Tessa Derecho

Tessa is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a deep commitment to helping people not just cope but truly thrive. With 24 years of nursing experience spanning neurology, telemetry, and home health, she brings a uniquely well-rounded clinical perspective to psychiatric care. That breadth of experience means she understands her clients as whole people, not just a diagnosis.

Tessa works with teens, adults, and older adults across the lifespan, providing compassionate, evidence-based care for a wide range of conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, Bipolar disorder, Addiction, self esteem issues and grief. She is also proud to provide affirming, inclusive care for LGBTQ+ individuals. Her practice blends medication management with therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness, and psychoeducation — always within a holistic framework that honors the full context of a person's life.

Clients often describe Tessa as warm, empowering, and genuinely collaborative. She believes healing doesn't always have to be heavy, and that laughter can be part of the therapeutic journey too. Grounded in mindfulness, she helps clients build present-moment awareness and self-compassion alongside practical coping tools. Her role is not to have all the answers, but to walk alongside each person as they navigate life's adversities and discover their own resilience. Whether you are facing a new challenge or managing a long-standing condition, Tessa meets you where you are.

Your first session with Tessa is designed to be a relaxed, welcoming conversation — not an interrogation. Running 45 minutes to an hour, it is a dedicated space for her to get to know you as a person before anything else.

During this initial visit, Tessa will walk through intake questions and review your personal and psychiatric history to gain a thorough understanding of your background and experiences. She will conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and discuss any current or past medications, making sure she has a full clinical picture before making any recommendations.

Most importantly, Tessa wants to hear from you — what brings you in, what you have tried before, and what you hope your life looks like on the other side of treatment. By the end of your first session, you will leave with a clear, collaborative set of treatment goals that are uniquely yours. It is the foundation of a partnership built on trust, openness, and a shared vision for your wellbeing.