Adriana Gonzalez

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with several years of experience providing psychiatric care to adolescents, adults, and older adults. My background allows me to look at mental health from both a psychiatric and medical perspective, which I find especially valuable when symptoms may be influenced by physical health conditions, medications, sleep, or other medical factors.

I have experience treating a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma-related conditions, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, personality disorders, and insomnia.

I value building a relationship where patients feel comfortable speaking openly and feel respected throughout the treatment process. My goal is not only to treat symptoms, but also to help patients better understand what they are experiencing and feel more confident participating in decisions about their care.

My approach is collaborative, individualized, and patient-centered. I believe that every patient comes with a different history, set of circumstances, and treatment goals, so I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to psychiatric care.

I take time to listen carefully and understand what is affecting the patient emotionally, medically, and in their daily life. When medication is appropriate, I discuss the available options, expected benefits, possible side effects, and alternatives so that we can make treatment decisions together.

Education is also an important part of the way I practice. I want patients to understand why a treatment is being recommended, what changes we are hoping to see, and what they should pay attention to between visits. I aim to create a supportive environment where patients feel comfortable asking questions and discussing concerns about their treatment.

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough and unhurried evaluation. I usually begin by reviewing the patient's medical history, current and previous medical conditions, medications, and other health factors that may be contributing to or affecting their mental health.

I then complete a comprehensive psychiatric assessment, where we discuss current symptoms, previous mental health treatment, medications that have been tried in the past, family and social history, sleep, daily functioning, and other factors that can help me understand the overall clinical picture.

Once the assessment is completed, we discuss my impressions and develop a treatment plan together. I spend time explaining the treatment recommendations, the goals we are working toward, what to expect from medications when they are prescribed, and how to recognize possible side effects or signs that the treatment may need to be adjusted.

My goal for the first session is for patients to leave with a clearer understanding of what may be contributing to their symptoms, what our treatment plan will be, and what the next steps are. I also want patients to feel that they have had enough time to ask questions and that their concerns have been heard.