Monissa Richards

I am a psychiatric mental health professional with more than six years of nursing experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults across inpatient behavioral health, substance-use treatment, admissions, and medical settings. I earned my Master of Science in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Walden University and my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duke University School of Nursing.

My background includes psychiatric assessment, crisis intervention, medication administration, care coordination, patient education, and discharge planning. I am committed to providing compassionate, respectful care that recognizes each person’s unique experiences, strengths, and goals.

My approach is compassionate, collaborative, and patient-centered. I believe clients are the experts on their own lives, and I work alongside them to better understand their concerns, identify meaningful goals, and create an individualized plan for moving forward.

I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space for clients experiencing mental health concerns, life stressors, substance-use concerns, or periods of crisis. I focus on listening closely, building trust, and helping clients develop practical strategies that support their well-being and daily functioning. When appropriate, I also value coordination with other members of a client’s care team to promote whole-person care.

During the first session, clients can expect a welcoming, respectful, and judgment-free conversation. We will discuss what brought them to care, their current concerns, relevant personal and health history, strengths, supports, and what they hope to gain from treatment.

My goal is for clients to feel heard and understood while we begin identifying priorities and next steps together. By the end of the visit, clients can expect greater clarity about their concerns and an initial plan tailored to their individual needs and goals.