Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in Colorado | Psych Meds Prescribed Mindfully
Psychiatric medication prescribed thoughtfully and expertly in Colorado. Yes! HandUp Mental Health provides specialized psychiatric medication management in Colorado via telehealth. Led by a psychiatric nurse practitioner, the practice specializes in treating teens, treatment‑resistant depression, and perinatal mental health.
Psychiatric Medication Management in Colorado
HandUp Mental Health is a telehealth psychiatric practice serving patients across Colorado. We work with teens, adults with treatment-resistant depression, and women navigating pregnancy and the postpartum period — providing medication management that is thorough, personalized, and backed by genetic testing when it can make a difference.
This is not a therapy practice. We evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, and manage psychiatric medications. Many of our patients work alongside a separate therapist, and we actively support that collaboration.
What We Treat
Depression, including severe and treatment-resistant cases
Anxiety disorders — generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety
Bipolar disorder — diagnosis, stabilization, and ongoing medication management
OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
PTSD and trauma-related psychiatric conditions
Perinatal mental health — pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum
We do not evaluate or treat ADHD or ADD.
Who We See
Teens navigating depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or bipolar disorder need a provider who understands that adolescents aren't simply smaller adults. The teenage brain metabolizes medications differently, and early accurate treatment matters for long-term outcomes. Transgender teens receive affirming, competent, and respectful psychiatric care here without exception.
Adults with treatment-resistant depression who have tried multiple medications without meaningful relief. If two or more antidepressants have failed you, the cause is often genetic — your body may not be metabolizing those medications the way it needs to. Genetic testing frequently identifies the reason and points clearly toward better options.
Pregnant, postpartum, and pre-conception women in Colorado have very limited access to perinatal psychiatric specialists. HandUp fills that gap. We manage psychiatric medications safely across the full perinatal arc — helping patients prepare before conception, navigate medication decisions during pregnancy, and get effective relief in the postpartum period. Untreated mental illness during pregnancy carries real risks too, and we don't shy away from treating when the evidence supports it.
Medication-hesitant patients who have had bad experiences, are scared of side effects, or simply aren't willing to take a prescription on blind faith. Genetic testing offers something better than reassurance — it gives you your own biological data before you take anything.
Genetic Testing for Psychiatric Medications
Your genes determine how your body metabolizes psychiatric medications. This affects whether a medication works, causes side effects, clears your system too quickly, or builds up to problematic levels. It explains a lot of treatment failures that patients are told are just bad luck.
Pharmacogenomic testing is a simple cheek swab — no needles, no lab visit. The results map your genetic profile against a wide range of psychiatric medications and tell us, in plain language, which ones your body is built to handle and which to avoid. For pregnant patients, it adds a layer of safety guidance that standard prescribing can't offer. For teens, it eliminates unnecessary trial and error on a developing brain. For anyone who has cycled through medications without relief, it often provides the first real explanation they've received.
Genetic testing is available to every HandUp patient who can benefit from it.
Teen Psychiatric Care in Colorado
Adolescent mental health is one of the areas where psychiatric care fails most consistently — and in Colorado, the provider shortage makes access even harder for families. Teens at HandUp get honest, age-appropriate conversations, genetic testing when appropriate, and a provider who makes decisions collaboratively with them — not just with their parents. LGBTQ+ teens, including transgender teens, are seen and treated with full respect and clinical competence. Family involvement is welcomed when it helps and handled thoughtfully when the situation is more complex.
Perinatal Mental Health in Colorado
Perinatal psychiatric specialists are exceptionally hard to find in Colorado. Many OB providers are hesitant to manage psychiatric medications during pregnancy without specialist support — and that specialist often isn't available. The result is that women who need help go without it, which carries its own serious risks.
Before pregnancy, we review your current medications for safety, use genetic testing to identify the best options for your specific biology, and build a clear plan before you conceive. During pregnancy, medications are managed carefully with both your wellbeing and fetal safety in mind. After delivery, postpartum depression and anxiety are treated promptly — including breastfeeding-compatible options and a clear path back to stability.
Treatment-Resistant Depression in Colorado
If you've tried two or more antidepressants and found no meaningful relief, you are not out of options. Treatment-resistant depression affects a significant portion of people diagnosed with depression, and in many cases the cause is a genetics and medication mismatch — not the severity of the illness itself. At HandUp, we review your full medication history, use genetic testing to identify metabolization gaps, and explore a broader range of options than most standard providers consider.
Accepted Insurance in Colorado
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado
Kaiser Permanente Colorado
Cigna
UnitedHealthcare
Rocky Mountain Health Plans
Colorado Choice Health Plans
HSA and FSA accepted
Self-pay rates available
Benefits verified before your first appointment — no surprise bills
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and can they prescribe in Colorado? A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse with specialized mental health training, fully licensed to diagnose psychiatric conditions and prescribe medications — including controlled substances — in Colorado.
What's the difference between this and therapy? Therapy addresses thoughts, behaviors, and emotions through conversation. HandUp is a medication management practice — we evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, and monitor psychiatric medications. Many patients benefit from both, and we support working alongside a therapist.
Does genetic testing tell me exactly which medication to take? It narrows the field significantly. Results identify which medications your genes process efficiently, which may cause side effects, and which are likely to be ineffective for your biology. Clinical judgment guides the final decision, but the guesswork is largely removed.
Can you see patients in rural Colorado or mountain communities? Yes. All appointments are telehealth, which means location is never a barrier. Patients in smaller communities across Colorado — the Western Slope, mountain towns, the Eastern Plains — are seen the same as patients in Denver or Colorado Springs.
Are you accepting new patients? Yes. New patients are welcome, and a free 15-minute consultation is available so you can decide if it's the right fit before committing.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation
No pressure. No commitment. Just an honest conversation about where you are and whether HandUp is the right fit.
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Serving all of Colorado via telehealth — Denver · Colorado Springs · Aurora · Boulder · Fort Collins · Lakewood · Thornton · Arvada · Westminster · Pueblo · Centennial · Greeley · Longmont · Loveland · Grand Junction · Broomfield · Castle Rock · Parker · Durango · Steamboat Springs · Telluride · Glenwood Springs · and beyond