Makenzie Wesner (she/her)

Director of Behavioral Medicine

Behavioral Nurse Practitioner #95005475

Collaborating Psychiatrist Saad Shakir, MD

Services offered

In-office and virtual visits for:

• Developmental psychiatry (children, teens, adults 2-30+)

  • Assessment

  • Treatment (medical, medication and collaborative care management)

• Individual therapy (children, teens)

• Parent coaching and parent support therapy

Specialties And Focus Areas

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Autism, ADHD, sensory processing, neurodiversity)

• Genetics, genomics & medical complexity

• Behavior problems

APPROACH

Makenzie Wesner, NP, is a Behavioral Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of experience working with children (infants, toddlers, school-agers), adolescents, and young adults in a variety of settings. With a warm, inclusive and exhaustive communication style, Makenzie partners with her patients to support their mental wellness—encompassing self-awareness/self-advocacy—so they can focus on living their best lives.

Makenzie founded Behavioral Medicine to better serve the Silicon Valley and surrounding community of Northern California through a developmental psychiatry framework. Her approach to care is also rooted in the following core beliefs and knowledgebase:

• That young people benefit from support in better understanding themselves, as do their families and communities

• Deep knowledge of child to young adult neurodevelopment and behavioral health

ABOUT Makenzie

Ever since Makenzie was young, she has felt a warmth for helping others. She transitioned from serving as a special needs teacher, then licensed developmental-behavioral therapist, to a career in health care as a Behavioral Nurse Practitioner, as she wanted to integrate her passion for education, child development, science and health care reform. In graduate school, she created her own clinical practicum curriculum and sought out providers who were at the forefront of innovation in developmental medicine. Today, Makenzie brings a 15+-year breadth of experience and enduring passion to every patient interaction, assessment, and treatment plan.

Outside of the office, Makenzie can often be found adventuring, trail running with her dog, Boonie, and chasing waves as an avid open-water swimmer - and ocean lover. In addition to her passion for nature, Makenzie has a strong artistic side, which often leads her to create works of art and music. She believes the world needs more novel ideas, and generosity of spirit.

Assessment, treatment / therapeutic modalities I am trained to use

• Art and play therapy

• Child and adolescent psychiatry

• Cognitive and behavioral pediatric neurology

• Developmental and behavioral pediatrics

• Developmental and behavioral therapy

  • Applied behavioral analysis (ABA)

  • DIR/DIR Floortime

  • Pivotal response treatment (PRT)

• Emotional brain training (EBT)

EDUCATION, Licensure and Certifications 

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Advanced Practice Pediatric Nursing: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Genomics Concentration, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Public Health: Health Promotion & Health Behavior & Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Spanish, Oregon State University

• Registered Nurse #95041493, California Board of Registered Nursing

• Public Health Nurse #546016, California Board of Registered Nursing

• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner & Pediatric Mental Health Specialist, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (anticipated 2025)

• Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist

• Neurodiversity Specialist

Work Experience

• Director of Behavioral Medicine / Behavioral Nurse Practitioner at Teen Therapy Center and Family Therapy Center, San Jose

• Behavioral and Developmental Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Center for Developing Minds, Los Gatos

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Division of Mental Health and Child Development, Department of Psychiatry and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

• Behavioral Therapist, Red House Behavior Resources, Inc., San Francisco, California

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Resident, UCSF

  • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Division of Mental Health and Child Development, Child Development Center

• Stanford Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine
  High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Clinic

• UCSF Pediatric Brain Center Sensory Neurodevelopment & Autism Program
  Marin Cognitive & Behavioral Pediatric Neurology Clinic

• Teacher at Victory Academy, Portland, Oregon

Other AREAS OF CONCERN Makenzie WORKs WITH

• Depression and mood dysregulation

• Developmental delay

• Gender and LGBTQIA+ affirming care

• School problems