Allison Ernest is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She has experience working with children, adolescents, teens, and adults. She has worked with patients in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. Allison began her nursing career in the Emergency Department where she spent fifteen years. It was during this time that Allison recognized a need and developed a passion for mental health, as the Emergency Department is often where people spend some of their worst days. She began furthering her education with Crisis Intervention Training and mental health advocacy and would educate staff on mental illnesses while advocating for psychiatric patients during their time in the ER.
As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, Allison believes prescribing is just one component of a successful treatment plan and will actively encourage therapy and self-care practices. Allison is open and honest about pros and cons of any medication choice, and thinks it is crucial for the patient to be a part of their own treatment plan
Allison prides herself on allowing her clients to have a safe space to be their authentic self and feel comfortable in doing so. Getting to know you as a person is very important to Allison. This can greatly assist in many aspects of treatment, and a therapeutic relationship. Allison also stresses that a mental health diagnosis is no different than any other medical diagnosis you may receive and should be treated as such. If a mental health diagnosis is made, she stresses that this is only a piece of you and does not define you as a person, often stressing that diagnostics are not the primary focus and the ultimate goal is having your life worth living.
Specialties:
Allison specializes in children (as young as 8), adolescents, teens, and adults with depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, panic disorders, OCD, mood disorders, psychosis, co-occurring disorders, ADHD, addiction, personality disorders, trauma related disorders, and PTSD.
Education:
- Diploma of Nursing – Bon Secours School of Nursing, (Currently Bon Secours College of Nursing) –
- Bachelor of Nursing – Liberty University, 2013
- Master of Science in Nursing – Walden University, School of Nursing, 2019
To schedule an appointment with Allison please call our office at (804) 591-0002 or click here to send us an email.