My path to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner started when I was working as a pediatric nurse in a pediatric medical unit. At that time, I was drawn to the stories children and families shared about their journeys in managing serious medical illnesses. I was struck by the strength of these families and was eager to foster their resilience in a way that made managing their medical illnesses easier. This led to a transition away from the medical world of nursing and into mental health. Over my ten years of experience, I have worked with people of all ages, from young kids to older adults. My practice today is greatly shaped from my early years as a nurse. I aim to gain a deep understanding of a client’s struggles and continue to have a genuine interest in fostering the resilience of each individual.

I believe in taking an engaged and collaborative approach with my clients. The purpose of the first appointment is to conduct a thorough evaluation of the presenting concerns. I will ask about different symptoms, your history of mental health treatment, and your current goals for treatment. These evaluations typically last 60-90 minutes. After a client initiates medication, follow-up appointments are monthly. After symptoms stabilize, these appointments may decrease to once every three months. Psychiatric medication is almost always most effective when combined with psychotherapy. At this time, I do not provide psychotherapy but can provide referrals for therapists to those who are not already engaged in treatment.

Psychiatric nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses with specialized training in psychiatry. They have the ability to provide a psychiatric diagnosis, prescribe psychiatric medication, and perform psychotherapy. Based on training through the nursing models of care, treatment is holistically-focused and client-centered.