Welcome to DepthWorks Psychiatry
Where science meets story.
Where medication meets meaning.
An integrative psychiatry practice that helps women heal through creativity, ritual, and narrative.
I help high-functioning women who feel anxious, exhausted, and disconnected
find peace and balance.
How? Together, we combine integrative psychiatry with phototherapy, narrative therapy, and ritualized practices that honor your whole story, not just your symptoms.
Welcome to DepthWorks Psychiatry
Where science meets story.
Where medication meets meaning.
An integrative psychiatry practice that helps women heal through creativity, ritual, and narrative.
I help high-functioning women who feel anxious, exhausted, and disconnected
find peace and balance.
How? Together, we combine integrative psychiatry with phototherapy, narrative therapy, and ritualized practices that honor your whole story, not just your symptoms.
Welcome to DepthWorks Psychiatry
Where science meets story.
Where medication meets meaning.
An integrative psychiatry practice for women in the Virginia, Hampton Roads area, centered on healing through creativity, ritual, and story.
I help high-functioning women who feel anxious, exhausted, and disconnected
find peace and balance.
How? Together, we combine integrative psychiatry with phototherapy, narrative therapy, and ritualized practices that honor your whole story, not just your symptoms.
Welcome to DepthWorks Psychiatry
Where science meets story.
Where medication meets meaning.
An integrative psychiatry practice that helps women heal through creativity, ritual, and narrative.
I help high-functioning women who feel anxious, exhausted, and disconnected
find peace and balance.
How? Together, we combine integrative psychiatry with phototherapy, narrative therapy, and ritualized practices that honor your whole story, not just your symptoms.
Now accepting clients in Virginia - Virtual Only
I believe healing happens when we connect science with creativity, when medication and psychotherapy are supported by meaning, culture, and ritual — and when patients feel truly seen, heard, and safe.
Who I Help & My Areas Of Focus
Mood and anxiety disorders, including depression, panic disorder, PTSD, and seasonal affective disorder.
Support for women, mothers, veterans, immigrants, and creatives navigating identity, burnout, and life transitions.
Integrative treatment that combines medication management with phototherapy, narrative work, and meaningful rituals
Who this practice is for
Women living with anxiety, depression, or both
Women who has tried treatment before and it “partially helped”
Women looking for psychiatric care that is thoughtful, collaborative, not rushed
Women interested in combining creative and reflective therapeutic tools alongside medical care
Why I want to help you
My path into psychiatry has been shaped by years of nursing, military service, leadership in hospice care, and a personal journey of loss and resilience. Along the way, I learned something powerful: when people see themselves differently; including through a photo, a reframed story, a meaningful ritual, everything shifts.
That’s why my practice blends medication management with narrative therapy, phototherapy, and ritualized practices. Together, I’ll help you reconnect with yourself and find lasting relief.
ABOUT ME
I’m Patria Alexander, PMHNP-BC., an integrative psychiatric nurse practitioner who believes your mental health care should honor you, your story, your culture, your creativity, and the experiences that have shaped who you are. In our work together, we’ll move beyond symptoms to help you reconnect with your identity through narrative, ritual, and visual reflection, so your healing feels personal and lasting.
Do you…
Do you look like you have it all together on the outside —
but inside you feel anxious, exhausted,
or weighed down by sadness you can’t shake?
Do you push yourself to be strong for everyone else, yet secretly wish someone would take care of you for once?
Do you lie awake at night replaying conversations, worrying about being a “good enough” mother, partner, or daughter, or questioning whether you’ll ever feel truly at peace?
You may be a high-functioning woman, a mother, veteran, immigrant, or creative, who has always prided herself on resilience.
And lately, that resilience feels thinner.
You find yourself snapping more easily,
feeling distant from the people you love,
or quietly wondering if life is always meant to feel this heavy.
You know you’re capable of more ease, more clarity, more connection.
What you need isn’t more willpower, it’s a different kind of support.
That’s where I come in !
My approach is designed for women like you:
thoughtful,
driven,
deeply caring…
and tired of holding it all together on your own.
Together,
we’ll uncover the roots of your struggles,
reframe your story,
and create a plan that helps you
feel lighter,
more grounded,
and truly seen.
Areas of Focus:
Anxiety Disorders
Depressive Disorders
PTSD and Trauma-Related Stress
Panic Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Acculturation Difficulty
"I wish you could see yourself the way the people who love you most see you."
– Patria Alexander, PMHNP-BC
How I Treat
Integrative Psychiatry & Medication Management
I don’t just prescribe medication and send you on your way. We explore how sleep, nutrition, movement and stress affect your symptoms and create a plan that addresses your whole life, not just your diagnosis. Medication may be part of your journey, but it’s never the only tool.
Narrative Therapy
The stories we tell ourselves shape how we see the world. If you’ve spent years thinking “I am not good enough” or “I always mess things up” it can have detrimental effects on how you perceive reality. Together we’ll work to rewrite these narratives. You will learn to see your struggles as “chapters,” as opposed to “whole- story” and reconnect with the strength and resilience that brought you this far.
Phototherapy & Visual Psychiatry
What if I asked you to photograph your shadow? Would it feel heavy or light? Large or small? In our work, we use prompts like this to explore identity, memory, and emotion in ways words can’t capture. You might revisit childhood photos to process old pain, creative new images that represent who you’re becoming. Phototherapy is a way of seeing yourself, and your story, differently.
