Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and graduate of George Mason University, licensed to serve clients in Virginia, Washington DC, and Iowa. I bring nearly two decades of clinical experience across nursing and psychiatric care, beginning my career in the Philippines, continuing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and practicing in the United States since 2016. As a Filipino American and first generation immigrant, I bring clinical expertise alongside lived understanding of cultural nuance, resilience, and the challenges many individuals face while navigating systemic barriers, life transitions, and emotional stress. I specialize in helping adults experiencing ADHD, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, mood challenges, and difficulty with focus or stress regulation who are seeking thoughtful psychiatric care and clear guidance. Many of my clients are high functioning individuals who appear capable on the outside but internally feel exhausted or stuck in patterns that no longer serve them. My approach combines neuroscience informed psychiatric evaluation, collaborative medication management, and practical psychological insight to help you feel more grounded, supported, and confident in your treatment plan. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, I work collaboratively with you to understand deeper patterns while building practical strategies that support long term stability and growth. Medication is one of many tools, prescribed thoughtfully with careful attention to avoiding unnecessary polypharmacy. When clinically appropriate, I provide medical cannabis consultation as part of a comprehensive psychiatric treatment plan, focusing on safety, individualized assessment, and integration with overall mental health care. My style is clear, direct, and grounded in compassion, helping you feel understood while moving forward with intention.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
During our first session, we will focus on understanding what has been feeling difficult for you, whether that includes anxiety, mood changes, ADHD related challenges, emotional overwhelm, or difficulty with focus and stress. We will explore your concerns, history, and goals in a calm, supportive, and structured way so you gain clarity about what may be contributing to your symptoms. You can expect a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, discussion of possible diagnoses, and clear explanation of treatment options, including collaborative medication management when appropriate. My goal is for you to leave the session feeling understood, reassured, and with a clear practical plan for next steps, even if you are unsure where to begin or feel overwhelmed coming into the appointment.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My approach is grounded in neuroscience, evidence based research, and extensive clinical experience, while also being deeply informed by lived understanding of resilience, cultural identity, and the challenges many people face when navigating systems shaped by poverty, bias, or generational struggle. I recognize that many individuals carry invisible burdens while still striving to function, succeed, and move forward in life. My role is to help you understand both your pain and your strengths without judgment, while creating a clear and realistic path toward change. I combine thoughtful psychiatric care with a direct and compassionate style. Insight is important, but lasting progress also requires practical tools and meaningful action. Together, we explore patterns that may be shaping your emotional experiences, including unconscious habits, coping strategies, and behavioral loops. From there, we work on building skills, structure, and clarity so you can apply what you learn in real life, not just in conversation. Patients often describe feeling genuinely seen and understood while also feeling challenged in supportive ways that promote growth. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe enough to explore difficult experiences and empowered enough to move forward with intention, confidence, and self respect. This work is not only about reducing symptoms but about helping you develop greater self awareness, resilience, and a stronger sense of direction in your life.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work best with adults experiencing ADHD, anxiety, mood challenges, emotional overwhelm, or difficulty with focus, stress regulation, or life transitions who are looking for thoughtful, collaborative psychiatric care. Many of my clients are motivated for change and want a deeper understanding of their patterns while also developing practical strategies that improve daily functioning and overall well-being. I also support individuals navigating substance use concerns, complex mood presentations, or long standing emotional patterns, as well as those who want to simplify or carefully taper psychotropic medications when appropriate. I take a thoughtful and individualized approach to medication management, paying close attention to the potential risks of polypharmacy and working collaboratively to create treatment plans that are safe, realistic, and aligned with your goals. My approach emphasizes careful clinical decision making, clear communication, and a balanced focus on symptom relief, long term health outcomes, and quality of life.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help clients set clear, achievable goals while recognizing past successes and existing strengths that can support meaningful change. This approach focuses on identifying what is already working and applying those effective strategies to current challenges. For example, with clients experiencing anxiety or ADHD related difficulties, we explore times when they successfully managed stress or improved focus and then build practical steps that can be applied in daily life. By emphasizing strengths, resilience, and forward movement, clients often feel more empowered, hopeful, and motivated. Within psychiatric care, I integrate solution focused strategies alongside thoughtful evaluation and collaborative medication management when appropriate, helping clients experience meaningful progress in a structured and time efficient way. Also, I integrate Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a structured, evidence-based approach that helps patients identify rigid core beliefs (“musts”), reduce emotional overreaction, and build psychological resilience through flexible thinking and self-acceptance.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients develop psychological flexibility, improve emotional regulation, and build resilience in the face of stress, anxiety, and life challenges. ACT focuses on learning how to relate differently to difficult thoughts and emotions rather than trying to eliminate them, allowing clients to move toward meaningful values and goals. I use ACT principles to support individuals experiencing anxiety, ADHD related challenges, mood concerns, and emotional overwhelm by combining mindfulness based strategies, behavioral change, and practical skills that improve daily functioning. When appropriate, ACT techniques are integrated alongside thoughtful psychiatric evaluation and collaborative medication management to create a balanced and personalized treatment approach that promotes long term growth and stability.
Trauma Informed Care
I provide trauma informed care by recognizing how past experiences, chronic stress, and life adversity can influence emotional regulation, relationships, and overall mental health. My approach focuses on creating a safe, collaborative environment where clients feel respected and empowered while moving at a pace that feels manageable. I integrate neuroscience informed understanding with thoughtful psychiatric evaluation to help identify how trauma may impact mood, anxiety, attention, and coping patterns. Treatment may include careful medication management when appropriate, along with practical strategies that support stability, resilience, and long term healing. My goal is to balance compassion with clarity, helping clients understand their experiences without pathologizing their strengths or survival strategies.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a structured, evidence based approach to help clients understand how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact and influence mental health. CBT is especially effective for anxiety, ADHD, depression, stress management, emotional regulation, and improving focus and daily functioning. My approach focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, reducing overthinking, building coping skills, and developing practical strategies that support long term change. I integrate CBT techniques with trauma informed care and collaborative medication management when appropriate, creating a comprehensive treatment plan that supports symptom relief, resilience, and meaningful progress in everyday life.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I incorporate mindfulness based approaches to help clients develop greater awareness of thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations without judgment. Mindfulness techniques support emotional regulation, stress reduction, improved focus, and increased resilience, making them especially helpful for individuals experiencing anxiety, ADHD related challenges, mood concerns, and burnout. My approach focuses on practical, accessible strategies that can be applied in daily life, such as grounding skills, present moment awareness, and learning how to respond rather than react to difficult experiences. Within psychiatric care, mindfulness practices are integrated alongside thoughtful evaluation and collaborative medication management when appropriate, creating a balanced treatment plan that supports both symptom relief and long term well being.
11 ratings with written reviews
November 17, 2025
Grace is always encouraging, thorough, and wants to make sure I am well supported.
November 1, 2025
I have been a client with Grace for a little short of two years now, and she has helped me handle the challenges in my life in countless ways. She is so easy to talk to and I felt comfortable with her from the very first session. I am incredibly grateful to have her as my provider and I could not recommend her more!
October 24, 2025
I’ve been seeing Grace virtually and I couldn’t be more grateful for her support. She’s incredibly warm, attentive, and truly passionate about what she does. She takes the time to listen and always offers thoughtful, detailed guidance. I feel seen, heard, and cared for in every session. Highly recommend!