Jennifer Anderson, PMHNP

Jennifer Anderson-PMHNPJennifer's path to becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner was not the usual one. She was a junior high and high school teacher for 22 years. Eight of those years were spent teaching adolescents with emotional and behavioral disabilities. For five years she was a reading specialist. In the remaining years, she taught general education in all the core subject areas. Jennifer truly loves working with teens.Though she loved teaching, there came a time for change. She went to the University of Arizona for her Master’s in Nursing. As a registered nurse she worked in local hospitals as a medical-surgical nurse, a travel nurse, and finally a drug and alcohol detox nurse.Aside from her professional experience in teaching and nursing, she also has a lot of family experience with ADHD, anxiety, and mood disorders. Jennifer has been on the inside and understands the impact mental health issues have on both the individual and the family.Becoming a Psychiatric Nurse …Practitioner involved pulling together all of this experience in a way that she believes helps people the most. She doesn’t believe in just prescribing medication. Medication helps when appropriate, but therapy, learning strategies, and changing negative self-talk are just as important. Psychiatry blends teaching, problem-solving, and listening in a way that can help people become their best selves. She loves helping others to thrive.When not working I can be found enjoying the water or listening to live music with my friends and family. She loves spending time with my adult children and adorable grandbabies.