Kirsten Manalo, PMHNP-BC, DNP, RN
Founder, Owner, CEO, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Hi, I’m Kirsten, I’m a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner based in San Diego, California. I have almost 10 years of nursing experience with background specialties in psychiatric/mental health (inpatient and outpatient), medical-surgical nursing, home health, and academia. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I’ve worked in different mental health settings including large healthcare organizations, outpatient clinics, and private practice. I have experience treating a variety of different mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and ADHD. 

I provide whole person care using the biopsychosocial approach meaning other factors that affect mental health and well-being are taken into consideration as well, including one’s emotional, psychological, physiological, sociocultural, and spiritual health. I strive to deliver the highest quality of care by taking time to establish rapport with each patient, formulating diagnosis, providing psychoeducation on medications and other treatment options, giving recommendations based on clinical judgment, while taking into consideration patient preferences, making sure to address any questions and concerns along the way. Treatment plans are personalized for each individual as we work closely in collaboration to meet their treatment goals.

My Treatment Philosophy
In my experience thus far, I’ve come to realize that medications don’t always work for everybody and results from therapy varies depending on each individual and where they’re at in their mental health journey. I follow evidence-based practice (medications, therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, lifestyle including diet and exercise) but also try to offer and discuss other complementary and alternative treatments that are evidence-informed as well such as use of supplements and Ketamine.

Medications can be a valuable tool to help minimize symptoms (making them more manageable) in the short-term, but I believe that positive long-lasting effects of treatment lie in addressing the root-causes of these symptoms and proactively working through each to overcome them one-by-one. My treatment approach goes beyond symptom management, it focuses on healing, recovery, and empowerment of each individual so they can get to a better place in life.