Mercy Outpatient Psychiatry

Our providers are dedicated to providing comprehensive evaluations, medication management, neuropsychological testing, therapy and counseling for a variety of conditions that affect individuals of various ages and many walks of life. Conditions treated include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Depression
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Psychotic disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic disorders
• Dementia disorders
• Interpersonal and relational problems
• Employment problems
• Family and marital problems

Mercy Medical Center’s Outpatient Psychiatry also offers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for people living with major depression that cannot be improved with medication. TMS is a relaxed, noninvasive, outpatient treatment option that uses targeted magnetic pulses to rouse the section of the brain responsible for depressed mood. Sundara Munagala, MD, guides the five-day-per-week treatment, which is typically complete in less than 30 minutes as the patient comfortably sits. TMS therapy is finished at the end of six weeks. To discuss any questions about this exciting treatment for major depressive disorder, call Mercy Outpatient Psychiatry at (319) 369-4777.

Our team approach includes:

• Psychiatrist – Our Psychiatrist serves as both medical director and clinical supervisor to our staff.
• Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner – Our Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), diagnoses psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions, provides medication management and assesses patients' mental and physical status based on the presenting symptoms and complaints.
• Neuropsychologist – Conducts neuropsychological evaluations such as assessments of intelligence, academic ability, attention, concentration, sensory-motor function, languate, learning and memory.
• Licensed Independent Social Worker – Provides assessment, counseling and psychotherapy to individuals, families and couples for cognitive, social, mental or emotional disorders, including interpersonal or personal situations.

• Sundara Munagala, MD, MRC Psych
  Dr. Munagala completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Missouri. He is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRC Psych). He provides comprehensive prevention, diagnosis and treatment for a wide variety of psychiatric disorders, including specialization of the general adult population and geriatrics. Dr. Munagala also provides transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for major depression.
• Ellie Snavely, PhD, Licensed Neuropsychologist
  Dr. Snavely is a licensed neuropsychologist and she works with all ages. Special interests include: neuropsychological evaluations, ADHD, psychological evaluations, learning disabilities, individual therapy with adults, developmental with neurological/disabilities and medical conditions.
• Ronald Ridder, PhD, Licensed Neuropsychologist
  Dr. Ridder is a licensed neuropsychologist who works with patients, school-aged through geriatric. Special interests include: neuropsychological evaluations, ADHD, psychological evaluations, learning disabilities, individual therapy with adults, developmental with neurological/disabilities and medical conditions.
• Luke Hansen, PsyD
  Dr. Hansen, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, works in Outpatient Psychiatry assisting with patient assessment and evaluation. Dr. Hansen also provides assessment, evaluation and treatment to chronic pain patients in the Regional Spine & Back Pain Center. Special interests include pain management, psychological evaluations, ADHD, depression, anxiety and individual therapy with adults and adolescents.
• Karen Samani, LISW
  Karen is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with the State of Iowa. She works with adults. Special interests include: multicultural population; eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR); systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving (STEPPS) trained; psychosis; trauma informed care; and parental stress.

Your first visit to our clinic will include an evaluation by our highly trained and certified staff, utilizing the latest information and innovations in mental healthcare. At the end of each session, you will be informed of our recommendations for treatment, including the possibility of medication and psychotherapy (counseling). Your referring physician may be notified of the initial visit if you give consent for us to do so. It is helpful if you arrive 10 minutes early for your appointment to allow time for the registration process. We request that you present your insurance card at each visit.