As a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I am trained in the diagnostic and medical management of psychiatric conditions across the lifespan. I have experience treating various conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. My practice has included specialized work with child and adolescent populations, mood disorders, behavior dysregulation, impulse control, and substance dependence. I’ve also managed patients with diagnosed chronic mental health disorders that led to criminal behavior and incarceration.
Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner my focus was critical care. I worked in the Neuro-trauma ICU, the Cardiovascular ICU, and the Emergency Department. I’ve worked with patients requiring in-patient psychiatric treatment in addition to outpatient settings. I had the opportunity to work with residents living in a forensic inpatient psychiatric treatment facility for people the court deemed permanently incompetent to stand trial for violent criminal action operated by the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
I’m currently a Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team member through the US Department of Homeland Security. Through this, I’ve deployed to areas of the country that need emergent medical assistance, specifically for mental health. Most recently, I’ve worked in an outpatient clinic that serves mental health patients and provides substance dependence treatment, including medication-assisted treatment. There, I managed patients being treated with buprenorphine (Suboxone), TMS, ketamine (Spravato), and long-acting injectables for chronic debilitating mental health diagnoses.
While working with a wide range of patients, I’ve seen the benefits of considering different treatment options before making a decision. My goal is to match each individual patient with the unique treatment option they feel most comfortable with. I’m excited to be working in an organization that offers a combination of therapy and medication management, as this is evidence-based best practice for most mental health conditions. Many patients appreciate the options for complementary and alternative therapies. This can include using work/school accommodations, ruling out a medical cause, light therapy, dietary changes, individual or group psychotherapy, patient and family education, and building strong social support. I also offer telehealth visits for those who prefer that.
I would be honored to team up with you to achieve your mental health goals. There are many treatment options available, and I’m passionate about educating patients on different approaches. Together, we can form an individualized treatment plan that you feel confident in.
