Cathy Nguyen, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Cathy Nguyen is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Relief Mental Health in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. Through medication management, TMS, and psychedelic therapy, Cathy’s primary focus is on helping individuals struggling with a wide range of mental health diagnoses, including depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, OCD, sleep or insomnia, mood and personality disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD/trauma, and more.

Cathy works with diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals. One of Cathy’s unique strengths is her ability to offer special insight and understanding for Asian patients, as she is fluent in Vietnamese, facilitating better communication and connection with her Vietnamese-speaking patients.

Cathy’s treatment approach is rooted in sensitivity to diverse cultural backgrounds,   providing person-centered care through motivational interviewing, solution-focused brief, mindfulness-based, and prevention therapies.

Cathy recognizes that mental health treatment requires patience and collaboration to achieve a better quality of life. Whether her patients are new to psychotropic medications or have a robust medication history, Cathy takes the time to ensure that the most appropriate and effective medications are prescribed to meet patient specific needs. For adults with treatment-resistant depression or depression with suicidal thoughts or behaviors who haven’t found relief from traditional psychiatry, Cathy can offer SPRAVATO®, the FDA approved form of ketamine, as an alternative treatment.

Cathy actively involves her patients in the decision-making process, explaining treatment options such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), to help patients find what works best for them.

Cathy earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Mercy College of Health Sciences in Iowa, and a Master’s degree in nursing practice from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with high honors and is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA).

Awarded Provider of the Month, April 2024