Ritualized Reflections & Practices
Self-care is not another thing on your to-do list. We will create simple, meaningful rituals that fit your life. Sometimes as easy as lighting a candle each morning while naming three things you accept about yourself. These practices become anchors: grounding, sustainable, and deeply personal.
Client Reflections
"I couldn’t have been more pleased to work with you and I cannot wait to get our next project going."
"Thanks so much for making all this possible. It's always a pleasure connecting with your positive spirit. I really am super pleased with the work we've done. It was an amazing experience."
"I cannot thank you enough, Patria! This has been much more than expected, and I'll be sure to share my experiences with others about you! I definitely have some work to do, but with your help and resources I'm well on my way. Thank you so much for your support! Absolutely invaluable!! Thank you again!"
"Working with you boosted my morale. I realized that I am so blessed beyond what I give credit for."
FAQ
What makes DepthWorks Psychiatry different from traditional psychiatric practices?
DepthWorks Psychiatry blends evidence-based psychiatry with narrative therapy and ritualized healing practices. The practice honors the connection between mind, story, and culture. I treat psychiatric symptoms while also exploring the deeper narratives, identities, and ancestral patterns shaping your emotional world. It’s clinical care that also feels soulful and restorative.
What is Narrative Integrative Psychiatry?
Narrative Integrative Psychiatry is a holistic approach that integrates:
Medication management and psychopharmacology (as needed)
Narrative therapy techniques that help you re-author your life story
Ritualized and reflective practices rooted in cultural wisdom and neuroscience
This approach allows you to understand your mental health through both science and story, aligning healing with meaning, identity, and purpose.
What is Visual Psychiatry?
Visual Psychiatry/Phototherapy is a pioneering branch of my work that uses photography and imagery as reflective tools for emotional healing. Clients are invited to explore personal or symbolic images, ancestral photos, nature, objects, to access memory, identity, and emotional insight.
This method is evidence-informed, trauma-sensitive, and fully integrated within clinical boundaries. It’s especially powerful for clients who process emotion visually or find words limiting.
Is this approach considered “spiritual” or “religious”?
DepthWorks is culturally and spiritually inclusive but not religious. Ritualized reflection practices such as grounding, journaling, or symbolic ceremonies, are used therapeutically, not religiously. They’re designed to foster self-awareness, regulation, and connection in a culturally honoring way. Participation is always optional and client-led.
Do you prescribe medication?
Yes. All medication management is provided by me, a licensed Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP). Prescriptions are evidence-based, monitored for safety, and integrated with therapy and lifestyle recommendations.
What happens during the first session (Intake)?
Your first session is a 90-minute evaluation that combines:
A full psychiatric and medical assessment
Exploration of your life story, family systems, and identity themes
Optional reflective or grounding rituals
You’ll leave with a treatment plan, and an optional visual reflection of your healing goals and narrative themes.
Do you offer therapy or only medication management?
I offer both. Some clients come for integrative medication management with reflective sessions; others for narrative psychotherapy. DepthWorks is not a quick-prescription practice, each client relationship is deeply individualized and holistic.
Do you accept insurance?
DepthWorks is an out-of-network, private practice. This allows me to maintain privacy, longer session times, and integrative depth not possible in insurance-based settings. We provide superbills for clients seeking reimbursement from their insurance carrier.
Do you see clients virtually?
Yes. I serve clients across Virginia (in-person and virtual) and virtually throughout the U.S. for diaspora-focused care, where permitted by state licensure.
Is photography required to participate in Visual Psychiatry?
Not at all. Visual work is entirely optional and guided, used only if it supports your comfort and growth. Some clients choose imagery; others prefer words or reflection. Healing is always paced collaboratively.
How do I know if DepthWorks is right for me?
DepthWorks may be right for you if you’re:
Seeking psychiatric care that integrates both medication and meaning
Curious about your family or cultural narratives
Craving a more sacred, reflective, and culturally grounded approach to healing
If this resonates, I invite you to schedule a Free Discovery Call to explore fit.
LET’S CONNECT
I offer a free 15-minute consultation to learn about you,
your goals, and how I might support your healing journey.
Before booking, I invite you to review the services page to get a sense of appointment types and fees.
Join the Depth Notes Mailing List
Receive reflections, updates, and healing stories from the journey ahead.
A Small Pause for Reflection
This is a quiet, reflective guide, nothing to fix, nothing to solve.
Just simple prompts to help you notice how you think, feel, and move through the world.
You can use it with a journal, a cup of coffee, or your phone camera.
This guide is for reflection and creative self-inquiry. It is not therapy or medical advice.
Depth Notes Journal
What Is the Everyday Gaze?
Explore a gentler way of seeing, through the lens of nervous system safety, not self-improvement. No pressure to perform, no need to document. Just simple, mindful noticing. ...more
Adult Mental Health ,Child and Adolescents Mental Health
January 21, 2026•4 min read
Seeing Yourself, Softly
This is a quiet, reflective guide—nothing to fix, nothing to solve. Just simple prompts to help you notice how you think, feel, and move through the world. You can use it with a journal, a cup of coff... ...more
Adult Mental Health
January 12, 2026•2 min read
Your Nervous System Isn’t Broken. It’s Communicating
We live in a culture that rewards composure. So you learn to perform stability while your nervous system stays on high alert. You meet expectations. You carry the load. You keep moving. And your bod... ...more
Adult Mental Health
January 06, 2026•3 min read
Coming soon...
Parent Coaching & Family Support
Equipping parents with tools to raise resilient, emotionally connected children, while strengthening the family system as a whole.
Curated & Thematic Galleries
Raising Awesome Humans Program
