Priya Rao is a doctorally prepared, board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 12 years of experience in mental health care across community mental health, residential, and hospital settings. Her work with individuals experiencing a wide range of psychiatric concerns has shaped both her clinical knowledge and her compassion for the people she cares for.

Priya is naturally curious and genuinely enjoys getting to know her patients. She considers not only symptoms and diagnoses, but also the experiences, circumstances, and treatment history that shape how someone is feeling and what they hope to change. She recognizes that talking about mental health can feel vulnerable, and she works to create an environment where patients feel comfortable being honest and sharing concerns without fear of judgment. She believes psychiatric care should be scientifically grounded while remaining flexible enough to account for each patient’s unique circumstances and goals. 

Priya works broadly across adult psychiatry, with particular interest in anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attentional difficulties, and presentations with overlapping symptoms. She has a soft spot for people who feel stuck, those who have been through several providers or medications, who aren’t sure if a previous diagnosis ever really fit, and who are starting to wonder whether anything will help. She takes those situations seriously, and she doesn’t give up on them easily. More than anything, Priya wants her patients to feel genuinely cared for and to leave each appointment feeling understood, clear on the plan, and confident that someone is in their corner.