Robert Silva
Before I ever prescribed psychiatric medication, I had already spent years caring for people in psychiatric crisis. My career in psychiatry started at 18—long before I could prescribe a medication or put PMHNP-BC after my name. I began as a mental health technician working directly with people in psychiatric crisis, then progressed through care coordination and psychiatric nursing before becoming a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Psychiatry has been the focus of my career since 2009.
While I enjoy helping people of all ages, I most often work with children and families navigating anxiety, mood challenges, ADHD, sleep difficulties, and life transitions.
Today, I work with children, adolescents, and adults. My style is warm, straightforward, practical, and collaborative. I want you—or your child—to feel comfortable enough to be honest, even when the subject is difficult. I take time to listen, explain what I think is happening and why, and make treatment decisions with you rather than simply handing you a prescription. Medication can be valuable, but I never forget that I am treating a person, not just a diagnosis. I provide care in both English and Spanish.
First session
Expect a conversation, not an interrogation. We will talk about what brought you in, what has changed, what you have already tried, your medical and psychiatric history, medications, sleep, relationships, school or work, daily functioning, and what you would actually like to improve. For children and adolescents, I want to understand both the caregiver’s concerns and the young person’s experience. By the end of the visit, my goal is for you to understand what I think may be happening, what I recommend, why I recommend it, and what comes next—even when the best decision is not to start a medication.
Strengths
One of my greatest strengths is being comfortable when things are complicated. Years of working with acute psychiatric illness taught me to stay calm, listen carefully, and talk about difficult subjects without judgment. I am also very intentional about making psychiatry understandable. I explain what I am seeing, why I am considering a diagnosis or medication, what the alternatives are, and what we should realistically expect. With children and adolescents, I make an effort to connect with the young person—not just speak about them with the adults in the room—while keeping parents meaningfully involved in treatment. Whether I am working with a child, parent, or adult patient, I want people to feel that they are talking with someone, not being talked at.
Ideal clients
My best fit is someone who wants more than a quick prescription. You may be a parent worried about changes you are seeing in your child, a teenager who does not quite know how to explain what is happening, or an adult who knows something feels off and wants to understand why. I work especially well with patients and families who value an honest conversation, thoughtful medication decisions, clear explanations, and a provider who considers the person behind the symptoms. You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what diagnosis you have or what treatment you need. Figuring that out is part of what we do together.
Treatment methods
Supportive
Supportive therapy is naturally woven into my psychiatric visits. We talk about more than a symptom checklist. I want to understand what is happening at home, school, work, in relationships, and in everyday life. I use active listening, encouragement, practical problem-solving, coping strategies, and honest feedback to help patients better understand what they are experiencing and what they can do about it. With younger patients, I adapt the conversation to their developmental level so the visit feels approachable rather than intimidating.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- FloridaLicense APRN11019635