Feel underprepared to treat psych patients?Â
Learn how to confidently diagnose & treat the most complex mental health cases — without second-guessing yourself
This activity is approved for 13.1 contact hours of continuing education (which includes 3.05 hours of pharmacology) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners®.
Activity ID# 24066680: This activity was planned in accordance with AANP Accreditation Standards and Policies.
Can You Relate to This?
If you’re here it’s probably because one of these things:
- You finished school and entered practice but don't feel actually prepared to be treating complex mental health patients.
- Or you're an experienced psychiatric nurse practitioner but don't feel you’re keeping up with current best practice, nor do you have time with all the patients you’re scheduled to see each day.
- Maybe you struggle with certain types of patients like taking patients off of benzodiazepines which can be a nightmare.
- Or you inherited a patient from another provider and their medication regimen – and even diagnosis – don’t make sense but you’re left with a patient on 15 different medications.
- Maybe you’re a family nurse practitioner who's been the primary treater of your patients’ mental health because there is no one available in your area to provide this important treatment.
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I really struggled with a lot of this.
In 2018, I entered community mental health outpatient practice not feeling prepared, confident, or competent in my skills as a mental health provider.
Over time, I didn't really feel updated on best practices, and I honestly didn't have the time to go digging through the literature to stay up to date. I was too exhausted with all the patients I was seeing.
I struggled with taking patients off of dangerous and addictive medications like benzodiazepines and I really had a hard time inheriting patients from other providers who often had patients on enormous medication cocktails.
Over time, I realized there needed to be a better way. A better way to diagnose and treat my patients and do it in a way where I wasn’t stressed, doubtful, or anxious all time.
Hello, I'm Dr Claire Ellerbrock and I've been working in mental health for 10 years. Since 2022, I've helped over 500 professionals practice with more confidence through a systematic framework to provide high quality patient care.Â
If you're here, it's because you have tremendous value to share with your patients and your healthcare system. But unless you feel competent and confident in your skills, you won’t be able to make an impact improving mental health outcomes and feel less stress along the way. This is why I created a framework to help you effectively diagnose and treat mental disorders.Â
introducing...
Mental Disorders Crash Course
for psych & family NPs
With Mental Disorders Crash Course you get:
- An organized step-by-step process for how to diagnose and treat the most important mental disorders you encounter in practice.
- Direct feedback on clinical cases you currently wrestle with in practice and questions you have along the way.
- Confidence in your ability to competently diagnose and treat your patients with mental health needs in an effective way.
- Application of what you learn through real-world case studies at the end of every disorder module.Â
Here's your Roadmap to treating mental disorders with confidenceÂ
MODULE 1 & 2
Intro & Foundations
Start with the essential foundations every psych NP needs to avoid misdiagnosis and build safe, effective treatment plans. In this module, you’ll learn what actually defines a mental disorder (and what doesn’t), how to avoid common diagnostic pitfalls, and the critical basics of the Cytochrome P450 system — made easy, so you can confidently prevent harmful drug interactions. You’ll also walk through a real-world case study that brings everything together in a clinical context.
MODULEÂ 3 & 4
Refreshers & Choose Your Own Adventure
Get a refresher on the basics of neurotransmitters and what actually qualifies as a mental disorder in Module 3. You'll also learn the best place for YOU to navigate through the Course in the Choose Your Own Adventure Module which includes a self-assessment to guide your experience through the Course. Â
MODULE 5
Dominating Depressive Disorders
Get a solid handle on diagnosing and treating important depressive disorders including Major Depressive Disorder and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in this module. You’ll get specific guidance on when and how to switch treatment regimens when medications aren’t effective and what other medications to consider when treatment isn’t effective. Plus, get a real-world case study to apply what you're learning!
MODULE 6
Bipolar I, Bipolar II?? Or Neither?!
Not the most comfortable treating bipolar disorders? No worries. This is the module to learn how to clearly distinguish the different bipolar disorders and how to effectively treat them. You'll also receive cheat sheets of clinical pearls and a lab monitoring guide to know which labs to order. Plus, get a real-world case study to apply what you're learning!
MODULE 7
Anxiety. Anxiety. Anxiety.
Who doesn’t have patients with unrelenting anxiety? In this module, we break down anxiety from Social Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder to OCD and PTSD. Here you’ll learn to quickly differentiate disorders based on the underlying cognitions and fears, and then learn to prescribe in a way that doesn’t perpetuate the anxiety, making it worse in the long run (something many providers mistakenly do with the medications they prescribe!). Plus, get a real-world case study to apply what you're learning!
