Hello again, I'm Amy!
Welcome!
Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner · Founder of Kai Integrative Psychiatry · Mother · Lifelong Student of What Helps People Truly Heal
I didn't always know I'd end up here — but looking back, it makes perfect sense. I grew up surrounded by mental health struggles and addiction and also faced my own challenges.
As a teen growing up in a small town in Illinois, I didn't have easy access to mental health care. When I was 17 years old and found myself constantly crying over a breakup, someone handed me the name of a psychologist. I remember walking through a parking lot in the snow — no one in sight — to get to her office. She diagnosed me with ADHD and depression, scribbled "Lexapro + Adderall" on a Post-it note, and recommended that I ask my primary care doctor to prescribe these medications for me - there weren't any psychiatrists in my hometown back then.
That moment changed everything.
I experienced firsthand how life-changing the right medication — and someone who took the time to truly see me — could be. I went on accomplish so much after that, and I am so grateful.
But over time, I also learned that medication wasn't always enough. As I moved through adulthood, pregnancies, and hormonal shifts, I noticed the same treatments that once worked didn't feel as effective. I knew there had to be more than just scripts and symptom tracking —
And there absolutely is!!
My Credentials
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate, Azusa Pacific University
Board Certification, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Master of Science in Nursing, Azusa Pacific University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, California State University, Fullerton
Integrative Psychiatry Training, Dream Practice Academy
15+ Years of Nursing Experience (CNA→LVN→RN→PMHNP)
Mother of three children, one who is beautifully neuro-divergent
Member, CHADD — Children and Adults with ADHD
Member, California Association for Nurse Practitioners
Member, American Psychiatric Nurses Association
My Story
I've worked in nursing since 2010 - from working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in a skilled nursing facility in Hawaii, helping elderly residents with their activities of daily living to working as a staff registered nurse providing life-sustaining measures to patients at the bedsides of the COVID-19 unit at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center during the prime of the pandemic to where I am today.
I gained irreplaceable experience along the way. During all that time, I've always been drawn to listening — to sitting with people in their hardest moments and helping them find clarity, relief, and self-trust again. And I know that healing isn’t linear—it’s layered. Sometimes what helps is medication. Sometimes it’s mindfulness. Sometimes it’s nutrition. Often, it’s all of the above—and we figure it out together.
My practice is deeply influenced by my own life:
I’ve navigated burnout and mental health challenges of my own.
I’ve seen addiction and mood disorders run through my family.
I’ve lived abroad, moved often, and learned to find belonging wherever I landed.
I’ve cried on a yoga mat after a breakup and found healing in heat, sweat, and breath.
I’ve been that mom who’s doing her best to keep it together while raising small kids.
And I know what it’s like to sit on the other side of the appointment—hoping for someone who will see the whole me.
As a woman, mother, and someone who has personally navigated life with mental health challenges, I understand the sensitivities that come with it. I know what it feels like to sit on the other side of the appointment — hoping for someone who won’t just check boxes but truly care. That's the psych nurse practitioner I've committed to being.
The Human Behind the Clinician
When I’m not in session, you’ll probably find me spending time with my husband and three kids outdoors in our backyard or at a park, testing out a new restaurant or sweating through a hot yoga class where I can leave it all on the mat.
You also may find me in Oahu, Hawaii, where my husband and I first met and where I still feel most like myself. “Kai” means “ocean” in Hawaiian, and to me, there is nothing more rejuvenating for the mind, body, and spirit - than the ocean in Hawaii. Also, my youngest’s name is “Kaileia,” which depicts the ocean and flowers/earth in harmony.
As you may be able to tell, my practice is very close to my heart, and I hope each session with me will leave you with a sense of restoration, balance, and inner peace. I hope it helps strengthen your resilience in order to navigate all of life’s currents.
I speak Brazilian Portuguese thanks to a life-changing year as an exchange student in Brazil, where I was fully immersed in the culture—and where I learned just how powerful it is to really listen when someone is trying to share their story. That lesson has never left me.
I believe in care that is smart, grounded, flexible, and human. I believe in showing up for my patients the way I wish more providers had shown up for me.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or unsure where to start—I’m here. We will figure it out together - as a team.
Let’s handle life’s currents together.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to start or just hoping to finally find someone who gets it - you’re in the right place.