Services
Why Optimum
Whole-Person Care, Every Step of the Way
At Optimum Psychiatric Care and Wellness PLLC, Afoma Nwankwo, PMHNP-BC brings over 14 years of healthcare nursing experience to every appointment. Whether you are navigating a new diagnosis, managing an ongoing condition, or simply ready to take charge of your mental health, we offer personalized, judgment-free care that meets you exactly where you are.
All services are available both in person at our El Paso, Texas office and via secure telehealth for patients across Texas and New Mexico. Same-week appointments are often available for new patients.
All Ages
Children, Adolescents, Adults & Seniors
2 States
Licensed in Texas & New Mexico
Initial Psychiatric Evaluation
Your first appointment is a comprehensive, one-hour evaluation designed to build a complete picture of your mental health history, current symptoms, life circumstances, and treatment goals. This is a conversation — not a test. There are no wrong answers.
Afoma takes the time to understand you as a whole person, not just a list of symptoms. By the end of your evaluation, you will have a preliminary diagnosis (when appropriate), a personalized treatment plan, and a clear understanding of your next steps.
- Full review of psychiatric and medical history
- Assessment of current symptoms, mood, sleep, and functioning
- Review of prior diagnoses, hospitalizations, and medications
- Discussion of social, family, and occupational history
- Personalized treatment plan developed collaboratively with you
- Medication discussion and initiation when clinically appropriate
- Referrals to therapy, specialty care, or community resources as needed
Appointment duration
Follow-Up Psychiatric Visit
Consistent follow-up is the cornerstone of effective psychiatric treatment. Your 30-minute follow-up visits are dedicated time to review how your treatment is working, assess your response to any medications, address new concerns, and keep your care plan aligned with your evolving needs.
Afoma believes that treatment is not a one-size-fits-all path. Follow-up appointments are where the plan gets refined — based on your experience, your feedback, and your goals.
- Review of mood, sleep, energy, and symptom changes since last visit
- Medication effectiveness assessment and dosage adjustments as needed
- Side effect monitoring and management
- Lab order review and coordination with primary care when relevant
- Refill of psychiatric medications
- Coping strategy check-in and goal progress review
- Coordination with therapists or other providers on your care team
Appointment duration
Medication Management
Medication is a powerful tool — but only when it is the right medication, at the right dose, monitored carefully over time. Afoma’s approach to psychiatric medication management is evidence-based, patient-centered, and never a quick fix. Medications are always considered within the full context of your life, history, and goals.
Medication management is integrated into both initial evaluations and follow-up visits — not a separate service with a separate price tag. Every appointment includes thoughtful review, monitoring, and adjustment of your medication plan.
- Evidence-based prescribing for depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, and more
- Careful review of drug interactions and medical history before prescribing
- Ongoing titration and optimization based on response and tolerability
- Clear patient education: what the medication does, what to expect, and what to watch for
- Collaboration with your primary care physician or specialists as needed
- Refills managed through your patient portal (Optimantra) or during appointments
- Non-medication treatment options always discussed — medication is never assumed to be the only answer
Included with all visits
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Young minds deserve specialized care. The challenges that children and teenagers face — from ADHD and anxiety to mood disorders and behavioral changes — can profoundly affect their development, school performance, relationships, and sense of self. Early, compassionate intervention makes a lasting difference.
Afoma works with children, adolescents, and their families in a warm, age-appropriate environment. Her approach involves not just the young patient, but the parents and caregivers who are essential partners in the healing process. Treatment plans are tailored to the developmental stage and individual strengths of each young person.
- Comprehensive evaluation of behavioral, emotional, and developmental concerns
- ADHD diagnosis and management — behavioral strategies and medication when appropriate
- Anxiety, depression, and mood disorder treatment for school-age children and teens
- ODD, conduct disorder, and disruptive behavior evaluation
- School-related issues: academic struggles, 504 plans, IEP support letters
- Trauma-informed care for children who have experienced adverse events
- Coordination with schools, pediatricians, and therapists
- Family psychoeducation — empowering parents to support their child's progress at home
Appointment Duration
Geriatric Psychiatry
Mental health needs do not diminish with age — they evolve. Older adults face a unique constellation of challenges: life transitions, grief and loss, chronic illness, cognitive changes, polypharmacy, and the very real stigma that often prevents them from seeking help. They deserve care that honors their full life experience and addresses their specific vulnerabilities with expertise and dignity.
Afoma brings extensive experience with geriatric patients from her critical care nursing background and psychiatric practice. She understands the complex interaction between medical conditions and mental health in older adults — and how to navigate those carefully.
- Assessment and management of late-life depression and anxiety
- Cognitive evaluation: distinguishing normal aging from early dementia or MCI
- Caregiver stress support and family consultation
- Grief counseling and end-of-life emotional support
- Polypharmacy review — careful medication management minimizing cognitive side effects
- Sleep disorder evaluation and treatment in older adults
- Coordination with neurologists, geriatricians, and primary care physicians
- Telehealth options for patients with mobility or transportation limitations
