Dr. Dawnmarie Risley

Dr. Dawnmarie Risley is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based care to adults with complex mental health needs. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia through comprehensive medication management and supportive therapy.

Dr. Risley founded Blue Skies Psychiatry of Mendocino in 2019, offering telepsychiatry services that combine clinical expertise with the convenience of virtual care. Her extensive background includes work in forensic psychiatry, community mental health, and private practice settings across California.

With a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Risley brings a holistic approach to psychiatric treatment. She also serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Western University Health Sciences, where she mentors the next generation of physicians.

Dr. Risley is committed to creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where patients can work toward healing and meaningful change in their lives.

Dr. Risley brings a holistic, trauma-informed approach to psychiatric care that treats the whole person, not just symptoms. Drawing on her osteopathic training and 25+ years of experience across diverse clinical settings, she combines evidence-based medication management with supportive psychotherapy to build long-term therapeutic relationships. She creates a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where patients can understand their struggles in context, recognizing how trauma, systemic factors, and life circumstances impact mental health. Through accessible telepsychiatry services, she partners collaboratively with patients to pursue meaningful healing and sustainable change.

In your first session, you can expect a thorough, unhurried conversation where we'll explore what brings you to treatment, your current symptoms, medical and psychiatric history, and your treatment goals. I'll listen carefully to understand not just your diagnosis, but your whole story - how your mental health challenges fit into the broader context of your life, relationships, and circumstances. We'll discuss previous treatments, medications you've tried, and what has or hasn't worked for you. This is also your opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and get a sense of whether we're a good fit for working together. By the end of our first session, we'll have a collaborative treatment plan that might include medication management, supportive therapy, or both - tailored to your specific needs and goals. My aim is for you to leave feeling heard, understood, and hopeful about the path forward.