Before becoming a psychiatric provider, I was a high school teacher, and it was in the classroom that I began to truly understand how deeply mental health can affect a young person’s life. I saw students struggling with depression, anxiety, family and social pressures, questions about identity, and challenges they often didn’t know how to talk about. Some were hurting quietly while still showing up to class every day, and I realized that many of them needed more than academic support—they needed someone who could recognize what was happening beneath the surface, listen without judgment, and help them get the care they needed. That experience stayed with me and ultimately changed the direction of my life. I decided to return to school because I wanted to become part of the solution, particularly for children, families, and underserved communities where access to quality mental health care can be limited. Becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner gave me the opportunity to combine my background as an educator with my experience in nursing and my passion for mental health. Today, I still carry that teacher’s perspective into every patient encounter. I believe education can be empowering, whether I’m helping a young person understand what they’re feeling, helping a parent better understand their child, or helping an adult finally put words to something they’ve struggled with for years. I chose this profession because I wanted people who are struggling to know that they deserve to be heard, understood, and given the opportunity to get well.

I work best with clients who are ready to better understand themselves and want a provider who will truly listen, ask the right questions, and work alongside them rather than simply tell them what to do. You don’t have to have everything figured out before coming to me. You may not even know exactly what is wrong—you may simply know that the way you’ve been feeling is affecting your relationships, school, work, confidence, or ability to enjoy your life. I especially enjoy working with adolescents and young adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood changes, identity concerns, academic or social pressures, and the often-overwhelming transition into adulthood. My background as an educator gives me a unique understanding of the pressures young people face, while my experience in psychiatric care allows me to help them and their families understand what may be happening beneath the surface. I also work well with adults who have spent years taking care of everyone else while quietly struggling themselves, as well as those who have tried treatment before but still feel that something is missing. I welcome clients who want to understand their diagnosis, explore their treatment options, and have an active voice in their care. You do not need to arrive perfectly motivated, completely open, or certain about what you need. You simply need to be willing to start. From there, we can build trust, identify what is getting in the way of the life you want, and work together toward meaningful change.

I wish every client knew that healing doesn’t always happen in a straight line. There may be progress, setbacks, difficult days, and moments when you wonder whether anything is changing at all. That doesn’t mean the process isn’t working. Mental health treatment is not about becoming a completely different person; it’s about understanding yourself, learning what you need, and developing the tools and support to live a healthier, more fulfilling life. Medication can help, therapy can help, and the right support can make an incredible difference, but healing is also something we work toward together. Most importantly, I want people to know that you do not have to wait until you are falling apart to ask for help. You are allowed to seek support simply because you want your life to feel better than it does today. Sometimes the most important step in healing is deciding that you are worth the effort it takes to get there.

Your first appointment is about more than checking boxes or assigning a diagnosis; it’s an opportunity for me to understand you. We’ll talk about what brought you in, the symptoms or concerns you’ve been experiencing, how they are affecting your daily life, and what you hope will be different as a result of treatment. We’ll also review important aspects of your medical, psychiatric, family, social, and medication history so that I can develop a clear and comprehensive picture of your needs. You can expect me to ask thoughtful questions, but you can also expect to have space to tell your story in your own words. My goal is for you to feel comfortable being honest, without fear of judgment. By the end of our initial sessions, I want you to have a better understanding of what may be contributing to your symptoms and a clear, individualized plan for moving forward. That plan may include medication, education, lifestyle recommendations, therapy or other supportive services when appropriate. In the early stages of treatment, we’ll pay close attention to how you’re responding, what is improving, and what may still need attention. If medication is part of your treatment, I’ll explain what we’re using, why we’re using it, what to expect, and any potential concerns to watch for. Treatment is not something I do to you, it is something we build together. My goal is for you to leave knowing that you’ve been heard, that there is a plan, and that you have a partner in your care.

My practice is deeply influenced by the many roles I’ve held throughout my life, as an educator, nurse, psychiatric provider, leader, mother, and grandmother. Each of those experiences has taught me something important about people: everyone has a story, behavior often communicates something deeper, and you can never fully understand what someone is carrying simply by looking at them. As a high school teacher, I learned the importance of creating a space where young people felt safe enough to be honest. As a nurse, I learned what it means to care for people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. And as a psychiatric provider, I’ve learned that sometimes one of the most powerful things we can offer another person is the experience of truly being heard without judgment. The values that guide my practice are compassion, dignity, respect, honesty, and service. I believe people deserve to be treated as individuals—not diagnoses, symptoms, or medical records. I also believe that where you come from, what you’ve experienced, and what you’ve been through can shape you, but those things do not have to determine where your story ends. Ultimately, I want every person who sits across from me to know that their story matters. I may bring years of education and clinical experience into the room, but I never want my credentials to speak louder than my humanity. My responsibility is not only to provide excellent psychiatric care, but to see the person who has trusted me enough to ask for help.

I don’t believe in a one-sizefits-all approach to mental health care. Two people can have the same diagnosis and experience it in completely different ways, which is why I take time to understand not only your symptoms, but also your life experiences, relationships, culture, strengths, challenges, preferences, and personal goals. I tailor treatment by meeting you where you are and developing a plan that fits your individual needs. For some clients, that may include medication management and education; for others, it may involve supportive therapeutic interventions, lifestyle changes, coping strategies, or collaboration with a therapist or other healthcare professionals. I also consider what has worked in the past, what hasn’t, and how comfortable you are with the available treatment options. Most importantly, your treatment plan is never set in stone. As you grow, your needs may change, and your care should change with you. We will regularly evaluate your progress, have honest conversations about what is and isn’t working, and adjust our approach when necessary. I bring the clinical expertise, but you bring something equally important and that is, expertise in your own life. The best care happens when we bring those two perspectives together.