Bipolar Disorder Psychiatrists in Utah

I value open communication and collaboration with my patients. I create a warm, caring environment where individuals feel heard and respected. My approach is both evidence-based and supportive, blending professionalism with a welcoming demeanor. I am passionate about mental health advocacy and reducing stigma. During initial psychiatric evaluations, I take time to fully understand each patient's history, concerns, and goals. I develop individualized treatment plans that align with these goals and may include supportive therapy or referrals for more intensive therapy if needed. Follow-up appointments typically last 30 minutes, allowing time to track progress and make adjustments as necessary.

I am a Board-Certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, DNP, PMHNP-BC, with over a decade of experience in mental health care. I began my nursing career in 2007 and have been practicing as a psychiatric nurse practitioner since 2014. I earned my BSN from Texas Christian University, my MSN from The University of Texas at Arlington, and my DNP from The University of Alabama in Huntsville. I have worked in a wide range of settings including inpatient hospitals, residential treatment centers, partial and intensive outpatient programs, correctional psychiatry, and substance abuse treatment. My clinical experience spans various conditions such as ADHD, eating disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, PTSD, and treatment-resistant depression.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and three children, traveling, decorating, and watching reality TV.

I create a warm, collaborative, and supportive environment where patients feel respected and understood. I believe in the power of psychotherapy combined with evidence-based psychiatric care, always striving to integrate both in treatment. Open communication and clear, realistic goal setting are central to my approach. I am committed to a holistic perspective that considers emotional, physical, cultural, and social well-being. With an emphasis on empowerment, I encourage patients to take an active role in their healing journey.

I begin with a comprehensive evaluation to learn each patient's history, concerns, and goals. I develop individualized treatment plans that may integrate therapy modalities such as CBT, DBT, TF-CBT, psychoanalysis, and FETI, along with medication management when appropriate. Using a goal-oriented, step-by-step process, I track progress and adapt treatment as needs evolve. Through ongoing dialogue, I ensure patients feel supported, informed, and engaged throughout their care. My aim is to foster long-term resilience and overall wellness, not just symptom relief.

I am a board-certified psychiatrist with experience across outpatient, inpatient, and community mental health settings. I completed my psychiatry residency at Indiana University School of Medicine – Vincennes in July 2024 after earning my medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. Recognized for my exceptional psychotherapy skills, I received therapy awards in both my PGY3 and PGY4 years. My background reflects a commitment to blending strong clinical training with compassionate, patient-focused care.

I am a Christian counselor and believe people have need of mind/body/spirit balance to address the emotional pain, psychological turmoil, and physical challenges in life. I meet individuals where they are and, with the focus of accomplishing the wellness goals of the individual, answer the need for therapeutic interventions. I use a variety of modalities dependent on the needs of the patient, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Christ Centered Christian Counseling Intervention. Patients should be aware that I specialize in straightforwardness and application of the structure of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in sessions. Patients are of the utmost importance when receiving therapy and are the key to mental health intervention and thereby change. I respect the wishes of patients with target goals and behaviors, while also providing support, care, and help. I acknowledge and am knowledgeable about getting to the heart of problems, issues, and concerns and identifying what is best in the patient's opinion to address, then addressing them. I typically address the dynamics of a therapeutic relationship with patients, along with asking and assessing what patients hope to obtain or accomplish in therapy, and I discuss each clinical step taken to get to the accomplishments of the patient.

I received my bachelor's from the University of Kansas and my master's from the University of Missouri, and I continue educational opportunities in counseling/therapy and theology. I have decades of experience collaborating with patients providing mental health care and interventions to facilitate health and wellness, and I have worked in all aspects of mental health ranging from crisis care to rehabilitation. I have a great depth of community service connections and resources to link individuals in the community and an opportunity to extend support networks for greater health.

I have worked with a wide range of diagnoses including Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Marital, Grief, Alcohol and Substance Use, Addictions, Workplace Issues, Relationship and Social Issues, Multicultural Issues, Faith Crisis, and Adjustment Issues.

My approach to patient care begins with a thorough medical and psychiatric history, to include evaluation of co-morbid medical conditions and treatments that may be contributing to psychiatric symptoms. I reserve the end of the appointment for education regarding diagnosis, treatment options, any recommended medical work up, and reviewing the most up-to-date evidence-based literature. I also provide recommendations on non-pharmacologic interventions, to include psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications.

My areas of expertise include the management of psychiatric conditions in patients with complex medical illnesses and complex psychopharmacology. This includes the areas of neuropsychiatry, perinatal and reproductive psychiatry, women's health throughout all ages of adulthood, transplant psychiatry, and psycho-oncology. My interests include emergency psychiatry, brain stimulation therapies, complex psychopharmacology, and psychopharmacology in the medically ill.

