Sharon Atwood

I am Sharon Atwood, a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of dedicated clinical experience. I hold active, unrestricted licenses in Florida, New York, California, and Idaho, and I specialize in serving adults aged 18 and older through both telehealth and outpatient settings.

My educational foundation reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence. I earned my Associate in Science and Diploma in Nursing before completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology magna cum laude from Kean University. I then pursued my Master of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University and a Post-Master's Certificate in Psychiatric-Mental Health from the University of Miami, both achieved summa cum laude. I maintain dual board certifications through ANCC and AANP, and I am a proud member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the California Association of Nurse Practitioners.

My clinical background spans diverse settings, including adult and geriatric primary care, inpatient psychiatry, crisis intervention, hospital consultation, assisted living environments, and outpatient psychiatric medication management. This breadth of experience equips me to confidently address a wide range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, sleep disturbances, and complex co-occurring presentations. I welcome individuals with treatment-resistant symptoms.

My approach is collaborative, evidence-based, and rooted in genuine partnership. I combine psychiatric medication management with integrative health practices, examining how sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress, and social connection shape your overall wellbeing. I believe that meaningful progress flourishes when expert care is paired with healthy lifestyle.

My practice rests on genuine partnership, thoughtful clinical care, and a strong belief that lasting wellness comes from combining expert psychiatric treatment with healthy daily habits and some well-timed humor. With over a decade of experience across adult and geriatric primary care, inpatient psychiatry, crisis intervention, and outpatient medication management, I offer both breadth and confidence to every person I am honored to treat.

My overall style is collaborative, evidence-based, and centered on helping you develop reliable, sustainable stability in your daily life. I always take time to fully understand the bigger picture of who you are, including your symptoms, history, strengths, routines, and personal goals, because quality care should respect the whole person rather than a single diagnosis. You can open up at your own pace, and every question is always welcome and encouraged.

With medication, I am detailed and transparent. I guide you through each available option, explain how different medications work, set realistic expectations for improvement, and talk candidly about any potential side effects. I am committed to informed consent and shared decision-making, so your preferences and comfort shape every decision we make together. If something feels off, we will discuss it honestly and look at other options as a team.

I monitor your progress carefully, adapt our plan as your life changes, and remain readily available between visits whenever questions or concerns arise. My approach also places intentional emphasis on wellness, considering how sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress, and meaningful relationships influence your emotional health and overall well-being alongside psychiatric treatment. Small, consistent changes in these areas can build real, positive momentum over time. When teamwork would strengthen your results, I coordinate with your other health care providers so your care remains connected and thorough.

Our first appointment is a chance to get to know one another and build a solid foundation for the work we’ll do together. As a dual board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Nurse Practitioner with more than ten years of clinical experience, I bring depth, perspective, and assurance to every evaluation. This visit is longer than a typical follow-up, giving us unhurried time for a real conversation and a complete understanding of your needs.

We’ll begin with what’s most important to you, including the concerns that led you here and how they’re impacting your daily routine, relationships, job, sleep, and overall functioning. I treat adults 18 and older with a broad range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, sleep difficulties, and complex co-occurring conditions. No matter how complicated your history is, I’m prepared to meet you right where you are. You can open up at a comfortable pace.

I’ll thoroughly review your psychiatric history, including prior diagnoses, past treatment, and medications you’ve taken, noting what worked, what didn’t, and any side effects you had. We’ll also discuss your medical history, current medications, family mental health history, and daily habits such as sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and stress.

If medication becomes part of your treatment, I’ll walk you through your options in plain language, including how each one works, realistic timeframes for improvement, potential side effects, and how we’ll track your response over time. Your preferences, questions, and comfort will always shape the decisions we make together, and nothing proceeds without your consent.

You’ll leave with a working diagnosis when appropriate, an individualized plan, clear next steps, and the comfort of knowing you have a committed ally helping you move toward more stable, brighter days ahead.