Mandy Pursley, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Hi there! I’m Mandy, and I am a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I love working and connecting with people of all ages. I am passionate about providing patient-centered care, and I strive to provide a safe and inclusive environment for every individual I see.
My goal is to make my patients feel heard and to empower and support them to participate in decisions about their mental health. I have prior nursing experience providing care in the ICU and interventional radiology settings. I loved my time caring for patients and their families in the critical care setting, as it is there that I developed a passion for psychiatry, working with individuals experiencing severe trauma, substance use disorders, homelessness, and acute mental health crises. My experiences there led me to the understanding that a person can’t be treated holistically without also prioritizing their mental health.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending most of my time outdoors doing a variety of activities. I also enjoy exploring the city with friends, traveling, and taking care of my many houseplants.
I currently live in Seattle, but I am excited to be providing telehealth as well as some in-person services in Flagstaff.
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Q&A
What is your favorite movie? Arrival and Interstellar.
Favorite superhero? Batman! I like the complexity of his character and his desire for justice.
If you could have a superpower, what superpower would you pick? Teleportation! I would love to be able to go anywhere I want whenever I want without the travel time.
Favorite bands/singer? My favorite artists are probably Dirtwire, Clozee, and Hermanos Gutierrez, but I listen to all genres of music.
What is your favorite food? The answer to this question 100% depends on what I happen to be craving at the moment! But if I had to choose, maybe sushi or carrot cake. Or lemon bars. I have a big sweet tooth!
If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for? The ability to speak every language (this would go well with my teleportation powers), world peace, and a world where everyone has access to basic needs and fundamental human rights.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I love walking so much that I walked over 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago.
What are you most passionate about in the mental health field? I am passionate about so many things in this field! If I had to choose, I’d say I’m most passionate about improving access to care and reducing stigma around mental illness. Too many people can’t get the help they need because of provider shortages, cost, or fear of being judged. Mental health struggles are too often met with judgment instead of compassion, and that can keep people suffering in silence. I want to be a part of changing that - by advocating for my patients and helping people feel seen and worthy of care.
What are some experiences you have had that make you unique? I was a travel nurse for 5 years, so I have worked in many parts of the country. I’ve been fortunate to experience the cultural differences we have across the US, and have had the opportunity to care for and connect with people from all walks of life.
What are your thoughts on adult ADHD? - Sometimes it can be challenging to explain how you feel and how your mind works to a person without ADHD. Personally, I know how important it is to be heard and supported in getting the tools you need to succeed. Many adults are now being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, as they have adapted to living with untreated ADHD from a young age. Whether or not they want medications to help with that is ultimately up to each individual.
Do you have any personal experiences regarding mental health you are open to sharing? After working in COVID ICUs through the height of the pandemic, I struggled to process some of the traumatic events I witnessed and experienced, which was negatively impacting my mental health. When I finally sought help, I was surprised by how hard it was to access quality care - and even harder to find providers who truly seemed to care. It made me question how others were managing to navigate a system that felt so inaccessible. This experience was one of the reasons that led me to become a PMHNP.
If a patient is nervous about an evaluation, especially when talking about tough things like trauma or sexual abuse, what would you want them to know? Talking about trauma can be really hard. You can share as much or as little as you want about your trauma and experiences. Diving into all the details isn’t necessary if that’s something you are not comfortable with. Either way, I’m here to listen and support you in a non-judgmental way.
What are some other things you feel could be beneficial to improve mental health other than medications? There are so many things that can be beneficial to improving mental health. Therapy, exercise, meditation, human connection, self-care, engaging in activities you are passionate about, getting outside, quality sleep. Many factors in life can play into the state of your mental health, and I think it is so important to explore them all.
What is your philosophy on using medication to treat mental health? Are medications lifelong? Does a patient who sees you HAVE to be on medications? Patients who see me definitely do not have to be on medications. There are many nonpharmacological interventions that can be implemented to improve mental health. Everyone is unique, and we can work together to establish the best treatment plan for you. I think medication can be a great tool to help people in their journey to improve their mental health, but they don’t have to be the first thing we reach for, and they don’t necessarily have to be lifelong.
