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About

A practice built around the patient in front of us.

Oasis of Hope is an outpatient mental healthcare practice serving Southern Maryland and the wider state via telepsychiatry.

Our Story

Why we started this practice.

Oasis of Hope Behavioral Healthcare (OHBH) emerged in response to the urgent need for mental health services for persons and families who faced numerous challenges during the pandemic.

Many people could not get new patient appointments for early evaluation and treatments, and there were long waiting lists. Some people had canceled appointments due to changes in provider schedules, while some service centers closed during the pandemic. As a result, many people became stranded, and others traveled long distances out of Southern Maryland to receive treatments. But those that could not commute through long distances resorted to unhealthy behaviors to cope with their problems.

The pandemic brought difficult times to individuals and families, including the loss of loved ones, unemployment, and financial difficulties. Many people did not know how to cope with these challenges, which resulted in mental breakdown and relapse for those dealing with mental illness.

Just as an Oasis in a desert is the only place where one could find life, Oasis of Hope Behavioral Healthcare serves as a home for people and families with mental health challenges.

It is a center for solutions, life-changing experiences, and a revival of lost hopes.

The Team

Three clinicians, one team.

Each provider brings their own discipline, psychiatric nurse practitioner, pharmacist, and PMHNP. Patients see the same clinicians visit after visit; the treatment plan stays coordinated.

Portrait of Charlotte Ayuk-Nkem, Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Provider

Charlotte Ayuk-Nkem

DNP, APRN, CRNP-PMH

Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Charlotte Ayuk-Nkem is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who completed her education at DeSales University School of Nursing in Pennsylvania. She also obtained her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Wilmington University in Delaware. She is a Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner trained in an intensive in-class program with several hospital clinical rotations.

She has 14 years of combined experience in acute and outpatient mental health settings, including substance abuse care. Some of the renowned health systems where she gained work experience include the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Group, MedStar, and Recovery Centers of America. Charlotte treats persons with a wide range of mental health disorders from ages 6 and up, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

She is a dedicated provider who has earned excellent feedback from many patients about the positive impacts in their lives. Charlotte uses patient-centered care and evidence-based practice to achieve better patient outcomes. Her goal is to ensure quality care that promotes patient recovery and quality of life.

Portrait of Dr. Etchi Ayuk-Nkem, Board-Certified Pharmacist & Medication Consultant
Provider

Dr. Etchi Ayuk-Nkem

PharmD

Board-Certified Pharmacist & Medication Consultant

Dr. Etchi Ayuk-Nkem is a Board-Certified Pharmacist, PharmD, who completed his education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He has 7+ years of work experience as a pharmacist and currently works with CVS as a Pharmacy Manager.

He is a hard-working, detail-oriented clinician with strong listening and communication skills. Dr. Etchi acts as a consultant to our providers and patients to ensure appropriate medication information and counseling. His professionalism, knowledge, and care benefit every patient at Oasis of Hope Behavioral Healthcare.

Dr. Etchi is calm, compassionate, and caring. His model of practice centers on patient safety, the right medication, the right dose, well-tolerated, and he works closely with our clients to support their recovery.

Portrait of Dr. Grace, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Provider

Dr. Grace

MSN, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Grace is a dedicated Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in medication management and mental health therapy. With a strong foundation in psychiatric care, she brings extensive experience in conducting comprehensive mental health assessments, diagnosing psychiatric conditions, and developing personalized treatment plans.

Her therapeutic approach is grounded in evidence-based practices and emphasizes patient-centered care. Grace integrates a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based techniques, to help clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and mood disorders.

Passionate about empowering her clients, Grace is committed to promoting emotional well-being, resilience, and personal growth. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing and is board-certified as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).

How We Work

What guides every plan.

Three ideas shape every plan we build with you, from the first consultation onward.

  • Our Mission

    Patient-centered care that empowers you to participate fully in your treatment, not sit on the sidelines of it. We individualize every plan to the outcomes you want.

  • Our Team

    Led by Charlotte Ayuk-Nkem (APRN, CRNP-PMH) and Dr. Etchi Ayuk-Nkem (PharmD). Empathetic, active listening backed by evidence-based practice, and a focus on the therapeutic relationship.

  • Our Ultimate Hope

    A future where mental illness is met with the same openness as any other medical condition, where talking about it at work, at school, or with family is unremarkable.

Why Choose Us

What you can expect from us.

  • 01

    Psychiatry and therapy under one practice

    You're not bounced between providers who don't talk to each other. Your medication clinician and your therapist work from the same plan, on the same team.

  • 02

    Individualized, not formulaic

    Treatment plans are built around your history, your goals, and your day-to-day reality, not lifted from a textbook chapter on your diagnosis.

  • 03

    One Waldorf clinic, Maryland-wide telepsychiatry

    In-person care at our Waldorf office, plus secure telepsychiatry for patients anywhere in Maryland. Care that meets you where you are.

  • 04

    13 insurance plans accepted

    Medicaid, Medicare, Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Kaiser, Tricare, Priority Partners, Wellpoint, and GEHA. If your plan isn't listed, call us, we'll verify before your first visit.

  • 05

    Free mental health screenings

    Not sure where to start? We offer free mental health screenings to help you understand what you're navigating before committing to a full evaluation.

  • 06

    Serving ages 6 and up

    We treat children, adolescents, adults, and older adults, so your whole family can receive care from the same trusted team without having to start over elsewhere.

Conditions Treated

We evaluate and treat a wide range of conditions.

Not seeing what you're navigating? Call us, chances are we can either help directly or refer you to someone who can.

  • ADHD
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Grief and loss
  • OCD
  • Panic disorder
  • Personality disorders
  • Postpartum mood disorders
  • PTSD and trauma-related conditions
  • Schizophrenia spectrum disorders
  • Sleep disorders
  • Substance use disorders
Take the next step

Your first step is a single phone call.

Book a consultation online or call us directly. We answer Monday through Saturday, 8:30am–6pm.

Book a Consultation301-710-4218