About Us
Pinnacle Behavioral Healthcare
The word Pinnacle is generally understood to mean “the highest point or summit.” At Pinnacle Behavioral Healthcare, we aspire to provide our patients with the highest level of mental healthcare available.
Our company was founded by Dr. Olukayode Awosika in July 2011 with the goal of providing psychiatric and psychological services to individuals with mental health conditions. Prior to starting Pinnacle, Dr. Awosika practiced as a staff psychiatrist and chief of mental health services at Hutchinson Area Health Care in Minnesota.
Dr. Awosika’s experience, combined with the experience of our other certified clinical staff members, allows us to provide our patients with a wide range of psychiatric services that are tailored to meet their unique needs.
Our mission is to provide top-notch patient-centered services to individuals with mental health needs in a dignifying and compassionate manner. We are committed to excellence in helping our patients improve the quality of their lives in a timely manner.
Examples of Problems We Treat
Mental illness can be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors. At Pinnacle, we treat a wide variety of mental health conditions so that our patients can live happy, healthy lives.
Anxiety
Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stress, but it can also be a debilitating condition that interferes with your quality of life. At Pinnacle Behavioral Healthcare, we offer comprehensive treatment for anxiety disorders that includes medication management, individual therapy, and group therapy.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a real and treatable medical condition. Common characteristics of ADHD include inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive behaviors. Adults with ADHD can experience one of these symptoms, while others may experience all of them. The symptoms of ADHD can impact everyday life—at home, at work, and socially.
Depression
Depression is more than just feeling down or going through a tough time. It’s a real medical condition that affects your mood, thoughts, body, and behavior. Depression can make it hard to function in your everyday life. At Pinnacle Behavioral Healthcare, we offer TMS therapy, intranasal esketamine therapy, customized forms of therapy, and medication management to help you manage your depression.
Phobias
A phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation. Phobias can be crippling and make it hard to live a normal life. If you suffer from a phobia, you may go to great lengths to avoid the thing you are afraid of. At Pinnacle Behavioral Healthcare, we offer comprehensive treatment for phobias to enable you to live a life free from fear.
Bipolar
Bipolar disorder is a real and treatable medical condition that causes extreme mood swings. People with bipolar disorder experience periods of highs (mania) and lows (depression). These periods can last for days, weeks, or even months. Bipolar disorder can be a challenge to live with, but with treatment, it is possible to manage the condition and live a full, productive life.
PTSD
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a real and treatable medical condition that can occur after a traumatic event. PTSD can cause a range of symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and depression. If you suffer from PTSD, you may feel like you are in constant danger or that the world is not safe.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Our Providers
At Pinnacle, our providers for mental health are passionate about helping individuals explore lifestyle changes that can improve health and well-being. We specialize in tailor-made and integrative treatment plans that meet each client’s unique needs. Our holistic perspective guides our practice style.
Psychiatric Medication Management
Olukayode Awosika, MD, FAPA
Olukayode Oladele Awosika, MD, is the founder and Medical Director of Pinnacle Behavioral Healthcare. His patients fondly call him “Dr. K.” He attended medical school at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Dr. Awosika practiced psychiatry and family medicine in Nigeria and South Africa before moving to the United States. He completed his residency at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, where he also served as Chief Resident of the adult psychiatry program at the Harlem Hospital Center, New York.
His particular interest is the diagnosis and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. He has been providing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy to patients in the Twin Cities due to his commitment to providing safe and compassionate care. He has performed 500 or more treatments in the last 12 months and was designated a Gold Circle Provider by Neurostar. He has been mentoring and precepting medical, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner students over the past decade. He has held leadership roles in different capacities.
Psychiatric Medication Management
Brenda Baker, PA-C
Brenda Baker PA-C, Graduate of North Dakota School of Medicine. Board Certified Physician Assistant. She has 14 years of clinical experience, working with all ages in multiple clinical settings. She takes into account the person’s lifestyle and what will work for them in treatment planning.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Cassidy Peterson, APRN, CNP, PMHNP-BC
Cassidy completed her Master’s Degree in Nursing Practice from the College of St. Scholastica in 2012. She has experience working with patients of all ages, providing medication management for conditions including anxiety, ADHD, depression, and other mood disorders. Cassidy takes a comprehensive approach to assessment and treatment planning, working collaboratively with patients and families to develop realistic goals and objectives. She has a special interest in neurodevelopmental, anxiety, and mood disorders..
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Tamara Kittleson, PMHNP-BC
Tamara Kittleson, PMHNP-BC is a compassionate and collaborative psychiatric nurse practitioner who received her Master’s in Nursing from Walden University. Tamara specializes in tailor-made and integrative treatment plans that meet each client’s unique needs. In addition, Tamara is passionate about empowering individuals to explore lifestyle changes that can improve health and well-being. This holistic perspective guides Tamara’s practice style.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Funsho King, PMHNP-BC
Funsho King, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who received her Master’s in Nursing from Maryville University. Her goal as a provider is to provide the care that patients deserve. She is a good listener, compassionate, genuine, and empathetic. She strives to create a warm environment while She helps patients meet their mental health needs. It is imperative to understand and anticipate patients’ needs and meet those needs so that they can function optimally. King knows one size does not fit all in psychiatry. Her goal is to provide a person-centered approach which, is key to meeting the needs of each individual to improve the quality of life.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Fatuma Guhad, CNP
Therapy Services
Julie Egan, MSW, MPH, LGSW
Julie has a Master of Social Worker (MSW) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees. She is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) and works with clients ages 16+. She has a background working with individuals facing grief and loss, relationship stress, life transitions, physical health stressors, challenges with mental health symptom management, coping, and more. She approaches therapy with warmth and a collaborative approach that is client-centered. Julie works with clients to identify their strengths to tell their story in meaningful and empowering ways that still creates room to identify areas for personal growth. She draws primarily from motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) strategies.
Therapy Services
Mary Guest, MSW, LICSW
As a Clinical Social Worker licensed through the MN State Board of Social Work, Mary provides individual psychotherapy (ages 14 to 65+), relationship, family, and group therapy. Practice areas include depression, anxiety and mood disorders, relationship and family concerns, grief and loss, attachment and adjustment disorders, life transitions, stress, and anger management. Areas of special interest include women’s issues, brief, solution-focused therapy (including EAP appointments), and working with adults living with severe and persistent mental illness. Mary has previous mental health experience in schools, community, outpatient, and residential settings. She holds BSW and MSW degrees from the College of St. Catherine and the University of Minnesota.
Therapy Services
Traci Hakanson, MSW, LICSW
Traci Hakanson, MSW, LICSW is a psychotherapist who provides individual, couples, family, and group therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. She has over 15 years of clinical experience in in-patient and outpatient settings, as well as serving as an advocate in many capacities. Her specialty areas include depression, anxiety, grief and loss, brief therapy, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, domestic abuse, trauma therapy, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, PTSD, chemical dependency, and GLBT. She is also competent in working with traumatic brain injury, relationship problems, and adjustment disorders. Her therapy approach includes cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and strength’s perspective, which are used as stepping-stones towards her clients’ recovery.
