced a recent overdose, to the Fall River and surrounding communities.
Barbara is the clinical director of Ignite Recovery. A recovery center which offers a unique and diverse opportunity for individuals seeking long term sobriety.
Most recently, Barbara has partnered in the development of Nudus Essentia IV Infusion Lounge, LLC, an infusion lounge which assists patients in achieving both wellness and balance through IV infusion and/or intramuscular injection of essential nutrients.
Contact Barbara at (774) 263-3979