Our Providers

Medication Management Providers

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.

Brenda Baker, PA-C

Brenda Baker PA-C, Graduate of North Dakota School of Medicine. Board Certified Physician Assistant. I have 14 years of clinical experience, working with all ages in multiple clinical settings. I take into account the person, their lifestyle, and what will work for them in treatment planning.

During my free time, I enjoy traveling the world and spending time with my family.

Funsho King, PMHNP-BC

My name is Funsho King. I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and received my Master’s in Nursing from Maryville University. My goal as a provider is to provide the care that you deserve. I am a good listener, compassionate, genuine, and empathetic. I strive to create a warm environment while I help you meet your mental health needs. It is imperative to understand and anticipate patients’ needs and meet those needs so that they can function optimally. I know one size does not fit all in psychiatry. My goal is to provide a person-centered approach which, is key to meeting the needs of each individual to improve the quality of life.

Tamara Kittleson, PMHNP-BC

Tami is a board-certified adult psychiatric nurse practitioner who received her Master’s in Nursing from Walden University.

She believes in a treatment model that is compassionate, collaborative and integrative. Building individually tailored and realistic treatment plans that help meet a client’s unique needs. In addition, she is passionate about empowering individuals to take an active role in exploring and pursuing lifestyle changes that can help support and improve health and well being. This holistic perspective helps guide her practice style.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping, gardening, Qigong, watching football and spending time with family and friends.

Cassidy Peterson, APRN, CNP, PMHNP-BC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

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. She has experience providing medication management for ages 4+ for a variety of conditions including anxiety, ADHD, depression, and other mood disorders taking into consideration a comprehensive assessment and developing a realistic treatment plan with patients and families. She has a special interest in neurodevelopmental, anxiety, and mood disorders. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, fishing, and watching football.

Brenda Russ, APRN, CNP, PMHNP-BC

Brenda Russ is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental health Nurse Practitioner who received her Master’s in Nursing from Maryville University. She has 15 years of nursing experience with a strong background in community and acute mental health nursing. Her goal as a provider is to provide holistic care with the understanding of individual culture, spiritual, social, and personal values that makes us who we are. Her treatment strategy includes utilizing evidence-based practice, collaboration, and working together to create an individualized plan that is unique to your needs and goals.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching sports, and taking road trips to explore small towns and parks.

Fatuma Guhad, NP

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental health Nurse Practitioner with a Master’s degree from the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing at Maryville University. I am a passionate mental health provider trained and qualified to diagnose and treat various psychiatric/mental health disorders. I have 10 years of experience working with patients with psychiatric/mental health challenges. I focus on providing comprehensive mental health services to individuals across their lifespan. My goal is to help individuals and families understand and learn how to manage and overcome life challenges irrespective of their mental health diagnosis. I believe in providing compassionate care with quality for individuals with mental health. Care provided includes medication management, psychosocial interventions, and supportive psychotherapy.

Therapists

Mary Guest, MSW, LICSW

As a Clinical Social Worker licensed through the MN State Board of Social Work, I provide 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. I take an active, supportive role in working collaboratively with clients and utilize a variety of theoretical approaches to provide the most appropriate treatment for each individual’s specific goals. I offer warmth and appreciation of each person’s uniqueness, along with resource information and practical feedback, while helping you tap into your strengths to relieve immediate distress and make meaningful shifts going forward. I have previous mental health experience in schools, community, outpatient, and residential settings. BSW and MSW degrees from the College of St. Catherine and the University of Minnesota.

Traci Hakanson, MSW, LICSW

I graduated from Augsburg College where I received my Masters of Clinical Social Work. I provide psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults in individual, couples, family, and group therapy. I have over 15 years of clinical experience including in-patient and outpatient settings as well as serving as an advocate in many capacities. My 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. I also am competent in working with traumatic brain injury, relationship problems, and adjustment disorders. My therapy approach includes cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and strength’s perspective, which are used as stepping-stones towards your recovery.