Our Agency
Associates for Psychiatric and Mental Health, LLC is an agency that is committed to its mission of providing ethical, high quality and transformative mental health care to the community.
Beliefs that guide the services we provide:
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That life is sometimes messy and that therapy can help us find a meaningful existence amidst the challenges we face.
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That meaningful existence can only occur when self awareness and connection is cultivated
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That getting mental health care takes courage, that we honor by striving to see and understand people.
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That curiosity without judgement opens the door to being known – both by others and ourselves.
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That the journey to mental health can only occur when we partner together while at the same time acknowledging that resistance is an informative, useful part of the process of change
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That in order to truly honor who we are, we must honor diversity in every form.
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That compassion toward ourselves is the basis for compassion toward others, manifesting in the values of equity and justice.
What we believe are strengths of our agency:
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Detailed diagnostic process
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Bearing witness to pain with support and non-judgment
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Facilitating self-awareness
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Holding the concepts of change and acceptance with equal respect
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Offering transparent and honest recommendations
Our Staff
As a team, we pride ourselves on the supportive, collaborative, and healthy culture nourished in our workplace. We strive to create an environment where we as a whole live congruently with the values and standards that we communicate to our clients.
With client permission, we additionally actively collaborate with one another regarding care to ensure services are consistent, effective, and thorough.
We are humbled by the powerful role we play, both with our colleagues as well as with our clients.
We insist on the highest ethical standards in conducting our business.
Doing the right thing and acting with integrity are the two driving forces behind what we do.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
Sheela Choppala-Nestor, PhD, PMHNP-BC, ARNP (she/her)
Advanced Registered Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Ph.D in Nursing (University of Washington)​
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Sheela is the agency owner and administrator. She founded APMH in 2009, with the goal of creating a thoughtful and reflective place for clients and providers.
Sheela has a background both as a direct service provider and educator. She received her nurse practitioner training at Oregon Health & Science University and her doctorate in nursing from the University of Washington where her research focused on the social determinants of health/health advocacy/policy change. She served as an educator in the psychiatric nurse practitioner specialty at Washington State University where she also engaged in mental health and community health research.
She uses both therapy and medication to treat individuals age 13 and older, who are experiencing mental health challenges across the spectrum, specializing in the areas of depression, anxiety and trauma. She strives to take a partnered approach to her work with clients who, she believes, come to the encounter with strengths to be noticed, celebrated and used. Her therapy modalities and guiding frameworks are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and gestalt therapy. Her goal is to truly see her client and infuse her encounters with compassion, empathy, and positive regard.
As a prescriber, she focuses on managing and/or eliminating symptoms through the least restrictive path and prefers to address underlying illness rather than symptoms alone. She is thoughtful and cautious in her use of controlled substances in order to ensure the best outcomes for clients.
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Sheela was born in the US but grew up in India giving her a unique perspective on cross cultural experiences. In her free time, Sheela enjoys spending time with family and friends, and in creative pursuits with paper, yarn, cooking and design.
Gabriela Guizar, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC [she/her]
Doctor of Nursing Practice (University of Washington)
Gabriela is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who centers her practice around kindness, curiosity, and mutual respect. She utilizes non-judgmental, empathetic listening to form the foundation of a therapeutic partnership and believes that everyone is capable of wellness when given access the right resources.
As a psychiatric provider, Gabriela aims to foster growth and healing by creating a
safe and affirming space where clients can exist as their authentic selves. She
recognizes that each person is unique and seeks to know her clients as individuals rather than a list of diagnostic criteria. With this same mindset, she chooses to work collaboratively with clients to develop personalized goals and treatment plans rather than take an authoritative approach. By combining her education, lived experience, and intuitive sense, she offers holistic, evidence-based recommendations and education, empowering clients to make meaningful progress in their mental health journey.
Gabriela identifies as a queer woman and is passionate about serving fellow
members of the LGBTQIA+ community. She is trained to treat individuals
experiencing mental health challenges across the lifespan but is particularly
interested in working with the collegiate population and has experience providing
support to students struggling to balance their academics with their mental health.
Gabriela received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Washington. In addition to her clinical work, she also teaches in the nursing program at Linfield University. She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and enjoys spending her time making art, playing video games and TTRPGs, and spending time with her wife and their dog.
Therapists
Victoria Boyd, MS, LPC, LMHC
M.S. Counseling - Western Oregon University
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor
Intensive Outpatient / Outpatient Therapist
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Victoria believes in empowering people with education, insight and skills to find opportunities in life's challenges. When working with Victoria, you will be invited to a collaborative space of compassion and understanding.
Victoria's therapeutic style is inspired by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). ACT tools empower individuals to address psychological barriers enabling them to take values-based actions toward a connected and purposeful life. IFS practice helps people identify and befriend all parts of themselves to increase their connection to self and healing.
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Victoria has extensive experience working with people with trauma and neurodivergence in group and individual settings. Victoria has dual counseling licenses in Oregon (LPC) and Washington (LMHC). Victoria was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and loves her cats, hiking, road trips, board games and waterfalls.
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Description: ACT & IFS therapy, telehealth in OR or WA,18+ people with complex PTSD and/or ADHD.
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Karen Suzanne McNulty, MN, ARNP
Licensed Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Licensed Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
Suzanne is committed to creating positive change one person at a time. Wholesome mind-body relationship care and evolution is the intention of her Integrated Mental Health therapy work Compassion for the joys and sorrows of the human condition shape Suzanne’s learning and teaching. Interventions to nurture flourishing are drawn from Mindful Stress Reduction, Positive Psychology(U Penn), Jungian, somatic education and Medical hypnotherapy. She has basic certification in EMDR. Limited psychopharmacology is available as need is mutually determined.
She holds Bachelors degrees from OHSU and Masters specialty from Washington State University. Continuing education in integrative health and science is consistently upgraded.
She has practiced as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in community agencies and medical clinics to provide wellness support with clarity, safety and comfort in the presence of physical and mental health challenges.
Specialty treatment populations include independent teens through older adults.
Deja Lazenby, MSW, RAAC
MSW - University of Nevada
Intensive Outpatient Therapist and Group Facilitator
I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and have always had a passion for
mental health treatment- especially for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BI-POC). Both professionally and personally, I have taken note of the limited culturally competent services available for diverse populations within this area. I hope to be a part of that change. By completing my education in Las Vegas, Nevada and longing for my sense of community, I have traveled back, to join the fight again. My hope to spread awareness regarding intergenerational trauma, historical trauma, and race-based inequalities is centered around the work I do. My goal is to empower my client’s to see that they are the authors of their own story, by reinforcing a strengths- based and client-centered perspective.
My therapeutic approach is governed by asking the question what has happened to you, rather than what is wrong with you- in hopes to recognize the adverse effects of trauma. By remaining trauma-informed, my clients begin to understand the impact it has on their overall well-being and ability to achieve their optimal level of functioning. The evidence- based treatment modalities I utilize are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and aspects of Systems Theory. It is necessary that my client’s feel supported, prioritized, and especially empowered, of their right to self- determination and capabilities as a whole. Life is not always easy and will test our abilities. I am here to help you recognize that all you can do is do what you can, and when you're ready, I’ll be here.
Administrative Team
John Choppala
Administrator on Call
Geeta Barr
Administrative Assistant for Patient Accounts and Clinical Support
Nancy Bilderback
Administrative Assistant for Daily Operations
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Nancy assists with reception and a range of back-office duties. She enjoys hiking, reading, baking and singing on the worship team at her church.
Spencer Taylor
Receptionist​​