Tara Thompson, DNP, MSN, MA, MBA, PMHNP-BC

Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner & Founder of MindHelp Therapeutics

If there’s one thing my career has taught me, it’s this: mental health is complex—and effective care requires both depth and perspective (preferably from more than one angle).

My professional journey began in psychiatry, my first clinical love, where I worked as a therapist after earning degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Eastern University. Supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions taught me the value of insight, connection, and being truly present—skills I still rely on daily.

As my experience grew, so did a realization: for many people, talk alone isn’t enough. They needed care that integrated emotional insight with medical expertise—care that could address the brain, the body, and the nervous system together. So, in true “let’s fully understand this” fashion, I went back to school… again… to become a nurse.

Medical Foundation: Cardiology, Neurology, and the Brain–Body Connection

My nursing background includes experience in cardiology and neurology, where I developed a deep understanding of how physiological systems, medications, and neurological functioning intersect with mental health. (It turns out the brain doesn’t operate in isolation—who knew?)

This medical foundation continues to shape how I approach psychiatric care, particularly when treating mood disorders, anxiety, sleep concerns, cognitive symptoms, and stress-related conditions.

Ultimately, I returned to where it all began: psychiatry—this time equipped with psychotherapy insight, medical training, and advanced psychiatric expertise.

I earned additional degrees from Gwynedd Mercy University and Drexel University, completing my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Drexel University. Yes, it was a lot of school. (And yes—the student loan chapter is long. Fortunately, so is the expertise it built.)

Experience Across Every Level of Behavioral Health Care

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked across nearly every level of the behavioral health system, including:

• Inpatient psychiatric care

• Partial hospitalization (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP)

• Outpatient psychiatry and therapy

• Substance use treatment and rehabilitation settings

• Managed care and utilization review

Working in managed care offered a behind-the-scenes look at how treatment decisions are made—what moves quickly, what gets delayed, and where patients often feel lost in the system. That experience sharpened my clinical judgment and strengthened my commitment to advocating for care that is both evidence-based and appropriate.

This breadth of experience allows me to meet patients where they are—whether they’re stabilizing after a crisis or fine-tuning treatment for long-term wellness.

Clinical Philosophy: Evidence-Based, Integrative, and Intentional

My approach is grounded in evidence-based psychiatry, with careful assessment and precise medication management at its core. Treatment decisions are collaborative, intentional, and designed with long-term stability in mind—not quick fixes or overmedication.

I also integrate select holistic and lifestyle-informed strategies when appropriate, supporting the mind–body connection in a way that’s grounded in science, not trends. Mental health doesn’t exist separately from sleep, stress, hormones, or physical health—and care shouldn’t either.

While I do not offer stand-alone therapy, supportive psychotherapy techniques are incorporated into medication management visits when clinically appropriate. The goal is simple: to provide insight, education, and practical tools patients can actually use between appointments—without feeling overwhelmed or talked at.