Restoring Control: A Nurse Practitioner’s Mental Health Mission

Restoring Control: A Nurse Practitioner’s Mental Health Mission

From PiZetta Media: Podcast with a Cause by Michael VanZetta

February 27, 2026 · 21 min · Season 4 · Episode 12

About this episode

Erik Larson discusses his journey as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and his approach to mental health treatment.

Erik Larson, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Army veteran, shares his journey from hospital nursing and military service to building a thriving private practice in Colorado. In this episode, he discusses blending medication management with therapy techniques like cognitive behavioral strategies and motivational interviewing, helping patients regain confidence and control over depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Larson also opens up about addressing fears around medication, supporting treatment-resistant patients with emerging options like transcranial magnetic stimulation, and the importance of family, self-care, and open conversations in sustaining his own mental health.

People in this episode

Host: Michael VanZetta

Guest: Erik Larson

Topics covered

  • mental health
  • nursing
  • therapy techniques
  • medication management
  • PTSD
  • self-care

Keywords

  • mental health
  • nurse practitioner
  • cognitive behavioral therapy
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • PTSD
  • self-care
  • medication management

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Army, Colorado, transcranial magnetic stimulation

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