In the past month, Rivia Mind has welcomed a handful of new clinicians, including therapists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. One of these is Ruiy Shah, PMHNP-BC: a psychiatric nurse practitioner who works with a wide range of clients and focuses. We spoke with Ruiy recently about her career and what brought her to Rivia Mind. We hope you’ll enjoy what she had to say:
Education & Background
Ruiy’s educational background was primarily in cognitive and clinical psychology research. While in school, she had an opportunity to interact with a number of mental healthcare providers in the field. “Although I loved research and contributing to the development of our collective knowledge of mental health,” she explained, “I felt I could impart the most good in a direct care role.”
She graduated with high honors from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College before going on to earn her master and doctorate degrees in nursing from Columbia University. With a goal to become a psych-mental health nurse practitioner, she received Sigma Theta Tau honors in nursing from Columbia.
Why Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?
So why did Ruiy choose to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner over the other mental health careers available? For her, it was a matter of getting the best of both worlds.
“The psych-mental health nurse practitioner role is so appealing in the way it bridges the gap between psychiatry and therapy. In my practice, I get to blend these two approaches to mental health care to create care plans that are personalized to each patient.” She states that in most cases she sees, medication management is helpful, but it is not enough to meet the patient’s needs alone. “I enjoy bringing in elements of different therapeutic modalities based on their personal needs.”
Approach to Therapy and Treatment
Ruiy believes in an approach to therapy and treatment that is tailored towards the patient, which means that her approach is not always the same. However, it always starts in the same way.
“I describe to patients how I am here as a resource to provide education and prompt discussion, but it is you as the client who gets to determine what treatment goals are most important,” Ruiy explained. “I strongly believe that it is the patient who knows themselves best, and I believe this approach can be empowering. I am here to help you reach your goals, and I will be your number one cheerleader; but ultimately, it is your own hard work that will lead to positive results.”
Ruiy doesn’t stick to one specific specialty, but instead works with a number of different focuses, such as eating disorders, attention concerns, mood disorders, and more. “I work with a number of populations. I enjoy working with people of all ages and from all walks of life. I love hearing about the unique strengths and challenges each patient brings to the table and working together with the patient to maximize those strengths and build stronger coping skills.”
Experience With Rivia Mind
Ruiy began working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner with Rivia Mind in January of 2024, but her time with Rivia Mind actually goes back to 2022, when she was an intern performing her clinical rotation with Rivia Mind.
“After my internship,” she says, “I wanted to return as I loved the warm and supportive environment that Rivia Mind cultivates, where mental health providers from so many diverse backgrounds collaborate to share their education and resources.”
We’re glad that Ruiy decided to come back and work with us on a more permanent basis!
Guidance When Starting Therapy
As always, one of our last questions was with regards to any advice Ruiy might have for those just starting therapy or searching for a mental wellness provider. Here’s what she had to say:
“I suggest keeping an open mind as you search for a provider! Your relationship with your mental wellness provider is much like any other relationship — sometimes you can tell immediately that it will be a great relationship, but often, it might take some time for that bond to grow. Trust is something that is very important to therapy and mental health treatment but can take time and energy to develop. I suggest giving it a try and seeing where things go!”
At the End of the Day
Even mental health professionals need to take a break sometime for their own mental health. So what does self-care look like for Ruiy Shah? Typically, it comes in the form of crafts.
“As a person who thinks all day at work, I love to make things with my hands in my time off! I am an avid needlepointer, quilter, and knitter. I love to try different art forms. I’m always interested in learning about heritage crafts from different cultures.”
If Ruiy Shah’s story has you interested in beginning your mental health journey, Rivia Mind is here for you! Contact us today to learn more or to book an appointment with Ruiy.
