About Elysian Wellness

With over a decade of service in Psychiatry and Addiction Recovery, Yesenia is an innovative and compassionate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She started as a case manager in 2009, became a Registered Nurse with a BSN from Louisiana State University in 2015, and served as Program Manager at Louisiana's first Sobering Center. There, she collaborated with key stakeholders, including the Mayor's Office and the Department of Health, to establish the program.

Driven by a passion for serving the community, Yesenia earned her MSN as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of South Alabama in 2023. As a native New Orleanian and proud member of the Hispanic community, she brings cultural sensitivity and empathy to her practice, forging meaningful connections with patients from diverse backgrounds. Yesenia is committed to providing high-quality, equitable healthcare and making a lasting impact in her community.

 Arwen Podesta, MD, current president of the Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association, is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with sub-specializations in addiction medicine, forensic psychiatry, and integrative medicine. A graduate of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Dr. Podesta completed her psychiatry residency in at Louisiana State University before pursuing fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at Tulane University. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. She consults to the Louisiana governor’s HOPE committee and is a member of the Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Opioid Abatement Taskforce. She authored a book on addiction, HOOKED and is a renowned speaker. Dr. Podesta regularly travels to teach and speak on the topics of Addiction Medicine and Integrative Psychiatry.

At Elysian Wellness, we are proud to have an exceptionally skilled massage therapist on our team. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in sports massage and utilizes advanced techniques like red light therapy and cupping to deliver comprehensive care.

Her sports massage sessions are expertly tailored for athletes, enhancing performance, speeding recovery, and preventing injuries. Incorporating red light therapy, she promotes cellular regeneration, reduces inflammation, and alleviates pain. Additionally, her use of cupping improves blood circulation, releases muscle tension, and accelerates healing.

Dedicated to providing the highest level of care, our therapist combines her extensive experience with innovative therapies to help you achieve optimal health and peak performance. Trust her to support your wellness journey with exceptional skill and compassionate care.