Carefully Considered Changes

Deprescribing When Less Is the Right Answer

Gentle, collaborative tapering at a pace your nervous system actually likes.
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Carefully Considered Changes
Carefully Considered
Our deprescribing philosophy

Ready to Come Off Without Going Backward?

Sometimes the smartest move is to use less medication, or none at all. Maybe what you were prescribed years ago no longer fits your life. Maybe side effects are outweighing the benefit. Maybe you simply want to find out who you are without it.
We approach deprescribing the same way we approach prescribing: slowly, collaboratively, and with a real plan. You stay in the driver’s seat the whole way.
01

Slow Is Safe

We take things in small, easy steps over months so your nervous system can adjust comfortably.

02

One Change at a Time

We like to change just one thing at a time, making it crystal clear what’s working and what’s not.

03

Symptoms vs Withdrawal

We’ll help you spot the difference between withdrawal and returning symptoms so we can respond with exactly what you need.

04

Pause When You Need To

If life gets a bit noisy or stressful, we’ll just hold steady until things calm down. There’s no rush.

05

Built Around Your Life

We look at the big picture, from sleep and stress to work and life, not just the pills in the bottle.

When Tapering Is the Goal

Who it’s for

When Tapering Is the Goal

Deprescribing isn’t right for everyone, and it isn’t a one-size process. We work with people who feel over-medicated, who are navigating a life transition (pregnancy, perimenopause, retirement), or who simply want a careful second opinion on a long-standing prescription.

If continuing a medication is the safer call, we’ll tell you that too. Our job is to help you make the most informed decision, not to push you in either direction.

Common reasons people come to us

How it works

A Careful Paced Plan

01

Full Review

We’ll start with a friendly, thorough review of everything you’re taking to see how it’s serving you today.

02

Gradual Taper

Gentle, step-by-step reductions with plenty of check-ins to see how you’re really feeling along the way.

03

Support All the Way Down

With integrated therapy and quick messaging, you’ll always have a support team by your side as you taper.

Frequently asked questions

Good Questions, Honest Answers

Most careful tapers take months, not weeks. We move at whatever pace your body feels comfortable with, never on a rigid timeline.
This is one of the most important parts of deprescribing. We help you track the timing, character, and pattern of what you’re feeling so we can tell discontinuation effects apart from a returning condition, and respond to each appropriately.
Pausing is a totally normal part of the process! If life gets hectic, we’ll just stay put at your current dose until things settle. It’s not a race, and there’s no such thing as failure here.
Yes. Long-term benzodiazepine and sleep medication tapers are a regular part of our practice, and they’re exactly the kind of taper that needs to be slow, supported, and individualized.
Nope! If staying on a med is the better call, we’ll let you know. We’re here to give you all the info so you can make the best choice for you.
Deprescribing cta
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Deprescribing

Ready to Come Down Carefully?

Our intake takes a few minutes. We respond within 1–6 hours.
Dr. Cory Zeller, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Dr. Cory Zeller, DNP, PMHNP-BC

As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and board certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, my goal is to provide safe, effective, and inclusive care to individuals throughout the Pacific Northwest.

With a decade of nursing experience in emergency medicine and psychiatry, my treatment approach prioritizes therapeutic listening and individualized medication management that considers the ‘whole picture.’ I believe that mental health care is most effective when it honors the whole person, fostering not only symptom relief but also a deeper connection to the relationships, activities, and passions that bring us joy.

Prior to joining the team at UpWell Psychiatry, I was the lead practitioner of an esketamine (Spravato) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) clinic treating individuals with severe, treatment-resistant mental health conditions.

I believe strongly in the power of community in supporting mental wellness, and enjoy working with neurodiverse and LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals. Whether you are seeking support for a specific challenge or simply looking to cultivate greater balance and well-being in your life, I’d be glad to partner with you on your mental health journey!

Specialties: Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, ADHD, Integrative Psychiatry, LGBTQIA+ Mental Health, Mental Health Practitioners and Medical Providers.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Dr. Lenore Baker, PMHNP

Dr. Lenore Baker, PMHNP

I’m a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice with over 18 years of experience in healthcare. I provide thoughtful, personalized psychiatric care for people 18 and over.

