Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Gig Harbor, WA

I have a Nursing Doctorate, an MSN in Psychiatric Nursing and BA in Latin American Studies. I am a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and certified in perinatal mental health. I believe in treating the whole person, not just prescribing medication. I work with nutrition, movement, sleep, time in nature, intentional socialization. I use supportive therapy with medication visits. I truly love what I do.

As a late diagnosed ADHD woman, I understand the struggles of perfectionism, anxiety and disordered eating and strive to provide neuro-affirming care. You deserve to feel good about yourself and I am confident we can get you there.

Hi, I’m Dr. Manuel, APRN, a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing comprehensive, evidence-based psychiatric care for adults.

I specialize in the evaluation and treatment of Adult ADHD, depression, anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety), bipolar I and II disorder, PTSD, trauma-related disorders, mood instability, and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. I also provide addiction psychiatry and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder, including treatment with Suboxone (buprenorphine), naltrexone, and Vivitrol.

With over 20 years of clinical experience, I provide structured psychiatric evaluations, personalized medication management, and individualized treatment planning. My approach integrates psychopharmacology, addiction medicine, and trauma-informed psychiatric care to support long-term stability and measurable improvement.

I am committed to providing LGBTQ+ affirming mental health care and creating a safe, inclusive space for individuals navigating identity-related stress, trauma, or healthcare disparities. My practice emphasizes collaboration, clear communication, and respectful, judgment-free care.

Patients often seek my services for ADHD diagnosis and medication management, depression treatment, anxiety and panic disorder management, bipolar disorder stabilization, dual diagnosis care, and addiction treatment.

If you are searching for an experienced psychiatric provider specializing in ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and addiction treatment, I am here to provide compassionate, evidence-based care focused on your recovery and long-term mental wellness.

Everyone deserves a safe space — and a provider who truly cares.

Starla is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner based in Washington who is passionate about partnering with individuals of all ages on their journey toward greater mental health wellness. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Gonzaga University with the goal of addressing the growing need for accessible, compassionate mental health services in her surrounding communities. Starla's services include initial psychiatric evaluations, follow-up psychiatric evaluations, and medication management. She treats clients 6 years and older. Starla specializes in anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorders, and PTSD.

As a clinician and a person, it’s important that the therapy is working. I also try to bring humor to session and a little of myself to the room. I feel it’s important to be authentic to the process.

Therapy should be a place where you can talk honestly about the things that are difficult to say out loud without being judged or reduced to a diagnosis—or to the hardest chapter of your life.

I work with adults and couples experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, suicidal thoughts, sexual trauma, intimacy and sexual-health concerns, grief, life transitions, military and veteran concerns, first-responder stress, and relational distress. Relational distress can include communication breakdown, recurring conflict, loss of trust, emotional distance, intimacy concerns, separation or divorce-related stress, changes within a family, parenting-related strain, or simply reaching a point where you are unsure how to move forward.

My role in therapy is to help you understand what is happening, identify what you want to change, strengthen your ability to respond differently, and work toward healthier functioning and relationships. My clinical style is direct, collaborative, trauma-informed, practical, and shame-free.

I am independently licensed for clinical social-work practice in Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida; EMDR-trained; a Certified Psychosexual Assessment Specialist (CPAS); a Board-Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE); a Board-Certified Forensic Psychometrist (CFP); and a U.S. Army veteran.

My broader professional practice includes forensic mental-health evaluation and consultation. Those services are separate from psychotherapy. Once I am retained as your treating therapist and a clinical treatment relationship has been established, I cannot also serve as your forensic evaluator, expert witness, or child-custody evaluator in the same matter. Therapy is treatment-focused and is intended to support your clinical needs—not to generate an independent forensic opinion for litigation.

Welcome! and thank you for taking the time to do this step for yourself. As a psychiatric provider, I am committed to working with you and your family on your journey to healing and discovering your best self throughout this process. I am a board certified Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), currently licensed in Washington State and Massachusetts. I have been working in the healthcare industry for over two decades, treating adults age 18+ with chronic severe anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, trauma, personality disorders, substance abuse disorders, and co-occurring disorders.

I believe the best mental health care begins with listening. I provide compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric evaluations and medication management for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, behavioral concerns, and life stressors. My approach is collaborative and personalized, taking time to understand the whole person, not just their symptoms.

Together, we'll develop a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, which may include medication management, education, lifestyle recommendations, and brief supportive therapy during medication management visits. While I incorporate therapeutic techniques into our appointments to help you build coping skills and achieve your treatment goals, I do not provide ongoing individual psychotherapy. If more intensive or regular therapy would benefit you, I'm happy to coordinate care with your therapist or help connect you with one.

My goal is to create a welcoming, judgment-free space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful, lasting progress.

I'm Dr. Jason Johnson, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Washington State University. I have over 15 years of experience in mental health, starting as a counselor before advancing into psychiatry. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and weight-related mental health concerns, using a comprehensive approach that includes therapy, medications, nutrition, and hormone support. My goal is to create a supportive, judgment-free environment where we work together to help you feel your best.

My approach is person-centered, focusing on you, the client, and the moment-to-moment engagement, discovering insights together. I can help you discover insights into barriers, and the constructive solutions to overcoming those barriers. Each person has the right to live a life free of negative thoughts and experiences—a life of healthy well-being.