Hi, I’m Carlie and I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner who’s been working in mental health for the past 7 years. I prescribe mental health medications as well as provide therapy and counseling services. I believe strongly that our mental health is the most fundamental part of our well-being, and I’m passionate about helping people figure out how to thrive in their own way. Whether you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and stuck, or you think anxiety and depression are preventing you from functioning at your best, or you feel something from your past is holding you back from living the life you want, I’d like to give you an opportunity to feel heard and understood, and help you find a way forward.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session, we’ll talk about what you hope to get out our time together. Then we’ll spend time talking about who you are, what you care about, and how you came to be the person you are. While you may not be able to share your entire story in our first conversation, learning a little about your history will help us make a plan of where you want to be, and how you can get there. My goal will be that you leave our first appointment feeling comfortable and hopeful.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

What I hear most from clients is that they come away from our time feeling understood; I also hear that they feel relieved and hopeful after our appointments. If someone doesn’t get you, or understand how you tick and what’s important to you, how can they effectively help you? I’m a pretty down-to-earth person who’s generally easy to talk to, and I think that makes it easy for people to open up. Once you feel understood, the possibilities are endless. For example, if you feel a genuine and healthy connection with someone, it makes it easier to get at the root of problems, and even to be challenged in a healthy way without feeling judged. It’s that initial groundwork of understanding someone, and building a trusting and comfortable relationship, where I feel I shine; and this, I believe, creates space for real progress and growth. **Please note: I do not prescribe controlled substances like Stimulants (for example Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Vyvanse), or benzodiazepines (for example Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin).

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

While I’m happy to just help someone with medication refills, I particularly enjoy spending the extra time with someone who’s just considering medication for the first time. I also have considerable experience helping those who think they are not on the right medication. More than anything though, I enjoy working with people who are open to considering that medication is not the only solution to their problems. While I believe medications can be an important, and sometimes necessary piece of the puzzle, so often there are other factors that are significantly negatively impacting our mental health, and I thoroughly enjoy helping people target and address those as well.

About Carlie Tilson