

I am Theresa Abbah, a board-certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner based in Smithfield, North Carolina, with over 27 years of experience in nursing and mental health care. My professional journey has been deeply rooted in psychiatry, where I have developed a broad and comprehensive clinical skill set focused on delivering compassionate, patient-centered care.
I spent more than 15 years working as a psychiatric nurse in an inpatient state mental health facility, which provided a strong foundation in managing complex mental health conditions. I am proud to have been one of the pioneers involved in establishing Youth Behavioral Health services, helping guide its successful accreditation and commitment to maintaining high standards of care.
As a Nurse Practitioner, I have advanced my practice working in both youth and adult inpatient behavioral health settings, including roles with UNC Youth Behavioral Health Hospital in Butner and UNC Johnston Health. I specialize in diagnosing and managing a wide range of mental health disorders, conducting crisis assessments, and providing timely referrals for individuals of all ages experiencing psychiatric, substance use, neurocognitive, or developmental challenges.
In 2018, I independently developed an alternative psychotherapy-based psychosocial treatment program to support patients in crisis at UNC Wakebrook, reflecting my commitment to innovation in mental health care.
I bring a positive attitude, creativity, and a high level of dedication to my work, consistently striving to deliver evidence-based care to patients and their families. My clinical strengths include psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, crisis stabilization, maintenance treatment and leadership, all of which guide my mission to improve mental health outcomes and support individuals on their path to recovery.
Antonia "Toni" Verhine is a licensed clinical social worker, addiction specialist associate, and certified integrative mental health provider who takes a holistic and trauma-informed approach to treating mental health and substance abuse disorders. Currently, she is going through training to become a certified ketamine-assisted psychotherapy provider.
I take a person-centered approach, meeting each client where they are with compassion and respect. My goal is to create a supportive space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered.
I incorporate Solution-Focused Brief Therapy to help you move toward the future you want. Together, we identify your existing strengths and skills, building on what’s already working while exploring what can be done differently to support meaningful change.
This approach emphasizes your present circumstances and future goals, helping you create practical, forward-moving solutions rather than staying stuck in the past.


Headway makes it easy to find support for your mental health — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.