Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (or PMHNPs) are licensed as both registered nurses and advanced practice mental health clinicians. Nurse practitioners receive training and certification in several different specialities, which you can learn more about here. PMHNPs play a crucial role in the mental health care system by providing accessible, holistic care to individuals experiencing psychiatric and mental health challenges. PMHNPs are either Master's or Doctoral level clinicians trained to assess, diagnose, and manage mental health disorders and psychiatric conditions and can work in various settings across all levels of care. In Massachusetts, PMHNPs are independently licensed to provide psychiatric care without the supervision of another healthcare provider after two years of supervised practice.

PMHNPs conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, which include gathering information about a patient's mental health history, current symptoms, medical history, and psychosocial factors. Using this information, they formulate a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. This may include prescribing psychotropic medications, providing psychotherapy or counseling, and recommending lifestyle interventions. PMHNPs often collaborate with other healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and primary care providers to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care for patients with complex mental health needs. PMHNPs also educate patients and their families about mental health conditions, treatment options, and strategies for managing symptoms. Additionally, they advocate for patients' rights and work to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

For more info, check out this short film about badass PMHNP, Whitney Fear.

At this time I am not a primary psychotherapist for patients due to limited availability for weekly appointments. My practice focuses on providing psychopharmacological care and management. I do offer supportive counseling during appointments, as well as review basic coping skill techniques. Many patients experience learning skills and receiving psychoeducation throughout our therapeutic nurse-patient relationship to be validating. If I believe you would benefit from working concurrently with a psychotherapist to further support your mental health, we will discuss this together as a component of your treatment plan.

Our sessions involve checking in on your progress with your treatment goals, making adjusts to the treatment plan as necessary, and providing ongoing education and support. We’ll review the effectiveness of your current regimen and if something isn’t working out, we’ll explore changing medication dosages, switching medications, initiating new therapies, or referring you to other healthcare providers or specialists as needed. I’ll also ask you about your life circumstances, relationships, or stressors that could impact your mental health. Understanding these factors helps me provide more comprehensive care — my job is never to judge you for what you share with me, or to force you to follow my recommendations. I value open and transparent communication and firmly believe that there is no such thing as a stupid question. If you read something online or hear about a scary side effect from someone, please ask me about it (I love fact checking weird stuff that my patients read online)!

Our appointments also provide an opportunity for me to educate you about your mental health condition, treatment options, and strategies for self-management — however, at the end of the day, you are the expert on you. I may suggest guidance on lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, or resources for additional support. I’m kind of a nerd, so don’t be surprised if I whip out my whiteboard during our appointments or suggest some podcasts, books, or other resources for you to review between sessions.

Check out my Services page for additional details about what to expect during appointments.

Then you will be in good company :). Full disclosure… I know what it feels like to play the exhausting game of “let’s try this med and hope it works this time!” It’s not fun, it sucks, and no one enjoys feeling like a guinea pig. My goal is to answer any and all questions you may have about medication options before you or your child actually start taking anything. If needed, I will encourage exploring alternative options to psychiatric medications. This might include having a medical work up, improving nutrition, and making lifestyle changes to promote wellbeing. In my experience, sometimes psychiatric disorders do require starting a medication before someone is able to successfully implement new lifestyle changes and build healthier habits. I educate my patients along the way and aim to use the least amount of medication necessary, for the shortest period of time. I sincerely believe in working smarter, not harder, to work together to achieve your treatment goals.

The short answer is, we won’t know until we meet! My About Me page offers more insight into my approach toward psychiatric care.

If your treatment requires a higher level of care, or suggests a likelihood of frequent emergency services beyond what I can provide in my solo practice, I may not be the right provider for you.  It is important to ensure that you or your child receive optimal services with providers who can support you or your family’s needs effectively.

I’ll probably be a good fit for you or your child if:

• you’re seeking a compassionate & trauma-informed approach toward psychiatric care

• you’re looking for a provider who is patient, will listen to you, and take your concerns seriously

• you want a prescriber who can collaborate with your therapist & other treatment team members

• you prefer private pay so insurance companies/other entities can stay out of your personal business

• you want a provider who meets you where you’re at

• you value a sense of humor

I am probably not the best option for pursing care with if:

• your primary concerns involve management of significant substance or alcohol use disorders which may require medical detox and/or a provider who specializes in addiction (with the exception of cannabis/other psychedelics)

• you are an older adult or would benefit from someone specialized in geriatric psychiatry

• you require 24/7 "on-call" support or expect we'll need to meet more frequently than once a week (most patients are scheduled to see me monthly, although frequency depends on clinical need)

At the start, we'll meet more frequently to complete your full comprehensive evaluation and to establish a therapeutic alliance. After that, we might move to every few weeks/once a month - depending on your treatment plan and goals. Patients who have found a stable medication regimen can plan to see me at minimum every three months.

I am often asked how long people should expect to take psychiatric medications. As most things go, it depends. Typically it is recommended to remain on a new medication between six to nine months to obtain full benefit. From there, stopping medication can be a viable option, but it might also cause a return of symptoms. We'll work together to create an individualized treatment plan that takes into consideration your personal preferences regarding your care.

Paying privately for psychiatric care may be prohibitive for some patients and their families, so if working with me is contingent on your insurance covering the cost, I recommend contacting your insurance provider before requesting an intake with me. Depending on your specific plan’s benefits, you might be eligible to obtain partial or full reimbursement for my services. I will gladly provide requested documentation to support need for my services, participate in peer-to-peer insurance appeals, or otherwise help you with obtaining reimbursement.

Here are some questions to ask your insurance provider:

• Does my health insurance plan include mental health benefits?

• Do I have an out-of-network deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet?

• What is my out-of-network coinsurance for outpatient mental health visits?

• Do I need written approval/referral from an in-network provider or my primary care physician for services to be covered?

• How do I submit claims for out-of-network reimbursement?

• Are virtual outpatient mental health visits (or telehealth) covered?