connEQtions, Inc.
Dr. Teri Murtha
Wendi Malkinski, PMHNP-BC
Wendi Malkinski, PMHNP-BC
Dr. Teri Murtha, a lifelong Baltimore County resident, has over 20 years of experience in addiction, mental health, research, and education. She owns PsychNP Wellness Center in Towson, where she provides compassionate care for individuals and families facing mental health challenges. Teri holds a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate from the University of Massachusetts. She is also certified in Natural Lifemanship, integrating horses into trauma-focused therapy.
In addition to her practice, Teri owns Patty's Haven Farm in Hampstead, Maryland, where she rescues horses and incorporates them into her therapeutic work. Her research on adverse childhood experiences shapes her approach to helping clients process trauma and build resilience.
Outside of her professional life, Teri enjoys connecting with others and appreciating life's simple pleasures. She is always eager to support others on their wellness journeys.
Wendi Malkinski, PMHNP-BC
Wendi Malkinski, PMHNP-BC
Wendi Malkinski, PMHNP-BC
Wendie Malkinski is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 28 years of nursing experience across a variety of fields, including Labor and Delivery, Pediatrics, NICU, ICU, ER, and Psychiatry. Her diverse background has provided her with a broad understanding of patient care, making her a versatile and compassionate practitioner.
Specializing in ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, and PTSD, Wendie obtained her Advanced Practice degree from Walden University, where she deepened her expertise in mental health care.
With extensive experience working with at-risk youth, Wendie has earned a reputation as one of the top practitioners at PsychNP Wellness Center, LLC. Her approach combines years of clinical experience with a deep commitment to understanding and supporting each patient’s unique needs. Wendie is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care to those she serves.
Mike Malinski
Wendi Malkinski, PMHNP-BC
Mike Malinski
Michael (Mike) is an accomplished business professional with over 30 years of experience in logistics and port operations. His career has been marked by a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence.
Mike's passion for mental health awareness and patient care grew after he was the victim of a violent assault in 1993, an experience that inspired him to focus on helping others navigate their own struggles.
An 8-year US Navy veteran, Mike is also a current member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and a National Registered EMT. He actively serves his community in Anne Arundel County, MD, where he is dedicated to providing emergency medical care and supporting local initiatives. Mike combines his extensive professional background with a deep commitment to mental health and community service.
Jaime Tomchik
Katie Babcock, LCPC, NCC
Mike Malinski
Jaime has over 10 years of experience as a psychiatric mental health Registered Nurse. She has a strong background working with individuals with complex trauma and dissociative disorders, having spent the majority of her nursing career working on the former Trauma Disorders Unit at Sheppard Pratt. Jaime is set to graduate in May 2025 with a doctorate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing, and obtain licensure and certification as a psychiatric mental health Nurse Practitioner.
Jaime also has a strong background in horsemanship. She fell in love with horses as a toddler and began riding and volunteering at the stable where she took lessons when she was 10. Growing up, she showed her horses in local hunter/jumper and combined training competitions. She now prefers laid-back trail rides and forming human-equine connections from the ground. She has been dedicated to the small herds of horses under her care for over 30 years.
One of Jaime’s goals in becoming a Nurse Practitioner was to combine her love of horses with her dedication to helping individuals heal from traumatic events. She believes horses are unique in their ability to teach individuals self-awareness, emotion regulation, and mindfulness. Working with horses fosters trust and safe connections. Jaime believes that by providing individuals with tools they can use every day, they can heal themselves and enjoy the present moment.
Jaime is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the Polyvagal Equine Institute and a supporter of the American Wild Horse Campaign.
Melissa Mainier
Katie Babcock, LCPC, NCC
Katie Babcock, LCPC, NCC
Melissa is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner who has been working in the nursing field for the past 10 years. Most of that work has been with individuals recovering from the effects of past trauma.
With a background working on the Trauma Disorders Unit at Sheppard Pratt, she has seen the impact of trauma on the nervous system and, in some cases, the resistance to treatment with traditional medication management and talk therapy. While those forms of treatment can be highly beneficial, working with horses offers another form of therapy that can complement other more traditional modalities.
Melissa works in private practice, on an inpatient psychiatric unit, and part-time as an adjunct clinical instructor for local nursing programs. When she's not working, she volunteers for BARCS, a Baltimore-based animal rescue shelter.
While she is trained in providing traditional psychotherapy, she is pursuing additional training through the Natural Lifemanship Institute and the Polyvagal Equine Institute to develop her skills in equine-assisted psychotherapy.
Katie Babcock, LCPC, NCC
Katie Babcock, LCPC, NCC
Katie Babcock, LCPC, NCC
Katie is a board-approved Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She founded Counseling for Professionals, a mental health practice working with adult professionals in Baltimore, MD.
Katie’s clinical specialties include working with adult professionals struggling with Attention Difficulties (ADHD), Trauma (PTSD), Burnout, Addiction, and Grief.
Katie is trained in EMDR Basic Training and holds certifications as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider (ADHD-CCSP). Katie is a volunteer member of the Pro Bono Counseling Project & the Glyndon Volunteer Fire Department.
Katie’s activism, advocacy, and passion for working with survivors of trauma comes from her personal, lived experiences and her internal compass to support healing individuals, families, and communities from the devastating impacts of unresolved and systemic trauma.
Katie is a lover of all animals. She has always felt a deep connection to the spiritual and intuitive wisdom of animals and believes there is deep, cellular healing when in relationship with animals.
Sharon Bailey, BA '77, JD '82, UMD
Sharon Bailey, BA '77, JD '82, UMD
Sharon Bailey, BA '77, JD '82, UMD
Sharon grew up on a family-owned farm in northern Baltimore County that has been in her family since the 1700s. Throughout her life, she has felt a strong connection to animals, particularly horses, and has cared for them since childhood. At the age of 16, she began working with horses professionally, gaining experience on breeding farms and training young horses, racehorses, show horses, and hunters. In addition, she served as a riding instructor at summer camps while in college. For the past 35 years, Sharon has owned a farm in the Prettyboy Watershed area of Baltimore County where she breeds and trains her own horses for pleasure.
In her professional career, Sharon served as a Captain in the Army JAG Corps for three and a half years, stationed in Germany. Upon returning to Maryland, she opened a private law practice focusing on elder law, real estate, land use, and zoning. Sharon is also committed to community service. She led the Baltimore County Commission for Women as President from 2009 to 2012 and served as a Commissioner for the Baltimore County Advisory Commission for Environmental Quality. Additionally, she has been on the boards of several 501(c)(3) organizations, including North County Preservation, the Freeland Community Group, and the Sparks Glencoe Community Group. Furthermore, she co-founded The Prettyboy Watershed Alliance in 1999, a citizen-led 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting landowner stewardship, and served two terms as its President.