Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

My ideal clients include individuals who struggle with anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, trauma, addiction, OCD, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorders as well as those with intellectual disabilities and neurocognitive disorders. I believe in treating the whole person and integrating psychotherapy sessions, medication management, and complementary alternative medicine. The goal of incorporating the various approaches is to address identified mental health needs through comprehensive personalized care and improved quality of life.

Just as in medicine, the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice nurse who, through rigorous studies utilizes evidence-based practices to inform treatment decisions. This helps to facilitate the delivery of care that has been proven to address the mental health needs of the clients served.

I became interested in psychiatry when caring for my depressed mother after the death of my father. Although I understood the why, I felt helpless not knowing how to help. My once vibrant and highly conversational mother slowly became a shadow of her former self. Nothing seemed to spark her interest anymore. This experience became my driving force to understand human behaviors and life experiences, and how best to respond and serve positively and effectively. My professional journey in psychiatry started as a mental health worker working closely with nurses, psychiatrists, and clients/families in crisis. With over 19 years in this field first as a Registered Nurse, and now as a Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner, I have been privileged to serve in various capacities. It is clear that mental health and the issues in mental health span across the life span, not discriminating between the haves and have-nots, affecting the old, the young, the educated, and uneducated individuals alike. Individuals going through mental health crises desperately seek to be acknowledged, validated, and listened to. My personal experiences and professional development have inspired me to continue to serve, understanding that what lies beneath is more than what is seen. As a PMHNP, I will continue to empower the clients, working collaboratively with the clients/families to agree on treatments that are trauma-informed, effective, and evidence-based. I look forward to meeting every one of you!