Team
Robin McKinley
Nurse Practitioner & Owner
Certified Nurse Practitioner who has personally experienced the healing benefits of energy work, mindfulness, hypnosis, and meditation. Meditation transformed her outlook on reality and led her to shift her career path, ultimately resulting in the opening of her healing studio. Awaken incorporates a holistic approach by combining optional energy work and guided meditation prior to Ketamine to facilitate a peaceful mindset to enter your journey in.
Robin graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She then worked at Lawrence General for nine years, starting in the medical-surgical unit and spending the last five years in the Emergency Center. In 2012, she earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her early career included roles as a primary care provider at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and later at New England Community Medical Services, where she cared for clients in multiple skilled nursing and rehabilitation units.
Robin’s career evolved with a focused interest in holistic healing, particularly in identifying the root causes of symptoms through Ketamine. She trained to administer Ketamine through a credentialed program by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and Resilience Behavioral Health Solutions. Additionally, she furthered her mental health training with a year-long fellowship through the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI) in Integrative Psychiatry for Health Professionals. Robin completed her Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program in December 2024 and will soon be a dual board-certified Nurse Practitioner in both General Practice and Psychiatry.
Degrees/Certifications:
Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Completed 12/2024 and pending board certification
Integrative Psychiatry Certification, Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI), 1 year fellowship
Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy Certification (KAP)
ACLS Certification
CPR Certified
Additional Training Includes:
- Reiki Master
- Barbra Brennan Healing Light Workshop
- IET Energy Healing
- Hypnosis Training with Imagination Gateway
- Quantum Healing Hypnosis Certification (QHHT)
- Master Practitioner, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
- Mental Emotion Release and Hypnosis (MER)
Amanda Wood-Friend
RN/APRN
Treatment Approach
I believe that in our current healthcare climate the most frustrating and discouraging issue for patients is feeling unheard, unseen, judged, marginalized or placed in a “one-size fits all” treatment box. I am passionate about providing personalized medical services and addressing each one of my patients’ individual values and unique medical needs. My goal is to bring a kind, approachable and responsive style to every visit and interaction.
Currently there is a dramatic shift taking place in the healthcare field as functional medicine and alternative, holistic and integrative therapies are increasingly being used to address behavioral health concerns. I practice an integrated mental health approach which emphasizes treating the mind, body and spirit through a patient centered focus that considers all aspects of the individual person in order to optimize a sense of health and well being.
In my approach to treatment I combine scientifically proven alternative and complementary methods with conventional medications and supportive psychotherapy to address the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of individuals with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, eating disorders and mental conditions associated with aging.
I use a functional medicine approach to address the root cause of symptoms and health maintenance through multiple angles including gut health/digestion, sleep, diet, stress, hormones, thyroid function, toxins, genetics, medication and nutritional supplements.
I also believe in the transformative power of psychedelic assisted therapies as well as plant based medicine and provide both Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) as well as certification for therapeutic medical cannabis.
I am particularly interested in working with individuals with co-existing thyroid disorders and depression, low-testosterone and depression, female hormonal imbalance and anxiety/depression, obesity and unhealed trauma, as well as healthcare workers struggling with anxiety, depression, care-giver burnout, PTSD/trauma and substance use disorders.
Amanda has over 17 years of experience prescribing and managing behavioral health concerns as well as working in family practice, urgent care, substance use and recovery, eating disorders management and hormone optimization. Amanda is a affiliated provider who is available at Awaken several days a week by appointment only.
Contact Amanda at: Amanda@awakennh.com or Call: 1-844-767-3007
Professional Certifications
- American Nurses Credentialing Center Family Nurse Practitioner
- George Washington University Healthcare Management and Leadership
- Elite Nurse Practitioner Foundations of Functional Medicine
- Elite Nurse Practitioner Ketamine Assisted Therapy
Therapeutic Certifications/Alternative Certifications
- Trauma Informed Care, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing(EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy(DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solutions Focused Therapy (SFT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programing (NLP), Grief Counseling and Life Coaching.
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Sound Therapy and Sound Healing, Therapeutic Art, Reiki Master and NADA Protocol Auricular Acupuncture.
Meet Sarah and Rebecca – both have extensive training with integration therapy and clients are encouraged to utilize their support and services. Sarah can see Clients at Awaken or remotely and Sarah has an office in Massachusetts and sees clients remotely as well.
Sarah C. Benoit
LCMHC, LMHC, PLLC
Sarah Benoit is a independent licensed psychotherapist and not affiliated with Awaken. She is offering remote support in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Since obtaining her graduate degree in Counseling Psychology form Fitchburg State College in 2004, she has worked in a variety of settings and provided a variety of services. Early in her career she worked in a hospital in-patient setting and then moved to community based mental health work. Within the last 10 years her focus has been on private practice and private consultation services.
Most recently, she obtained a certificate in Plant Medicine from Cornell University and has pursued further education in the area of serotonergic entheogens and psychedelics. One of her specialties is helping people integrate their experiences with these medicines into their daily life.
For more information on Sarah and what services she offers, her website is sarahcbenoit.com
Sarah C. Benoit, LCMHC, LMHC, PLLC | Milford, NH 03055 | Telehealth
Rebecca Simmons
MA
Rebecca has her masters degree in clinical mental health counseling. She works with individuals through a client centered approach creating a strong therapeutic relationship. She is an independent provider and not affiliated with Awaken. Awaken clients are referred to her if they need additional behavioral health therapy support.
She brings her 17 years of experience as yoga teacher and student to her sessions by applying mindfulness meditation techniques and body awareness.
Rebecca has been working with psychedelic medicines for over 6 years and uses her knowledge to assist clients with mind set and integration.
Hours: Monday – Friday and Some Saturdays (by appointment only).
75 Gilcreast Rd. Suite 303 • Londonderry, NH 03053
HIPAA Compliant Email: awaken@awakennh.com