Meet Nichollette Dykes | Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nichollette Dykes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nichollette, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
From a young age, I understood that if I didn’t fight for myself and prioritize healing, I wouldn’t make it. I grew up in the shadow of generational trauma, in a home strained by abuse. I knew deep down that if I ever wanted a healthy family of my own, something had to change. The cycle had to stop with me.

Therapy became my lifeline. I immersed myself in the work, sessions, self-help books, reflection, anything that could help me not just survive, but one day thrive. I wanted more than just resilience. I wanted to build a completely different kind of life.

Now, I’m a mother to three young boys. They are growing up in a home rooted in presence, empathy, and emotional safety, a home I once only dreamed of. Because I chose healing, they’ll never have to carry the weight I once did.

The most impactful thing I’ve done as a parent is that I broke the cycle. I chose healing. And because of that, my children get to live in freedom I never had.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Denver, Colorado and the owner of NVD Psychiatric Services. I diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication, grounded in the nursing model, which emphasizes whole-person, holistic care. While I treat a wide range of mental health conditions, my special interests include trauma/PTSD, eating disorders, ADHD, and hormonal mental health.

What sets my practice apart is the belief that mental health care should meet people where they are, and that it should feel deeply personal. It’s incredibly difficult to reach out for help, and I want my patients to know that I see their strength, and I want to know their story. Medication can be incredibly helpful, but healing is rarely just about a prescription. To treat the symptoms, I need to understand the full picture.

I take a comprehensive approach to treatment, reviewing and recommending both biological and environmental factors that may influence mental health, including labs, sleep, nutrition, therapy, life satisfaction, and movement. I’m also intentional about exploring evidence-based supplements, acupuncture, and mind-body practices that can support each patient’s journey.

I’ve always believed in creating a welcoming space not only in psychiatry, but also in my personal life. I want every person to feel safe being exactly who they are. Everyone deserves to feel heard, seen, and accepted by their healthcare providers. For me, this isn’t just a professional goal; it’s a core value. I’ve always stood for equal rights and the freedom to live as we are, to identify how we choose, and to believe in what’s meaningful to us. That sense of safety and respect should be the foundation of all care, and it absolutely is in my practice.

I’m especially passionate about women’s mental health, an area that has historically been overlooked in both research and clinical care. For context, women weren’t required to be included in NIH-funded research until 1993. ADHD diagnostic criteria were largely based on studies of boys, which has contributed to under-diagnosis in girls and women. Even PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), a more severe form of PMS, wasn’t formally recognized by the World Health Organization until 2019. The gaps in research around reproductive, postpartum, perimenopausal, and menopausal mental health are significant, and I plan to spend my career increasing awareness and improving treatment.

My work is also shaped by my own mental health journey. I know what it feels like to struggle, to do the work, and to fight for healing. That lived experience allows me to show up with real empathy and connection every single day, something many of my patients say they feel from the very first visit.

What I want the world to know about my brand is this: mental health care can be better. It can be more thoughtful, more intentional, more informed, and more personal. People deserve to be heard, believed, and treated as whole human beings, not just as diagnoses.

That belief is at the heart of everything I do and what my business stands for.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hiking and trail running are where I feel most at peace, and there’s nothing better than sharing that experience with the people I love. So first stop? The trails. I feel very fortunate to live in a place where I can share that beauty with friends and family.

After hiking, we’d definitely head to a local brewery or restaurant. There’s something about a post-hike cold beer that just hits right. If we’re near Breckenridge, I’d have to take them to Downstairs at Eric’s. It has the perfect combo of great pizza and an arcade. Can you tell I’m a boy mom? My youngsters absolutely love it.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First off, my mama and my two older sisters are the most inspiring women I know. All three of them are entrepreneurs, and watching them build lives and businesses rooted in their dreams has always pushed me to chase my own. We all share a relentless drive to go after what we want and create better lives for ourselves and our children. We’ve walked through a lot together, and their strength continues to shape me every single day.

I also have to shout out my husband, my steady ground. He’s been there through every season, celebrating every win, and reminding me of my worth when I couldn’t see it myself. His belief in me has made so much possible. Now, I have the incredible gift of raising three little boys, and I get the chance to help them grow into men like their dad.

Website: https://www.nichollettedykesnp.com

Image Credits
Kalilah Clara Photography