Restoring Control: A Nurse Practitioner’s Mental Health Mission

Erik Larson, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Army veteran, shares his journey from hospital nursing and military service to building a thriving private practice in Colorado. In this episode, he discusses blending medication management with therapy techniques like cognitive behavioral strategies and motivational interviewing, helping patients regain confidence and control over depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Larson also opens up about addressing fears around medication, supporting treatment-resistant patients with emerging options like transcranial magnetic stimulation, and the importance of family, self-care, and open conversations in sustaining his own mental health.