Married, outnumbered by kids and cats, and happily riding the chaos—I am a lightly-seasoned professional with nearly 20 years in the field, a college kid launched, and two more still keeping life interesting at home. When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me chasing adrenaline on roller coasters, diving headfirst into late-night rabbit holes (the stranger the better), or debating conspiracy theories that may or may not hold water. I have a soft spot for scary movies, sun-soaked beach days, and everything that comes with summertime. Equal parts grounded and curious, I bring some experience, humor, and just the right amount of “what if?” to everything I do.
Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Northern Kentucky University
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (PMHNP-BC)
Licensed APRN (IL License #: 209.027297)
…my all-time favorite amusement park!
…horror films and their therapeutic value.
…the best spot to plan your next family beach outing!
Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Northern Kentucky University
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (PMHNP-BC)
Licensed APRN (IL License #: 209.027297)
My path into this work has been shaped by nearly two decades in the mental health field, including more than 15 years in psychiatric care and experience supporting people through depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, dual diagnosis, crisis moments, and major life transitions. Before becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I worked for many years as a psychiatric registered nurse, which taught me the value of staying grounded, listening closely, and meeting people with compassion when life feels overwhelming.
My approach is collaborative and practical. Whether we are completing a diagnostic assessment, talking through symptoms, building a treatment plan, or adjusting medication, I want care to feel personalized, thoughtful, and connected to your real life—not like a one-size-fits-all checklist. I bring humor, curiosity, and a steady presence to the process.
While I am available to prescribe medication, I believe treatment works best when we look at the whole person. Medication can be an important tool, but it is not the only tool. Together, we can talk through your options, consider what has or has not worked before, and create a plan that helps you move toward healing, stability, and feeling more like yourself.
My patients find our sessions to be collaborative, down-to-earth, and conversational. There may be moments that feel more clinical as I complete assessments, ask questions, review symptoms, or talk through medication and treatment options, but I prioritize keeping our space comfortable, human, and easy to talk in.
My clinical posture combines thoughtful curiosity with compassion and whole-person respect. We might spend time unpacking things that have been weighing on you, patterns that keep repeating, and potential solutions that have helped before. With my background in psychiatric care, crisis support, addiction treatment, and medication management, I bring both clinical experience and real-world practicality to the room.
More than anything, I want sessions to feel like a place where you can show up as yourself—even if life feels messy, chaotic, or uncertain—and know that we can sort through it together with care, good humor, and a plan that actually makes sense for your life.
I have extensive experience working with patients in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings, and I especially value working with people who are trying to make sense of complicated symptoms, stressful life seasons, or patterns that have become hard to manage on their own. My background includes psychiatric assessment, medication management, crisis intervention, dual diagnosis care, and addiction treatment, including work with individuals navigating alcohol and substance use concerns.
I often see patients experiencing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, mood disorders, ADHD, life transitions, and the everyday chaos that can come with trying to keep yourself, your family, and your responsibilities somewhat upright. Whatever you’re carrying, we can tackle it together.
My approach is collaborative, practical, and individualized, combining thoughtful medication management with real conversation, clear treatment planning, and support that fits the person sitting in front of me, not just the diagnosis.
If you’ve made it this far, know that I’m honored that you’re considering working with me!
Taking the first step toward support can feel like a lot, especially if you’re already juggling symptoms, stress, family, work, or the general chaos of being a human. You don’t need the perfect words, a clear plan, or everything neatly sorted before you start.
Building a container in which you can talk openly, ask questions, and feel met with compassion rather than judgment is one of the most important parts of my job. I walk my patients through treatment step-by-step, whether that means exploring what you’ve been experiencing, talking through medication options, or figuring out what kind of support actually makes sense for your life.
I would be happy to meet you and see if we feel like a match for your psychiatric care! Please don’t hesitate to reach out for scheduling or with any questions.
Here are answers to questions I hear from clients most often!
Mood changes can happen for many reasons, including stress, life circumstances, or underlying conditions like depression or bipolar disorder. When mood shifts feel intense, frequent, or hard to manage, it may be helpful to look at both therapy and medication options to create more stability.
Difficulty with focus is often not about effort—it can be related to how attention and executive functioning systems work in the brain. This is commonly seen in ADHD. A psychiatric evaluation can help clarify what’s contributing to these challenges and whether medication or other supports could help.
Feeling stuck can happen when your brain and body are having difficulty shifting out of certain patterns, even when you’re motivated to change. Medication can sometimes help create enough space to make therapy and other strategies more effective.
Medication can be helpful if symptoms like anxiety, depression, or attention difficulties are interfering with your daily life. You don’t need to decide that on your own—we can talk through your experiences together and determine whether medication is one of several options worth considering.
Most psychiatric medications work by helping regulate brain chemistry involved in mood, attention, and stress responses. The goal isn’t to change who you are, but to reduce symptoms so you can function more comfortably and effectively in your daily life.
It depends on the type of medication. Some medications begin working within days, while others may take a few weeks to reach full effect. We monitor progress closely and make adjustments as needed to find what works best for you.
Yes. We provide psychiatry services for individuals in Naperville and throughout the western suburbs of Chicago. Our approach is no-pressure, collaborative, and focused on making sure you get the most out of integrated mental wellness services.
The right medication should help reduce symptoms without causing significant side effects. Finding that balance can take some adjustment, which is a normal part of the process. We’ll work together to monitor how you’re feeling and make thoughtful changes if needed.
It’s not necessarily an either/or decision. Many people benefit from a combination of both. Therapy helps you understand patterns and build skills, while medication can support your ability to engage in that work. We can explore what combination makes the most sense for you.
Medication may be considered when symptoms like anxiety, mood changes, or attention difficulties are significantly impacting your child’s daily functioning at school, home, or socially. We take a thoughtful and cautious approach, always considering developmental factors and involving parents in the decision-making process.
Children and teens are still developing the skills to regulate emotions and behavior. When those challenges become more intense or persistent, it may reflect underlying factors such as anxiety, ADHD, or mood-related concerns. A psychiatric evaluation can help clarify what’s going on and what support might be helpful.
Medications for children and teens are carefully selected and monitored based on age, symptoms, and overall development. The goal is to support emotional and behavioral regulation while minimizing side effects. We work closely with both the child and family throughout the process.
Parents are an important part of the process. We collaborate closely to ensure that decisions are informed, thoughtful, and aligned with what’s best for your child. Questions and concerns are always welcome at every step.
A common concern is feeling like medication will change who you are. The goal is actually the opposite—to help you feel more like yourself by reducing symptoms that may be getting in the way. If something doesn’t feel right, we adjust together.
