About me
About Monika
I believe that mental health care is about more than treating symptoms—it is about understanding the whole person, all of the pieces what make you YOU. My goal is to create a space where you feel genuinely heard, respected, and supported as you navigate life’s challenges and take steps toward greater well-being.
Professionally, I enjoy working with adolescents, adults, and families.
I entered the nursing field over 15 years ago as an oncology nurse in Los Angeles, and spent years at the bedside caring for patients in some of their darkest places. I learned “being with” – being able to sit beside someone in pain – and the power of presence. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University and graduated as valedictorian in my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees of Nursing from Azusa Pacific University with concentration in Family Practice. I am a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) in the State of Washington, and I am currently pursuing a post-master’s certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of Cincinnati. For the last 10 years, I have been caring for patients in primary care, developing close relationships where patients are deeply known and cared for. I am deeply invested in managing mental health challenges and am excited for this next chapter as a specialist in my career.
In Bellingham, I also serve as the Medical Director at ElectrolysisNW, which is a meaningful way as a clinician to support the gender expansive community, as we provide body and gender affirming hair removal services. In addition to my work with patients, I teach Nutrition & Therapeutics to nursing students at my alma mater, Azusa Pacific University. I enjoy giving back to future generations of nursing students and staying up-to-date on nutritional science.
Personally, I am passionate about showing up for people I love, spending time outdoors with my twins and partner, laughing and eating good food, learning to listen to my body and heart, and fighting for causes I believe in.
When I am not working, I can often be found outside, reading a book on our porch or trail running with our labradoodle. I strive to spend quality time together with family, with all the messiness that a house with twins can bring! I love to run long distances, run ultra races in the mountains, and balance pushing my body to its limits and listening to its boundaries. We are often stronger than we imagine!
I am passionate about seeing the people in my life as whole people. My friends, coworkers, children, partner: we are more than just a list of our diagnoses and challenges, and treatment is more than just a medication. Each of us has a story to tell and a way that story shows itself in our lives. My desire is for all my patients to feel seen, listened to, and cared for as a whole person: mind, body, and spirit.
I understand the journey of mental and emotional struggle. Whether it is the childhood wound of developmental trauma, daily challenges of identity and expectation, feeling lost in your own body, disappointment, confusion, grief, or feeling like you need to prove your worth every second of the day, you will find in me a clinician who understands and sees your story.
My Approach:
As an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with experience in family medicine and special interest in mental health, I take an integrative approach to care that recognizes the close connection between mind, body, relationships, and lifestyle. I desire to work collaboratively you to develop a treatment plan that feels effective and sustainable.
I provide psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and supportive treatments for adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood concerns, body dysmorphia, stress and trauma, life transitions, grief and loss, or other mental and health challenges. Whether you are facing a recent struggle or have been carrying a burden for many years, I desire to meet you with compassion, curiosity, and practical support.
I am particularly passionate about helping people reconnect with their resilience, discover meaningful paths forward, and build lives that feel more balanced and fulfilling. I believe healing often happens through a combination of evidence-based treatment, self-understanding, healthy relationships, and attention to overall wellness. I believe mental health is influenced by many interconnected aspects of life. Depending on your goals, our work together may include attention to sleep, nutrition, movement, relationships, emotional wellness, and spirituality—core elements that support overall health and resilience.
I am committed to and experienced with providing affirming, inclusive care for people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities, including those on the autism spectrum, as well as people with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.
Ready to get started?
Currently establishing patients for in-person and telehealth appointments for teens and adults (ages 12+) in Washington state.