My Story

My experiences are what inspired me to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Throughout my life I have found that my mental health is the foundation for my overall wellbeing. A strong foundation allows me to engage more, create the life I want, and take steps toward being the best version of myself. These experiences motivated me to pursue a career where I can support others as they build a foundation of mental health in order to fully thrive.

My Approach

My approach to life, and my practice as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, is rooted in a strong set of values. These provide a scaffolding of integrity and guide my intention, purpose, and actions. These include, but are not limited to the following:

Excellence. I am committed to medical expertise via an earnestness to stay apprised of the current evidence and always be learning.

Honesty. A therapeutic relationship requires authenticity and transparency. If I don’t know something I will say so and we can learn together.

Presence. It is important that I show up to every appointment with focus and empathy in order to create a safe and grounded experience for you.

Accountability. Healing requires being proactive and engaged.

Humor. A bit levity can help all of us face challenges, and even unfathomable trauma, with a sense of grace and connection. I will never make light of your experience, but if appropriate, we can remind one another that there can always be a laugh within reach.

A woman with long blonde hair wearing a red sweater, smiling outdoors with green trees and sunlight in the background.


Education & Experience

I started my undergraduate studies at Western Washington University where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and English literature. From there I earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Washington. I worked as a registered nurse (RN) in acute care neurology and inpatient psychiatry for seven years. While working as an RN, I completed a three-year Doctor of Nursing Practice program to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. While residency programs are not required for nurse practitioners, I opted to complete a year-long residency at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs (SFVA) for additional training. I continued to work at the SFVA for two years following the residency program. In addition to working with the full spectrum of psychiatric disorders while at the SFVA, I also focused on substance use disorders, women’s mental health, chronic pain, and trauma.