Kristen Dawson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Dr. Kristen Dawson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the state of Utah. She earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the University of Utah, where she previously completed an Honors Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a psychology minor. She offers psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and individual therapy services for children, teens, and adults.

Prior to her role as a provider, Dr. Dawson gained valuable experience as a registered nurse, student, and volunteer in diverse mental health settings. Her background spans community, residential, outpatient, and forensic environments, and she has especially enjoyed her work with adolescents and young adults. Dr. Dawson is well-versed in treating clients with a broad range of conditions and has particular clinical interests in mood disorders, psychotic disorders, interpersonal difficulties, trauma, and psychedelic medicine.

Passionate about holistic mental health care, Dr. Dawson takes a comprehensive approach to address all aspects of a person’s life. Her treatment philosophy integrates a combination of therapy, medications, and lifestyle interventions to optimize her clients’ overall well-being. Displaying a warm, empathetic, and relaxed style, she embraces a humanistic-existential perspective that promotes individuals’ autonomy and highlights their unique strengths, needs, and goals. She strives to cultivate trusting relationships with her clients and draws techniques from an array of therapeutic modalities to guide the treatment process. Dr. Dawson is a devoted ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and a member of the LGBTQ-Affirmative Therapist Guild of Utah.

In her free time, Kristen likes to spend time outdoors with family, friends, and her pit bull mix, Jax. She loves running, snowboarding, hiking, paddle boarding, camping, and playing pickleball.