Primary Location:
Verona
271 Grove Avenue, Suite A
Verona, NJ 07044
Contact Information:
Tel: 973.239.2600 – Verona Office
Fax: 833.495.1921 – Verona Office
BA:
Biology and Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, College Honors Program, Boston University, Boston, MA
BS:
Nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY
MS:
Nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY
Laura Cannito Focuses on Wellness to Improve Patients’ Quality of Life
“Anxiety is the No. 1 behavioral health concern that I treat, and understanding emotional stressors is key to improving one’s overall physical health.”
Laura Cannito’s career journey was driven by her desire to work with patients who have mental health concerns. “I became interested in the relationship between psychology and biology and how this relates to mental health care when I was in college,” says Laura. “Mental health plays a major role in one’s physical health and in primary care practice. Understanding social and family relationships can have a major impact on daily life.”
Prior to joining Vanguard in 2013 as a psychiatric advanced nurse practitioner, she was a charge nurse on the psychiatric unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville. According to Laura, “I was attracted to joining Vanguard Medical Group by its unique patient-centered medical home model where health care providers treat patients as a whole – incorporating physical, mental and behavioral health practices.”
Laura is a behavioral health resource for primary care providers at Vanguard, who help provide the right-fit mental health care for our patients. She consults on mental health issues, helps with referrals, and also sees patients.
Taking the time to talk with patients about their concerns and creating a wellness self-care plan that includes addressing their mental health concerns and lifestyle changes is Laura’s specialty. “Seeing someone with a mental health concern whose job performance or relationships improved after counseling and is able to function at [his or her] full potential is very gratifying,” she says. Laura’s specialties include medication management and the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, illness anxiety disorder and depression.
During her time away from the office, Laura enjoys dancing, hiking and yoga. She is an avid photographer who loves to travel to new destinations in order to recharge.
