Today we’d like to introduce you to Charise Marti.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
-I’ve been a nurse since 2001. I spent the first 16 years in the pediatric world—NICU, Pediatric ICU, and the children’s ER. Eventually, I moved over to the adult ERs at KU and Research. After 20 years on the floor, I knew I wanted to do more, so I went back for my Masters to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I graduated in May 2024 and got certified right away.
-While I was finishing school, I partnered with a medical group that worked with over 50 facilities. They wanted to add a psych component, so I built it for them from the ground up. In just one year, I was personally going to 20 different facilities and had a patient list of over 400. I was busting my hump, but it taught me something important: there is a massive, desperate need for geriatric psych in our community. I realized that if I wanted it to be done “my way”—with the responsiveness and heart these families deserve—I needed to go out on my own.
-I decided to start Health&Harmony (Launched Oct 2025): I see so many seniors who don’t have anyone to advocate for them. And for the families who are involved, they’re often just exhausted and don’t know what to do when dementia makes their loved one difficult to care for.
A few things I’m really passionate about:
1. “Less is More” with Meds: I see so much “polypharmacy” where patients are just on way too many pills. My pride is in reviewing those lists, cleaning them up, and stabilizing symptoms without over-medicating.
2. Keeping Families Together: My goal is quality of life. I want to keep my patients out of inpatient psych units and keep them at home (or in lower-level care) for as long as possible so their families can actually enjoy their time with them.
3. Meeting People Where They Are: Transporting a confused or struggling senior is a nightmare for families. That’s why I do house calls and telehealth—I want to make the care as simple as possible.
Bottom Line: I grew so fast in my last role because I actually care, I respond quickly, and I take the time to educate families on the dementia process. Health&Harmony is really about giving these patients their dignity back and giving their families some peace of mind.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not one bit! Going from being a nurse to a business owner is a huge learning curve. The clinical part—taking care of the patients—that’s the part I love and what comes naturally. But the “behind the scenes” stuff is a different story.
Credentialing with insurance companies is a beast of its own. It’s a long, tedious process, and it’s frustrating because the more companies I’m credentialed with, the more people I can actually help. Then you’ve got setting up the EHR (Electronic Health Records), figuring out the billing side of things, and learning the specific requirements for every different insurance provider. It’s a lot of late nights and paperwork.
But honestly? Even when I’m bogged down in the administrative side, I’m certain it’s worth it. I know that every insurance hoop I jump through means another family gets the help they need. I’m just really excited to see where I can take this practice next!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Health&Harmony LLC?
I run the business from a home office. Since I do house calls and telehealth, a traditional office didn’t make sense. Plus, it allows me to actually be there for my family and have a real work/life balance for the first time.
What I’m Proud Of:
Advocacy: So many seniors don’t have family to speak for them. I fill that gap.
“Less is More”: I see way too much “polypharmacy” (over-medication). I pride myself on cleaning up medication lists to focus on quality of life and symptom stabilization.
Keeping Families Together: My goal is to keep patients out of psych units and delay memory care admissions as long as possible so families can actually enjoy their time together.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
To be honest, I don’t have a traditional ‘favorite’ childhood memory. My mom was a single mother and we struggled financially, which honestly put a lot of stress on me as a kid. But watching her struggle like that really did something to me—it made me realize early on that I wanted a different path for myself. I became a straight-A student and stayed incredibly focused because I was determined to build a stable life.
That background gave me the grit I needed for 20 years in the ER and the courage to finally start my own practice. While the money was tight, my mom loved me and I had wonderful grandparents and cousins who were always there. It taught me that you don’t need a perfect situation to be a great advocate for someone, and it’s why I’m so driven to help seniors and their families navigate their own struggles today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.health-harmony-psychiatry.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charise-marti-063885343/
