Shylisa Hicks

I am a dual-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a passion for supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and their families. My background includes pediatric primary care, urgent care, school-based community health, neonatal care, and family education.

I specialize in pediatric and young adult mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral concerns, emotional regulation difficulties, and autism-related challenges. My approach is warm, collaborative, and family-centered. I believe children and teens do best when they feel understood and when caregivers are included as an important part of the treatment team.

My goal is to provide thoughtful, evidence-based care that supports each client’s unique needs, strengths, and goals while helping them improve emotional well-being, confidence, and daily functioning.

My approach to care is warm, collaborative, and family-centered. I believe every child, teen, and young adult deserves to feel heard, understood, and supported. I take time to learn about each client’s symptoms, strengths, family dynamics, school functioning, and daily challenges so that care feels personalized rather than one-size-fits-all.

I enjoy working closely with caregivers and families, because support at home and school can make a meaningful difference in a child’s progress. My style is compassionate, practical, and evidence-based. I focus on helping clients and families better understand what they are experiencing, build coping skills, improve emotional regulation, and work toward realistic goals.

My areas of focus include anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral concerns, emotional regulation difficulties, and autism-related challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults.

During the first session, clients can expect a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental environment. My goal is to take time to understand what brought you in, what concerns you or your child may be experiencing, and what goals feel most important to you and your family.

For children, adolescents, and young adults, I like to learn about symptoms, strengths, school functioning, home life, medical history, and any previous treatment or supports. When appropriate, I also include caregivers in the conversation so we can better understand the full picture and work together as a team.

The first session is not about rushing to conclusions. It is about listening, building trust, answering questions, and creating a thoughtful plan that feels realistic, individualized, and supportive. By the end of the visit, we will discuss next steps and begin identifying goals that support emotional wellness, daily functioning, and overall quality of life.