Susan Jones

I am an experienced psychiatric nurse practitioner and therapist. My goal has always been to provide integrated physial and mental health to my community. I work as a team with my patients and their other providers to determine the best approach for each individual. We are more than a body, we are mind, body and spirit and each of us is a part of a family and community. Working to improve each aspect of our lives is how we will achieve the happiest and most productive lives. We go through many different changes and phases in life. I like to walk with individuals and families as they adjust to new things. It can be a loss, a career change, a health condition, family conflict, healing from trauma or just trying to be their best self in the moment. I believe in the "therapeutic use of self" with my clients, believing that if I have tools from a life experience (like being widowed at 54), and the patient wants to hear it, I will share.

I started my career as an RN, then Family Nurse Practioner for 16 years managing my own private practice and working as an Assistant Professor at UCLA, Clinical Faculty at University of Washington, and serving in Guatemala as a primary care provider for 4 years. I returned to graduate school in 2015 to become board certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to increase my skills in both counseling and medication management. I have been involved in teaching nurses, nurse practitioners and other health professionals for 40 years, and continue to enjoy learning and passing new information on to others.

As a psychiatric NP with 25 years of experience in prescribing and managing mental health medications, I have a lot of tools to help manage depression, anxity, ADHD, sleep issues, Bipolar 1 and 2 disorders, and a variety of other conditions. I am careful with medications, respect the patient's wishes and try things at low doses gradually increasing as tolerated and the patient reaches remission. I have tools to coach patients through the challenging process of finding the right medicaitons at the right doses, and deciding when a change might be best.

As a psychotherapist, I use many different modalities based on the situation and the patient's preference. I have completed a year of trauma counseling certification at Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, two years of training in spiritual direction via the Ignation Spirituality Center, and 20 years of courses in:
CBT, DBT, EMDR, EFT, IFS, Somatic and Polyvagal theory, Narrative Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD. I refer patients out to specialized therapists based on their need if I do not have the skills necessary. I offer spiritual support if it is wanted.