My clinical background includes working in a high-risk psychiatric program, where I supported individuals with complex mental health needs through intensive, coordinated care. I have experience in perinatal care, helping patients through pregnancy, loss, and growing into new parents during parenthood and the postpartum time.

In addition to my clinical work, I’m involved in mental health research and innovation through the University of Oregon.

My approach is collaborative, practical, and whole-person focused. With training in integrative care, I incorporate evidence-based medication management alongside attention to sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle factors. Together, we’ll create a plan that aligns with your goals. I strive to create a space where you feel heard, supported, and empowered in your mental health journey.

Specialties: ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Perceptual Disturbances/Extraordinary experiences, PTSD, Bipolar Disorder.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Olubukayo Akinyemi, PMHNP

Olubukayo Akinyemi, PMHNP

Hello! My name is Bukayo and I am a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who believes mental health care should feel collaborative, practical, and tailored to you — not one-size-fits-all.

I’ve been partnering with clients in mental health for almost a decade mostly working in community mental health settings including street medicine, crisis and urgent care settings. I have experience and enjoy working with both young people and adults, especially during times that feel overwhelming or uncertain.

My approach is straightforward and supportive: I take time to really understand what’s going on, explain options clearly, and work with you to find what actually helps. My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable, heard, and empowered to make meaningful progress. Looking forward to partnering with you!

Specialties: ADHD, PTSD and Complex Trauma, Severe anxiety & agoraphobia, Mood disorders.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Dr. Katharine Frissora, PMHNP

Dr. Katharine Frissora, PMHNP

I am a doctorally prepared Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with 15 years of healthcare experience. I aim to promote holistic mental health by partnering with you to create healing and wellness.

I have enjoyed practicing in a variety of settings across several states. My past experience includes assessment and treatment of patients in inpatient and emergency settings, caring for patients with severe mental illness in community health, directing and developing post-graduate training programs for nurse practitioners, and serving as faculty for a school of medicine.

I use an integrative psychiatry approach to better understand the underlying cause of symptoms and support you in your mental health. Integrative psychiatry is an individualized approach that combines both functional medicine and traditional psychiatry to determine and treat the source of imbalances that are impacting your health.

I recognize the inherent relationship between the mind and body and may recommend supplements, lifestyle changes, therapies, and/or prescribe medication. Using empathy, education, humor, and sincerity I work with you to develop a treatment plan to help you reach your goals and meet your specific needs.

Specialties: Anxiety, Depression, Sleep, PTSD, Integrative Psychiatry.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Heidi Pollard-Hermann, PMHNP, PMH-C

Heidi Pollard-Hermann, PMHNP, PMH-C

I’m a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) who supports individuals through life’s most transformative — and often tender — seasons. My clinical work is shaped by over 15 years in maternal-child health nursing and a foundation in anti-trafficking advocacy. These experiences offer me an inclusive, trauma-responsive lens and a deep commitment to caring for the whole person.

My approach is collaborative, warm, and rooted in social justice. I strive to create a therapeutic space that is relational and attuned to the intersections of identity, community, and ecological belonging.

I believe healing often happens through a constellation of care — multiple touchpoints that come together to support wellbeing. Medication can be one of those touchpoints, easing symptoms and supporting greater functioning. I offer evidence-based options for both prescribing and deprescribing psychotropic medications, always aligning with your values and goals.

My practice is guided by deep listening, curiosity, and respect for each person’s lived experience. I take a strengths-based, culturally humble approach and hold strong trust in each person’s capacity for resilience and transformation.

Specialties: Birth trauma & loss, Climate-related distress and ecological grief, Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, Psychedelic integration, Spiritual transitions, Substance use and recovery.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Megan Sapp, PMHNP, CNM, FNP

Megan Sapp, PMHNP, CNM, FNP

Megan brings nearly 20 years of experience caring for women and families as a Certified Nurse Midwife. She is also a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, giving her a uniquely integrated understanding of the biological, hormonal, and emotional factors that influence mental health across the reproductive lifespan.

She is a gifted educator who has a knack for translating research into clinical practice and has conducted trainings for organizations big and small around perinatal psychiatry.

