Eliza Rivera-Mitu
I’m Eliza Rivera-Mitu, a board-certified psychiatric mental health and family nurse practitioner, and co-owner of Angeles Health and Wellness Center. I bring more than 30 years of nursing experience to my work, along with a deep respect for the life experiences that shape each person’s mental health. As a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines, I understand that building a life in a new country can bring both opportunity and strain. Cultural expectations, family responsibilities, language, faith, and the pressure to succeed can influence how we express distress—and whether we feel comfortable asking for help. My experience caring for people from varied cultural backgrounds has taught me to approach these conversations with curiosity and respect, without assuming that one person’s experience represents an entire community.
Thoughtful psychiatric care that honors your culture, understands your whole health, and supports your strengths.
My clinical background spans primary care, addiction care, cardiology, hospice, and nursing education. This broad perspective helps me consider how physical health, medications, sleep, stress, and relationships may contribute to what you are experiencing. I completed my psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner training at UC Davis. My training at UC-LEND further strengthened my understanding of neurodiversity, including autism and ADHD, and the importance of recognizing individual strengths, support needs, and family perspectives. My practice focuses on psychiatric evaluations and medication management, with supportive psychotherapy during visits. Together, we will explore your concerns, discuss treatment options, and develop a plan that fits your goals, culture, and daily life. I want you to feel comfortable asking questions, sharing concerns, and taking an active role in your care.
First session
Your first session is an opportunity to share what brought you to care, what has been difficult, and what you hope will change. You do not need to prepare a perfect explanation or know where to begin—I will guide the conversation and make room for your questions. We will explore your symptoms, health history, previous treatment, medications, sleep, daily responsibilities, and sources of support. I also want to understand your strengths and how culture, family, faith, or neurodivergence may shape your experience. If discussing something feels difficult, you can let me know so we can approach it thoughtfully. By the end of the visit, my hope is that you feel heard, respected, and clearer about the next steps. We will discuss my initial impressions, identify your priorities, and begin developing a realistic care plan. When medication is appropriate, I will explain the options, potential benefits, and side effects. You will have space to express concerns and participate in decisions; a first visit does not always result in a prescription or a final diagnosis. In individual visits, I center your goals, preferences, and privacy. When a partner or family member joins with your consent, I invite their perspective to better understand communication, daily challenges, and available support while keeping your needs and voice central. For neurodivergent clients, I can adjust my communication style, pacing, and explanations to support comfort and understanding. My practice focuses on psychiatric evaluations and medication management, with supportive psychotherapy during visits. Partner or family involvement supports your psychiatric care; if ongoing couples or family therapy would be helpful, we can discuss an appropriate referral. You do not have to solve everything in the first session. Our goal is to establish trust and leave you with a manageable next step.
Strengths
I bring psychiatric expertise, broad medical experience, cultural awareness, and a practical teaching approach. As both a psychiatric mental health and family nurse practitioner, I consider how emotional symptoms intersect with physical health, sleep, medication effects, relationships, and daily stress. My background in primary care, addiction care, cardiology, and hospice helps me connect these pieces. Earlier in my RN career, I worked in extended care and home health, caring for children with disabilities in collaboration with local regional centers. Working closely with patients, families, and community teams taught me the importance of individualized support, caregiver perspectives, and continuity of care. Those lessons continue to inform my approach to adult psychiatric care. My UC-LEND training further strengthened my understanding of neurodiversity, including autism and ADHD. I look beyond diagnostic labels to understand your strengths, communication preferences, sensory experiences, and support needs. Together, we can identify goals that improve daily functioning while respecting who you are. As a first-generation Filipino immigrant with experience serving people from varied cultural backgrounds, I recognize that family expectations, faith, identity, and stigma can shape how we experience distress and seek help. I make room for these conversations without assuming that your background defines your beliefs. As a longtime nursing educator, I explain diagnoses and treatment options in clear, accessible language. We will discuss medication benefits, possible side effects, and your questions so you can make informed decisions. I combine medication management with supportive psychotherapy and practical strategies during visits. We will regularly review what is helping and adjust what is not. My goal is for you to feel understood, actively involved in your care, and supported by a plan that fits your life.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is an adult who wants to better understand their mental health and find a practical, personalized path forward. They may be navigating anxiety, depression, attention difficulties, mood changes, or the exhaustion of trying to meet everyone else’s expectations. Some have felt misunderstood for years; others are seeking support for the first time. I especially connect with people facing life transitions: building a career, adjusting to a new culture, becoming a parent, caring for loved ones, experiencing relationship changes, or adapting to aging and changes in health. I also welcome neurodivergent adults, including those exploring or living with ADHD or autism, who want care that recognizes both their strengths and their challenges. As a first-generation immigrant, I understand that seeking help can feel complicated when cultural or family expectations encourage privacy, self-reliance, or putting others first. My ideal client wants space to explore these influences while honoring the values and relationships that matter to them. They do not need to arrive with a clear diagnosis, the “right” words, or certainty about medication. A willingness to share their experience, ask questions, and work together is enough. We can move at a thoughtful pace, discuss options openly, and set realistic goals. My practice centers on psychiatric evaluation and medication management, with supportive psychotherapy integrated into visits. This approach fits clients who want to understand their symptoms, consider whether medication may help, and develop practical ways to manage daily challenges. Their goals may include steadier moods, improved focus, healthier boundaries, or feeling more present in their relationships. Together, we will define what meaningful progress looks like in their own lives.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques into supportive psychotherapy during medication management visits. We explore how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence one another and identify patterns that may contribute to anxiety, depression, or daily stress. Together, we may practice questioning unhelpful thoughts, developing more balanced perspectives, breaking overwhelming tasks into manageable steps, or building routines that support your goals. I adapt these strategies to your needs, cultural context, and neurodivergent strengths and challenges. At follow-up visits, we review what you tried, what helped, and what needs adjustment. For clients seeking structured, ongoing CBT, I recommend working with a dedicated therapist alongside our medication management.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions21515 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503, Ste 200
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 23310
- NevadaLicense 893195