LaVeta Jarrett

I decided to become a psychiatric provider because, throughout my career in healthcare, I saw how deeply mental and emotional health affect every part of a person’s life. I also recognized that people experiencing mental health challenges often need more than a diagnosis or a prescription—they need someone who will listen, seek to understand their experiences, and recognize them as a whole person. My background as a Family Nurse Practitioner gave me a strong appreciation for the connection between physical and mental health. Becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner allowed me to expand that perspective and focus more intentionally on the emotional, psychological, and nervous-system factors that influence overall wellness. I am passionate about creating a different kind of psychiatric experience—one that combines evidence-based medicine with compassion, curiosity, and individualized care. I chose this work because I value the opportunity to walk alongside people during some of the most challenging seasons of their lives and help them discover that meaningful change, healing, and a greater sense of well-being are possible.

I work best with clients who are looking for a collaborative, individualized approach to mental health care and want to be active participants in their treatment. Many of the people I work with are experiencing anxiety, depression, mood changes, trauma-related symptoms, difficulty managing stress, or challenges that have not fully improved with previous treatment. I especially enjoy working with clients who want to better understand the connection between their emotional health, physical health, life experiences, and nervous system. I also work well with individuals who may feel that they have not been fully heard or understood in traditional healthcare settings and are looking for a provider who will take the time to see the whole person rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis. Because I work with clients across the lifespan, I welcome children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. My goal is to create a safe and respectful environment where clients and families feel comfortable asking questions, discussing concerns, and participating in treatment decisions. I value working with people who are open to exploring what wellness means for them and are ready to take meaningful steps toward greater stability, resilience, and overall well-being.

One thing I wish every client knew is that healing is not always a straight line, and progress does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. There may be times when you feel stronger and more hopeful, and other times when old patterns, emotions, or symptoms return. Those difficult moments do not erase the progress you have made. Mental health is not simply about eliminating symptoms; it is also about learning to understand yourself with greater compassion, recognizing what your mind and body may be communicating, and developing healthier ways to respond to life’s challenges. Healing takes time, courage, patience, and often a willingness to approach yourself differently. Most importantly, you do not have to have everything figured out before asking for help. Sometimes the first step toward healing is simply allowing someone to meet you where you are and walk alongside you as you discover what comes next.

During our first session, my priority is getting to know you as a person, not simply reviewing a list of symptoms. We will talk about what brought you to care, your current concerns, medical and mental health history, medications, life experiences, relationships, stressors, and the goals you would like to work toward. I also want to understand what has helped in the past, what has not, and what you hope will be different moving forward. You can expect our conversation to be collaborative and judgment-free. I encourage questions and want you to feel comfortable sharing at your own pace. Together, we will begin developing an individualized treatment plan that may include medication management, lifestyle and wellness strategies, nervoussystem-focused approaches, and coordination with therapy or other supportive services when appropriate. During the early stages of treatment, we will continue learning what works best for you. We may make adjustments along the way as we monitor your symptoms, response to treatment, and overall well-being. My goal is to build a trusting relationship where you feel heard, informed, and actively involved in your care. You do not have to arrive with all the answers—we will work together to determine the next steps.

My practice is shaped by both my years of experience in healthcare and my belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. Throughout my career, I have seen how easily people can feel reduced to a diagnosis, a medication list, or a set of symptoms. Those experiences have strengthened my commitment to slowing down, listening carefully, and understanding the person behind the clinical information. I value authenticity, empathy, curiosity, and human connection. I believe our life experiences influence how we see ourselves, relate to others, and respond to the world around us. I also believe the body and nervous system often carry experiences that cannot always be fully explained with words. These beliefs are why I approach mental health from a whole-person perspective and consider emotional, physical, social, and environmental factors when developing a treatment plan. Most importantly, I believe people deserve to have a voice in their own care. I do not see my role as simply telling clients what they should do. My role is to listen, educate, offer my clinical expertise, and work alongside each person as we determine what healing and wellness can look like for them.

I believe effective mental health care should never be one-size-fitsall. I begin by listening carefully to each client’s concerns, experiences, strengths, challenges, and goals. I consider not only symptoms and diagnoses, but also physical health, relationships, life experiences, environment, lifestyle, and the ways stress and trauma may be affecting the nervous system. From there, we work together to develop an individualized treatment plan that reflects what is most appropriate and meaningful for that person. Depending on their needs, care may include medication management, education, lifestyle and wellness strategies, somatic or nervous-system-focused approaches, and collaboration with therapists or other healthcare professionals. I also recognize that needs can change over time. I continually evaluate how treatment is working, listen to my clients’ feedback, and make adjustments when necessary. My goal is for clients to feel that care is being provided with them rather than to them, while creating a supportive space where they feel heard, respected, and empowered throughout the process.