Specialties: Reproductive & Perinatal Psychiatry

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Melinda Anello, PMHNP

Melinda Anello, PMHNP

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), I am passionate about caring for people. With over 17 years of experience in nursing, I have sat with people through all stages of life, and currently work with both teens and adults to help them find their best path forward.

I am dedicated to providing a safe environment infused with kindness, empathy, and humor. I currently work with those struggling with depression/mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, ADHD and OCD. I have an additional certification as a Perinatal Mental Health specialist, and unique experience to support those dealing with premenstrual or menopausal distress, those planning for pregnancy or post-partum, as well as those struggling with pregnancy loss, abortion or birth trauma — whether first hand, or vicariously in your supportive work.

By working collaboratively and utilizing evidence-based practices as our guide, we can explore your unique experience of the world and carve out a path to healing and wellness. I believe that we all have the innate ability to heal, and there are many paths to mental wellness. We can create a treatment plan that incorporates not only medication but also meaningful elements such as movement, nutrition, supportive therapy, and complementary and alternative medicines.

Specialties: Most mental health concerns, with a special interest in depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Dr. Carrie Anderson, PMHNP

Dr. Carrie Anderson, PMHNP

As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I am dedicated to providing contextualized whole-person mental health care that considers the many factors — genetic, social, environmental, and cultural — that contribute to someone’s overall health picture.

My approach is collaborative, evidence-informed, and patient-centered. I partner with my clients in shared decision-making and deeply value the foundational importance of trust, safety, and human connection in a therapeutic relationship.

I come from a background of acute care hospital nursing, where I worked as a nurse on many types of units, from rural critical access emergency rooms in Oregon to large urban hospital in-patient units in Louisiana. I have clinical experience in outpatient mental health care at a rural community health center, a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinic, and at a university campus counseling and psychiatry center.

Specialties: Mood/Anxiety Disorders, PTSD, Teens & Young Adults, LGBTQIA+, Integrative Psychiatry.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Logan Prior, PMHNP

Logan Prior, PMHNP

Hi, I’m Logan, a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with nearly a decade of experience in healthcare, and the last two years specializing in psychiatric care. At UpWell, I’m committed to providing high-quality psychiatric care, medication management, and therapeutic services with a compassionate touch.

My journey in mental health care is deeply personal. Having faced my own mental health challenges and supported loved ones through theirs, I understand firsthand the importance of empathy and understanding in treatment. This personal insight fuels my approach to care, especially for clients in the neuro-diverse community.

I believe in creating a safe, supportive environment for those who may have had negative experiences with healthcare in the past. My goal is to offer a unique, compassionate approach to mental health care that encourages and supports every individual on their path to wellness.

With a deep personal connection to the challenges of ADHD, depression, and PTSD, I aim to empower you with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to overcome obstacles and build the brighter future that you deserve.

Specialties: ADHD, ASD, Veterans and First Responders, PTSD, Depression.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Shannon La Douce, PMHNP

Shannon La Douce, PMHNP

As a mom and Army Veteran, I am passionate about supporting those who have dedicated their lives to service (of all types!). I am adept at working with the ‘givers’ — the folks who are often over-extending to those around them.

I am committed to creating a safe and judgment-free space for you to finally be the one that receives support. Whether you’re a veteran navigating the challenges of post-service life, a healthcare provider managing the pressures of the field, a mom juggling the demands of parenthood, or the friend who everyone turns to, I am here to partner with you to give YOU the support you deserve.

My decade of nursing experience spans across every chapter of life, from labor and delivery to end of life and cancer care. I value working as a client-provider team to develop treatment plans that incorporate motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, medication management, therapy, movement, nutrition, and building self-esteem and self-confidence.

I believe my clients know themselves and their needs best, and I enjoy guiding others towards identifying their own power and strengths and helping them access it.

Specialties: Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, First-Responder/Military Veterans/Healthcare Workers, Teens & Young Adults.

Serves: Oregon & Washington

Dr. Kelly Aldinger, PMHNP, MSW

Dr. Kelly Aldinger, PMHNP, MSW

Founder · Psychiatric NP