Passionate about helping new grad PMHNPs start their career strong
Meet Kirby
Kirby was born and raised in Chicago, and a proud deep dish pizza enthusiast. She is a lover of travel, food and lifelong learning.
Her journey in nursing started in 2006 as a registered nurse in Phoenix, Arizona working on a trauma unit, where she witnessed numerous times the intersection of trauma and mental health symptoms. These initial years in the nursing field sparked her interest in mental health conditions and treatment. She returned to school in 2009 to complete her Masters of Science in Nursing with a psychiatric mental health nursing concentration and successfully completed this degree from University of Virginia in 2011.
She began her career as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), working on an adult inpatient psychiatric unit and since that time has worked in various settings including outpatient community mental health, private practice, primary care, crisis stabilization, intensive outpatient and academia.
Now, Kirby has over 13 years of expertise treating adult patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders conditions, combined with multiple years of providing undergraduate and graduate level nursing education, and precepting PMHNP students. This career path has led to the realization that one of her greatest is supporting new PMHNPs to become more confident and capable mental health providers.
Meet Alysha
Alysha was born and raised in East Los Angeles, and a proud Mexican-Italian American.
She is a dedicated psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience in mental health care. For the past five years, Alysha has passionately served as a PMHNP, specializing in holistic and western medicine-focused treatment plans for depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Her journey in mental health spans over 12 years, during which she has held various roles and worked with patients of all ages in diverse environments.
Alysha's extensive background includes invaluable experiences in inpatient consult liaison pediatric psychiatry, inpatient geriatric psychiatry, and pediatric forensic psychiatry. Additionally, she has contributed to the field as an adjunct professor in RN and PMHNP programs, nurturing future generations of healthcare professionals.
Driven by her commitment to comprehensive care, Alysha is the proud owner of Rooted Psychiatry and Wellness. She also finds immense fulfillment in mentoring PMHNPs embarking on their journey into private practice and delights in fostering a warm and inclusive learning environment where questions are always welcomed.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Alysha is a passionate advocate for self-care and enjoys aerial dancing, hiking, camping, and exploring new cultures through travel. A cancer survivor, she appreciates the value of life's simple pleasures, such as savoring a good cup of coffee and sharing cuddles with pit bulls.
Alysha is a co-mentor for the PMHNP LiftOff Mentorship program.
You do not have to begin your journey alone.
Expand your knowledge
PMHNP school does not teach “all the things”. Grow with experienced insights on clinical topics and career-focused concepts.
Build your clinical confidence
It can be intimidating to start your career as a PMHNP. Having a safe space to discuss and conceptualize complex clinical issues, guides the provision of optimal patient care.
Find community
Having connection with others on a similar journey as yourself can be comforting and provide beneficial support through the tough times of the PMHNP transition.