“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.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
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.
What should someone know about working with you?
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.
What should people know about working with a psychiatric nurse practitioner?
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.
“Based on training through the nursing models of care, treatment is holistically-focused and client-centered.”