Ryan Ernest is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He has experience working with adolescents, teens, and adults. He has worked with patients in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. Ryan began his career helping people as a public servant many years ago. He spent almost twenty years as a Nationally Registered Paramedic and EMT. Ryan worked as a career fireman and paramedic for Henrico County Division of Fire for ten years. While there, he obtained his RN license and began working part-time in a busy Richmond emergency department. He later decided that his mission to help people was not yet complete and went back to school once again to become a nurse practitioner. He has first-hand knowledge with trauma and recognizes that it can come in many forms and in many ways. He recognizes that an individualized and often collaborative model of care is often best. He looks forward to helping those struggling with anxiety and depression. He has a special interest in being available to the first responder population and helping those with PTSD symptoms as well. Ryan has seen what can happen to other providers when this goes unchecked, and it can have devastating results. Ryan hopes he can prevent anyone from reaching the point of despair. Ryan understands that medication is not always the answer, but that there is a time and a place for medication treatments. He believes that therapy is extremely beneficial for anyone, regardless if there is a mental health disorder involved or not. Ryan 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 team, and not just be told what to do. Being in healthcare for years, and a career fireman in the past, Ryan has seen and heard a lot, and is not easily offended. He wants patients to feel comfortable with him and in this environment. Yes, this means it isn’t a cuss free environment! It can be quite therapeutic at times! Ryan provides a safe space for you to be your authentic self and feel comfortable in doing so. This is a judgement free zone. Getting to know you as a person is very important to Ryan. This can greatly assist in many aspects of treatment, and a therapeutic relationship. Ryan 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, he stresses that this is only a piece of you and does not define you as a person. Ryan sees patients both in-person and virtually.
When not busy helping others, Ryan enjoys his wife, who is also a PMHNP, and two children, who keep him quite busy with school and sports. He is an animal lover and has three large dogs himself. He enjoys working out and spending time traveling as much as possible.
Specialties
Ryan specializes in 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, grief/bereavement, and PTSD. Ryan is LGBTQIA+ affirming.
Education
Graduate: Walden University- School of Nursing- MSN- 2021
Call Ryan at (804) 591-0002 or click here to send an email.