Our Staff

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Jessica Karle, Ph.D., and Stephen Karle are the Founders of Coastal Psychiatric Urgent Care. They have worked and lived in Brevard County since 2011. Dr. Karle is acting as Executive Director and Psychologist, providing both the administrative oversight as well as clinical services at Coastal Psychiatric Urgent Care. Dr. Karle earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Clemson University and her graduate degrees in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University. She has extensive experience in crisis intervention and diagnostic assessment and has studied and lectured in several areas, most notably serious mental illness, suicide prevention, and staff burnout.

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Stephen Karle is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. For over 12 years, he served in supervisory roles in both the safety and production departments of an underground utility company throughout the Southeast. He is passionate about Coastal Psychiatric Urgent Care’s mission and is acting as our COO. He oversees the marketing, public relations, and facilities functions of the organization as well as the day-to-day operations.

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Bethany McQueen PMHNP is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.  Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she and her husband moved to Florida in 2011. Her nursing experience includes hospitals, travel nursing, long-term care facilities (inpatient care and administration), and outpatient family practice.  She earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University, her graduate degree in public health from American Military University, and her nurse practitioner degree from George Washington University.  She has discovered her passion for education, both in teaching and learning, so can also be found teaching clinical courses for nursing students attending Valencia College.  Throughout her nursing experience, Bethany has been struck by the disparities in mental health care.  The limitations in access to care and understanding about the usefulness of mental health treatment are what draws Bethany to join us at Coastal Psychiatric Urgent Care.

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Cyndi Hall PMHNP is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology and started her career in psychological research at the Veteran Administration Medical Center. She then served in home health as a case manager to aid in providing home-based services to aging adults, allowing them to maintain the sense of comfort and autonomy of living in their own home as opposed to relocating into a nursing home. Soon after, she returned to school to obtain her nursing degree at the University of South Carolina. Her early nursing career was in the Emergency Department and Labor and Delivery. After moving to Florida, she spent 25 years in high-risk labor and delivery. As a Nurse Manager, Cyndi’s Labor and Delivery unit was continuously recognized by both medical professionals and patients alike for their compassionate care and passion for excellence in all aspects. Cyndi saw a gap in the access and utilization of mental health services by health care workers, new mothers, and desperate families. This directed her path to combine her degrees and experiences to serve as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Cyndi is excited to be a provider on the care team at Coastal Psychiatric Urgent Care and be an easily accessible resource to individuals in need of urgent mental health services.

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Katherine Warrick, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15 years experience working with at-risk youth in schools and juvenile justice. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver and her Masters Degree in Social Work from Colorado State University. She moved to Florida with her family in 2014 and enjoys the beautiful winter weather. Katherine is passionate about helping to facilitate growth through mental health care and is an EMDR-trained therapist with experience in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, substance abuse, family work, depression, grief, anger, anxiety and trauma.​

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Brittany Gillenwater PMHNP is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She relocated to Florida from West Virginia in 2022. Her journey in nursing began in 2012 when she received her Associate Degree of Applied Science in Nursing.  Brittany went on to gain knowledge and experience in the operating room, recovery room, open heart recovery unit, and the emergency department including adult, pediatric, and trauma specialties.  With much of her career spent in the emergency department, Brittany recognized the difficulties encountered by many individuals and their families seeking mental health services. The mental health crisis led her to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Ohio University and Master of Science in Nursing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree from Chamberlain University. She has experience in community mental health, providing care for pediatric patients facing many of the challenges encountered by individuals receiving mental health services. Brittany has a strong commitment to improving the mental well-being of her patients. She possesses a deep understanding of various mental health conditions and utilizes evidence-based practices to develop personalized treatment plans. Brittany is known for her compassionate and empathetic approach, creating a safe and supportive environment for her patients to heal and thrive.

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​Originally from Canada, SarahJane (Sarah) Weinstein, MSW, LCSW, made Florida her home twenty-four years ago, practicing Social Work for twenty-three of those years. Her passion for therapy stems from growing up and advocating for a mother who had Schizophrenia, a disease that is often feared and stigmatized by society. Before going back to school and obtaining her master’s in social work, she was a Certified Child Welfare Supervisor for almost 14 years. She saw the lives of many children touched by addiction and untreated mental illness. She has supported many families' work towards a better future through case management, therapy and advocacy. She has also worked with adolescents and adults in the community, residential treatment centers and other psychiatric settings. She believes healing is a collaborative endeavor that requires honest caring without judgment, and she cooperatively assists her clients in clarifying their goals for treatment. Rather than adopting one methodology for all individuals and issues, she draws from a variety of methods to create a tailored approach for each individual and situation. As a therapist and social advocate, she is warm, open, encouraging, and direct. She considers herself an active therapist, combining experience, education, creativity, and sense of humor with a down-to-earth, realistic approach to treatment. As your therapist, she holds on to the vision of your beautiful future even when you're in so much pain you cannot see beyond today. She will wait patiently.​

 

Kathleen Leaf is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Florida. She assists individuals and couples with various issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, substance and pornography addiction, attachment and abandonment issues, social anxiety, and low self-esteem. Kathleen has over 15 years of experience in the field and is known for her compassionate and nurturing approach to therapy. She has worked with adults, adolescents, and couples, helping them heal and thrive.