Advocating for Mental Health as a Parent and Provider
By Nancy Pletcher, MSN, PMHNP-BC
3 min read
Becoming a parent has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, and it’s taught me so much along the way. Having two babies in two years has made me even more grateful for our work at Lavender to support our clients’ mental health and well-being. My experiences during and after pregnancy showed me just how important advocating for yourself is. Sometimes, I had to speak up for myself and even take on responsibilities that I felt my perinatal team should have handled.
I am fortunate that I know how to navigate the healthcare system as a mental health professional, but I often thought about how overwhelming and frustrating it might feel for someone who isn’t as familiar. My own disappointment was a reflection of a mismatch between my expectations and the reality of my care, and this is why I want to take a moment to clarify what we offer here at Lavender.
The Role of Your Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Not everyone is familiar with the role of a psychiatric nurse practitioner (psych NP), so let me explain. When most people think of nurses, they picture registered nurses (RNs) who carry out the orders of providers like physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners.
After becoming RNs, nurse practitioners continue their education and select a track for more specialized training. At Lavender, our psych NPs specialize in mental health and psychiatry. This means we’re trained to diagnose and treat mental health conditions using a combination of medication, therapy, and other interventions based on our assessment of a person’s needs.
It’s quite common today for people to go to different providers for therapy and medication management. For example, you might see a social worker or psychologist for therapy and a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner to receive prescription medication. At Lavender, we offer both, which is the most common approach for the majority of my clients—though I do see people exclusively for therapy or just for medication management. It’s important to me that my clients stay informed about all the available treatment options, so if they ever feel like adding therapy or that medication might help, we’ll explore that together.
As psychiatric nurse practitioners, we’re trained to diagnose and treat a range of mental health conditions, like anxiety, depression, mood disorders, OCD, and ADHD, among others. Some clients come to us looking for a particular type of therapy or a provider with specific training. In every case, we always do our best to match clients with a provider that’s the right fit for them.
Mental Health Treatment with Lavender
I’m involved in the hiring process at Lavender, and I can tell you that we look for more than just strong credentials in our candidates. We hire psych NPs who are well-rounded: those who have clinical excellence, show thoroughness, and demonstrate strength of character. One thing we emphasize in our onboarding process is the importance of timely processing of planned treatments.
For example, if your nurse practitioner prescribes medication, your prescription should be sent to the pharmacy during your visit or on that same day. If you’re in therapy and your NP offers to share resources with you, you can expect to receive that information on the same day as well. And if you have questions or concerns between visits, our Care team can make sure you get the support you need, even if your nurse practitioner isn’t available that day. Some of the most common questions we get involve resolving pharmacy or insurance issues, understanding new symptoms, or managing scheduling. These are the very things I took upon myself as a patient during the perinatal process, and I am grateful that my clients don’t have to worry about their care.
In case you weren’t aware of this already, Lavender is an outpatient telehealth service, which means there are some rare cases where certain mental health conditions are better treated in alternative settings. That’s why the first session is all about figuring out if we’re the right fit for each other and setting clear goals. Together, we create a plan that might include therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these. We also decide on the frequency and length of visits based on what works best for you, knowing that plans can evolve as your needs change. One of the questions I like to ask my clients in our first session is, “If our treatment is working, how will you know?”
Parenthood has taught me that empathy and advocacy are so much more important in healthcare than I originally thought, and I’m proud that this reflects in the work I do every day. My goal is to support my clients and help them feel confident in their mental health journey through kind, high-quality care.
All content and information on this website are for informational purposes only. None of the material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information does not create any client-provider relationship. Please consult with your mental health care provider before making any health care decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.
