Makenzie Wesner, N.P. (she/her)

Director of Behavioral Medicine

Behavioral Nurse Practitioner, #95005475

MISSION & CLINICAL APPROACH

Makenzie Wesner, NP, is a Licensed Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of experience working with children (infants, toddlers, school-agers), adolescents, and young adults in a variety of settings. With a warm, inclusive and exhaustive communication style, Makenzie partners with her patients to support their mental wellness—encompassing self-awareness/self-advocacy—so they can focus on living their best lives.

Makenzie specializes in mild to severe neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and sensory processing/integration challenges. With a background in neurogenetics, complex trauma, teaching and therapy, Makenzie also serves those affected by other developmental, genetic, medically complex, anxiety, depressive, mood regulation, and trauma-related disorders.

Makenzie founded Behavioral Medicine to better serve the Silicon Valley and surrounding community of Northern California through a developmental psychiatry framework. Her approach to care is also rooted in the following core beliefs and knowledgebase:

• That young people benefit from support in better understanding themselves, as do their families and communities

• Deep knowledge of child to young adult neurodevelopment and behavioral health

ABOUT MAKENZIE

Ever since Makenzie was young, she has felt a warmth for helping others. She transitioned from serving as a special needs teacher, then licensed developmental-behavioral therapist, to a career in health care as a Behavioral Nurse Practitioner, as she wanted to integrate her passion for education, child development, science and health care reform. In graduate school, she created her own clinical practicum curriculum and sought out providers who were at the forefront of innovation in developmental medicine. Today, Makenzie brings a 15+-year breadth of experience and enduring passion to every patient interaction, assessment, and treatment plan.

Outside of the office, Makenzie can often be found adventuring, trail running with her dog, Boonie, and chasing waves. Makenzie is an avid/competitive open-water swimmer and sometimes has the privilege of swimming with seals, dolphins and whales! Makenzie loves geeking out on neuroscience, genetics/genomics and evolutionary biology. With a strong artistic side, Makenzie can also be found creating such as painting, glass blowing, and making music with friends. She believes the world needs more novel ideas, and generosity of spirit.

SERVICES OFFERED

Behavioral Medicine: In-person and virtual developmental psychiatric services for individuals 2 to 30-years-old (and 30+ as appropriate) with a strong emphasis on family and community collaboration.

Makenzie performs neurodevelopmental, behavioral and mental health assessments that include a review of strengths, primary challenges, mental/behavioral health history, educational history, social/family history, medical/developmental history, neurobehavioral/mental status examination (more targeted additional screening as appropriate) that are largely rooted in subtle observations integrated into the discussion of history, summarization of strengths/challenges with diagnostic impressions, and recommended treatment plans. Ongoing care includes developmental/behavioral monitoring, medication treatment management and/or collaborative environmental advocacy when appropriate.

Limited therapy for Behavioral Medicine patients:

• Individual therapy (child, teen)

• Parent support therapy

THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES & PRACTICES

• Primary Care Pediatrics

• Genetics & Genomics

• Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Pediatrics

• Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

• Developmental &. Behavioral Therapy

• Emotional Brain Training

• Art Therapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (trauma-informed)

AREAS OF ASSESSMENT

• Attentional Challenges

• Academic/Learning Function

• Behavioral Analysis

• Cognitive Style/Executive Functioning

• Crisis Intervention

  
  

SPECIALTIES

• Neurodevelopmental disorders (Autism, ADHD, social cognitive deficits, neurodiversity, sensory processing)

• Genetic disorders & medical complexity

• Trauma & post-traumatic stress disorder

  
  

AREAS OF CONCERN MAKENZIE WORKS WITH

• Abuse (Emotional/Verbal, Physical, Sexual) (Survivor)

• Academic Problems

• Acting Out Behaviors

• Adoption

• Aggression/Violence (In Kids/Teens)

• Anger

• Anxiety (Generalized, OCD, Panic Attacks/Disorder, Social)

• Attention Problems/ADHD

• Autism Spectrum

• Bipolar

• Body Image

• Bullied By Others

• Bullies Others

• Death & Preoccupation With Death

• Depression (Major, Peri/Post-Partum, Seasonal)

• Developmental Delays

• Discrimination

• Disordered Eating (ARFID, Binging, Orthorexia, OSFED, PICA, Purging, Restricting, Rumination)

• Divorce (Supporting Kids/Teens)

• Domestic Violence

• Family Conflict

• Fire Setting

• Grief, Loss & Bereavement

• Health & Medical Problems

• Illness Within the Family

• Impulsivity

• Learning Difficulties

• LGBTQ+ Concerns (Anxiety, Coming Out)

EDUCATION & WORK EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Advanced Practice Pediatric Nursing: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

  Genomics Concentration

  University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 2016

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health: Health Promotion & Health Behavior

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Spanish

  Oregon State University, 2010

Work Experience:

• Director of Behavioral Medicine/Behavioral Nurse Practitioner at Teen Therapy Center and Family Therapy Center, San Jose (2022-present)

• Behavioral & Developmental Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Center for Developing Minds, Los Gatos (2018-2022)

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Division of Mental Health & Child Development, Department of Psychiatry & Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (2017-2018)

• Behavioral Therapist, Red House Behavior Resources, Inc., San Francisco, California (2015-2017)

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Resident, UCSF (2014-2016)

  • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Division of Mental Health & Child Development, Child Development Center

  • Stanford Division of Neonatal & Developmental Medicine
    High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Clinic

  • UCSF Pediatric Brain Center Sensory Neurodevelopment & Autism Program
    Marin Cognitive & Behavioral Pediatric Neurology Clinic

• Teacher at Victory Academy, Portland, Oregon area

  • Implemented research-based behavioral, social-learning, and sensory integration techniques in coordination of comprehensive academic and therapeutic programs for children with autism.