Are you taking new patients?

Yes! I am currently scheduling new patients (who live in Colorado) within 2-3 weeks. If that changes and my caseload is full, there will be an active waitlist. I only see adults 18 years old and over.

Do you take insurance?

Yes! Please see the “Getting Started/Info” section above for the latest info on insurance companies for which I am in-network.

Is it required for me to meet with you in-person?

The current model is a hybrid one. That being said, I do think meeting for an intake in-person is ideal. However it is not always possible logistically. Meeting at some point face-to-face early in treatment is the goal. Some patients on certain medications (particularly controlled substances, for example stimulants) need closer monitoring and will be asked to meet face-to-face more often.

Are you able to assess for and treat adult ADHD?

Diagnosing ADHD in adults is complicated and takes time. If you have been diagnosed in the past, I will ask for evidence of the assessment that was performed, especially if you have had any neuropsychological testing. I might also recommend you obtain additional testing if that is clinically indicated. Distractability, difficulty concentrating, and lack of motivation can be symptoms of many different mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD (to name a few). Sometimes they are normative depending on the circumstance.

As a general rule, if patients have both mood disorders and ADHD symptoms, I treat mood symptoms first in order to better assess for symptoms of inattention and lack of focus that sometimes resolve with treatment with an anti-depressant or equivalent. One of the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, a neuro-developmental disorder, is having symptoms prior to the age of 12. Some patients, for a variety of reasons, have symptoms that are missed or find ways to accommodate behaviorally that mask their underlying struggle. These cases take even longer to identify. As a result, there is no guarantee that I will prescribe, continue, or refill your stimulant medication if I have doubts about the diagnosis, particularly at the first visit.

What do the letters behind your name mean? How is your role different from that of a psychiatrist?

APRN stands for an Advance Practice Registered Nurse, and PMHNP-BC stands for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified. This means that I have a Master’s degree in nursing and specialized training in psychiatry and mental health. Through this role, I am licensed in Colorado to diagnose psychiatric disorders and prescribe medications including controlled substances. Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors who have additional training and are considered experts; while our roles are similar, generally speaking psychiatrists treat more complicated and severe cases of mental illness. Our different roles complement, rather than compete, with each other. If I believe you would be better served by seeing a psychiatrist, I will refer you.

Why did you choose to name your practice “Illumine” Mental Health?

“Illumine” was chosen as a reference to Sister Mary Illuminata, my kindred great aunt, who embodied the values of kindness, integrity, and service to others.