Summer Williams, DNP, PMHNP-BC, WHNP-NCC-E
Helping you to reconnect with you, improving stress & alignment with holistic mental health approaches...
About Listening To The Birds
Why listening to the birds?
First, I love birds. But really the name is emblematic of my personal journey to a more mindful, grateful and humbled space. The world can be heavy and overwhelming and I am awake & aware to how easy it can be to get lost in it. It's taken me many years to find more peace. Not always easy... (mostly not easy). But for me, during times of stress or heaviness or overwhelm, I found that if I can pause and hear the birds, I feel more peace and reassurance that it'll be okay. In those moments I am able to tap into more balance, awe & gratitude for being on this earth at this time, remembering the duality, the beautiful and the not so beautiful, in all of it...
My background
I started my professional nursing career in '07, working in Labor & Delivery after graduating with my Bachelor's degree in Nursing and a minor in Psychology. Through that work I was fortunate enough to be present for over a thousand births. In '12 I graduated with a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a focus in Women's Health. The path from there veered in some different directions, but years later I decided to return to school with a renewed clarity for how I wanted to practice and what I wanted to offer. I graduated with my second MSN degree in '19 with a focus in Psych/Mental health. At that time I was also enrolled in a dual doctoral program and completed my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree summer of '23, examining the unmet needs and psychological distress of cancer caregivers via a qualitative approach. I may circle back and finish my PhD in the future but don't currently feel pulled in that direction. In '22 I began a mentorship with a Naturopathic physician in the UK which was eye opening, and from that I gained insight into true healing modalities. From that experience, as well as hours of personal research, I've been able to put the puzzle pieces together and see the absolute connection in all things.
Philosophy & Approach
My philosophy is generally based on the belief that the body is intelligent and knows what it is doing. I think often when we experience "negative" symptoms, while difficult, they are simply sign posts trying to guide us to more balance. Too often these difficult emotional symptoms are pathologized and we are led to believe that something is inherently "wrong", when often it is how the body, mind and spirit communicates it's needs to us. We just need to learn to listen...
My approach evolved to become a solely holistic PMHNP as part of my own learning, unlearning and relearning journey. While I'm happy to work with you, I will not be prescribing or refilling medications at this time, focusing instead on a multidimensional approach including optimizing mindfulness, movement, nutrition & supplementation, psychotherapy, energy/spiritual work, breath work, stress management, etc. Reminding you of your individual values, your unique strengths and your inspiring resilience.
I believe ultimately you are the expert of you and I am here to help you remember to trust yourself, to come back to a more present and aligned state and to help you live the life you deserve to live, utilizing my education, my experience, my research and my intuitive knowing.
Listening To The Birds
thank you...
I love helping others remember their gifts, their strengths and their purpose... I look forward to meeting & working with you!
Sincerely,
Summer
A Medicine Woman's Prayer
I will not rescue you, for you are not powerless.
I will not fix you, for you are not broken.
I will not heal you, for I see you in your wholeness.
I will walk with you through the darkness, as you remember your light. -S.B. Tilsley