I am board-certified in General Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) by the ABPN. I received my medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed my residency in General Psychiatry as well as my fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) at Virginia Commonwealth University. I spent most of my career in large, urban academic medical centers, primarily taking care of patients with severe mental illness, as well as those with mental illness comorbid with other complex medical conditions. Prior to joining Talkiatry, I held various leadership positions in academic medicine, emergency psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and brain stimulation at multiple academic medical centers.

I have a passion for medical education and have held faculty appointments at Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Utah, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I have authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and provided academic presentations to both national and international audiences.

My practice focuses on medication management as well as supportive and insight-oriented psychotherapy. I believe that a combination of therapy and medications helps provide a patient with the best outcome. My goal is to help patients live their best and most fulfilling lives. In addition to general psychiatry, I have a keen interest in mood disorders, helping creatives achieve their goals, and the LGBTQ community.

I am a board-certified psychiatrist who has been in practice for 25 years. My career has been devoted to serving both my local community as well as high-risk and underserved patients. As a pioneer and advocate for the use of telepsychiatry years prior to the pandemic, I have presented at the American Telehealth conference as well as at grand rounds.

I believe you are the expert of your own story. I take an empowering, hands-on approach that highlights your strengths, helping you break down barriers and move toward a life that feels whole, healed, and fulfilling. My goal is to leave you feeling encouraged and motivated to achieve meaningful change. I start by building a safe, trusting space where vulnerability and personal growth can take root. I avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, instead developing customized goals and strategies based on your specific needs. Being seen, heard, and understood is central to my practice. I meet you where you are and support you in moving toward healing and growth.

I have been practicing since 2013 after earning my Master's in Social Work from New York University. I have experience supporting individuals with stress, anxiety, family conflicts, parenting issues, and interpersonal relationships, and I have treated a wide range of conditions including PTSD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and bipolar disorders. I have worked in diverse settings including a mental health clinic, an outpatient hospital program, and a nonprofit specializing in parent-child psychotherapy.

I specialize in medication management, working primarily with adult patients in an outpatient setting. While my primary focus is pharmacological treatment, I frequently collaborate with therapists to provide comprehensive care when indicated. I have extensive experience treating civilians, active-duty military personnel, and veterans, addressing conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, and trauma-related disorders.

I am a board-certified adult psychiatrist. I earned my medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, KY. Following medical school, I entered active duty service in the U.S. Army, where I completed my psychiatry residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI. After completing my training, I practiced as a staff psychiatrist at Fort Hood, TX, fulfilling my service obligation.

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough psychiatric evaluation where I take time to understand their history, symptoms, and treatment goals. I provide a structured yet compassionate approach to care, discussing medication options and potential therapeutic interventions. For patients who may benefit from additional therapy, I collaborate with therapists to ensure a well-rounded treatment plan tailored to each individual's needs.

I enjoy treating a wide variety of psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. I believe strongly in individualized treatment that focuses on holistic, compassionate, and collaborative care. I love to incorporate psychotherapeutic techniques and goal setting together with medication management to help patients achieve wellness and fulfillment in their lives.

I grew up in southeastern Idaho. I earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of California at Berkeley in 2009 and my Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in 2014 from the University of Chicago. I completed my psychiatry residency at the University of Utah in 2018 and became board certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2019. Following my residency, I worked as an inpatient psychiatrist at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah and served as an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. In 2021 I moved to Dallas, Texas to work in a residential and partial hospitalization treatment center for eating disorders.

Most of my work as a psychiatrist is with adults navigating PTSD, OCD, and the shifts that come with becoming a parent, including postpartum depression. I also spend time with people managing more complex patterns, like personality disorders, bipolar disorder, and anxiety that has quietly reshaped their daily lives. I trained in general adult psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, where I served as Chief Resident of Education in my final year, and I bring an analytical, problem-solving mindset to sorting out what's actually driving a person's symptoms.

I don't think good treatment can start until I understand someone fully, so the first visit is a thorough evaluation where I take my time with your history, your symptoms, and what you're actually hoping to change. Medication management is the foundation of what I do, but it's one piece of the picture, not the whole plan. Depending on what you need, I'll fold in supportive therapy or recommend adding a therapist so the care around you is well-rounded. I try to be transparent about my reasoning and to build decisions with you rather than hand them down, and I tend to look for the strengths already there to work from.

I especially find common ground with parents and caregivers trying to hold their own health steady while looking after everyone else. The first step is really just a conversation, and we sort out the direction together once I understand where you're starting from.