Depression & Anxiety Care
Treated Like the Real Thing It Is
Depression and anxiety, sometimes hormonal and sometimes not, are always worth treating like the real thing they are, not a phase to push through.
— CLINICAL CARE · DEPRESSION & ANXIETY
Understanding depression and anxiety
You can look fine and feel like you are carrying the weight of everyone and everything.
Depression and anxiety are common, treatable, and often show up together. They are not weakness, and they are not something you can simply think your way out of.
For many women, symptoms shift with hormones, sleep, stress, and big life changes. Understanding that pattern can change how you get better.
What it can look like
It Does Not Always Look Like Sadness.
Some days it is heaviness. Some days it is a mind that will not slow down. Often it is both.
Low Mood and Heaviness
Feeling flat, tearful, or empty, or losing interest in things you used to enjoy.
Constant Worry
A mind that races, expects the worst, and rarely gets to rest.
Irritability and Short Fuse
Snapping at the people you love, then feeling guilty about it.
Sleep and Energy Changes
Trouble falling asleep, waking early, or feeling worn out no matter how much you rest.
Physical Tension
Tight chest, racing heart, stomach trouble, or muscle tension with no clear cause.
Pulling Away
Cancelling plans, going quiet, or feeling like a burden to the people around you.
Why it happens in women
We Look at the Whole Picture, Not Just Your Mood
Depression and anxiety are shaped by genes, stress, life events, sleep, and hormones. Women are more likely to be affected, and symptoms can intensify around the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause. Those links are often missed.
When hormones are part of the story, the plan should be too.
Your History
When symptoms began, what has helped, and what has not.
Daily Life
Sleep, stress, work, relationships, and what you are carrying.
Hormones and Cycle
How your cycle or life stage may be shaping your mood.
Mood, Anxiety, Focus
What is happening in your mind, named clearly and without judgment.
How I treat it
Your Plan Starts With You
I build a plan around what is actually driving your symptoms. That can include therapy, EMDR when past experiences are part of the picture, and lifestyle support.
When medication makes sense for you, I can prescribe and manage it. You will have a say in every decision, and we will adjust as you go.
When to reach out
You Do Not Have to Wait for It to Get Worse
Low mood or worry has lasted more than a couple of weeks.
Sleep, appetite, or energy have changed and are not bouncing back.
It is hard to focus, decide, or get through your normal day.
You are pulling away from people or things you care about.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the U.S., or go to the nearest emergency room.
Meet your psychiatric provider
Christine Archer, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric nurse practitioner for women
I have spent over 20 years working with women. I treat depression and anxiety by looking at what is actually driving them, including hormones, sleep, and past experiences, and I use EMDR when it fits.
Our visits are by telehealth in Maryland, Washington State, and New York. You see the same provider each time, one who remembers your story.
- PMHNP-BCBoard-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Integrative Health and NutritionPost-Master's Certificate
- EMDR TrainedEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
- PSI TrainedAdvanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychopharmacology (2025)
- Menopause SocietyCertification candidate
- Former competitive bodybuilderWomen's health advocate
Getting started
Three Steps to a Plan That Fits
You decide each step, at your own pace.
Book a free consultation
A 15-minute conversation about what is happening and whether we are a fit.
Complete your evaluation
We look at your history, your body, your hormones, and what you want help with, together.
Build your plan
A plan shaped around your life and your pace, never rushed and never one size fits all.
Questions about depression and anxiety
Before You Book
Do I have depression, anxiety, or both?
Many women have both. Your evaluation sorts out what is going on so your plan fits.
Will I have to take medication?
No. Medication is one option among several, and it is always your decision.
How long does it take to feel better?
It varies. Many women notice early changes, and we check in regularly and adjust the plan as needed.
How do visits work?
Visits are by secure video. I see patients in Maryland, Washington, and New York.
You don't have to earn the right to feel better.
A free 15-minute consultation, and a real conversation about what is happening. Telehealth across Maryland, Washington, and New York.