connEQtion, Inc.
Dr. Teri Murtha
Wendi Malkinski, PMHNP-BC
Wendi Malkinski, PMHNP-BC
Dr. Teri Murtha, a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), brings over 20 years of experience in addiction, mental health, research, and education. A lifelong Baltimore County resident, she is the founder of PsychNP Wellness Center in Towson, where she provides compassionate, trauma-informed care to 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 (PMHNP-BC) 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 is a psychiatric mental health Registered Nurse with over a decade of experience, specializing in the care of individuals with complex trauma and dissociative disorders. Much of her career was spent on the former Trauma Disorders Unit at Sheppard Pratt, where she developed deep expertise in trauma-informed care. She recently earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing, and is in the process of becoming a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).
In addition to her clinical background, Jaime brings a lifelong passion for horsemanship. Her journey with horses began in early childhood, and by age 10, she was riding and volunteering at a local stable. She has been deeply committed to caring for her small herds of horses for over 30 years.
Combining her professional expertise with her love of horses, Jaime is pursuing a career path that bridges mental health and equine-assisted psychotherapy. She believes horses offer a powerful, intuitive way to teach self-awareness, emotional regulation, and mindfulness—core elements of healing from trauma. By helping individuals build trust and foster safe, meaningful connections, she aims to empower them with tools they can use to heal and thrive in everyday life. Jaime is gaining expertise in equine-assisted psychotherapy through advanced education with the Natural Lifemanship Institute and the Polyvagal Equine Institute.
Melissa Mainier
Katie Babcock, LCPC, NCC
Katie Babcock, LCPC, NCC
Melissa is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with a decade of experience in the nursing field, primarily focused on supporting individuals recovering from the effects of trauma.
Her work on the Trauma Disorders Unit at Sheppard Pratt provided firsthand insight into how trauma affects the nervous system—and how some individuals may not fully respond to traditional treatments such as medication management and talk therapy. While she recognizes the value of these modalities, Melissa is also drawn to the therapeutic potential of working with horses as a complementary approach to healing.
Melissa maintains a diverse professional portfolio: she works in private practice, serves on an inpatient psychiatric unit, and teaches part-time as an adjunct clinical instructor for local nursing programs. In her free time, she volunteers with BARCS, a Baltimore-based animal rescue organization.
In addition to her training in conventional psychotherapy, Melissa is expanding her expertise in equine-assisted psychotherapy through advanced education with the Natural Lifemanship Institute and the Polyvagal Equine Institute.
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 come 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 relationships with animals.
Katie is also expanding her expertise in equine-assisted psychotherapy through advanced education with the Natural Lifemanship Institute and the Polyvagal Equine Institute.
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.