MODULE 8
Solutions for Psychosis
In a time when antipsychotics are thrown casually around, many patients are on too many antipsychotics or don’t receive evidence-based treatment. Avoid polypharmacy and avoid contributing to worsening medical comorbidity by safely prescribing and monitoring psychotic disorders. As with all modules, you’ll also receive cheat sheets of clinical pearls and a lab monitoring guide to know which labs to order. Plus, get a real-world case study to apply what you're learning!
MODULE 9
ADHD Answers
Currently, no professional guidelines exist for adult ADHD which makes appropriate treatment difficult at times. Get clarity on how to accurately and effectively diagnose and treat adult ADHD in this module. Teasing apart co-occurring disorders, demystifying treatment options & learning to assess and monitor treatment await you in this lesson. Plus, get a real-world case study to apply what you're learning!
MODULE 10
P.A.W.S. and Substance Use Disorders
Here we’ll cover one of the most overlooked conditions in individuals struggling with various substance use disorders. Post acute withdrawal syndrome, while not recognized by the DSM, is a condition that affects the majority of individuals in recovery and when left untreated, is a significant contributor to relapse. Learn to recognize and treat PAWS in this module to help your patients in recovery. Plus, get a real-world case study to apply what you're learning!
Apply What You're Learning With Case Studies
Ever finish a course and wonder "but how does this work with actual patients?" Not here. Each module ends with a comprehensive video case study where you'll practice diagnosing, creating med management treatment plans, and working through the messy realities of clinical practice - from bipolar disorder to complex drug interactions.
But that's not all! Mental Disorders Crash course also comes with these BONUSES to make the whole process easier…
Bonus #1:Â Psych Evaluation Walk Through
Get clarity on doing an effective and efficient psychiatric evaluation through this video walk through of a quality initial psych eval of everything to know and do as you conduct a psychiatric evaluation, including what questions to ask and when to quickly build patient rapport as you gather all the necessary assessment info.
Bonus #2:Â Stress Free Lab Interpretation (for Psych NPs Made Easy)
Don’t feel incredibly comfy ordering and interpreting lab results? This guide walks you through what labs to order and how to interpret abnormal findings (and what to do with abnormal results).
Bonus #3:Â The Mental Disorders Treatment Easy Lookup Guide
This prescribing fail-safe system helps you consider appropriate medications to prescribe based on the diagnosis you are treating. Simply click the disorder from the table of contents to see what treatment options to consider for that particular disorder based on current, evidence-based guidelines.
Bonus #4:Â Essential Screening Tools to Know and Use in Practice
You’ll get a resource list of all the fundamental screening tools you should know about and use in practice along with copies of each screening test all in one place.
Bonus #5: Direct Access to a Mentor and my Clinical Education Specialists to Answer Clinical Questions
Whether you're a student in clinicals or an experienced NP in practice, or anywhere in between, there will be times you’re wrestling with a complex patient and want a second opinion or consultation. Get your complex clinical questions on challenging patients answered, in real time, by shooting us a message in the student community, the Mental Health Mastermind.
Bonus #6:Â All-In-One Manual
This manual is an extensive compilation of all the cheat sheets and guides you'll find throughout the Course. You can print this manual or download and save it to your computer for easy reference. It's a great summary, especially for people who want short-hand references.
Bonus #7: One 1:1 Coaching Session With My Team
Schedule an individual session to have your nagging clinical questions answered or review a challenging type of patient presentation. You'll get specific advice on how to proceed so you can more effectively treat your patients.
Bonus #8: Inclusive Private Community
With purchase of the Course, you’ll get free access to the Mental Health Mastermind, a community of nurse practitioners to connect, ask questions, and support one another. This is the space to troubleshoot tough cases and share your wins!
student reviews
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500+ students have been using the Mental Disorders Crash Course to confidently treat mental disorders.
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Here's what they're saying
“I wouldn't call it a crash course, I would call it a Psych NP boot camp. I feel like you could put any nurse practitioner through it and they could probably practice as a psych NP….I am so glad I took this class. I feel like it has really taught me how to be a psych NP. I feel my schooling perfected my ability to write papers, but little else.The main thing I have applied from the course is my increased knowledge regarding prescribing. I am much more confident now when seeing a patient who is in need of medication.”
- Autumn A., FNP, PMHNP
"Dr. Ellerbrock's Mental Disorders Crash Course is comprehensive and well-structured. As a pharmacist, I was immediately drawn to the pharmacologic options presented in the course.   I appreciate the wealth of information presented in these sections.  Dr. Ellerbrock's mission for the audience was evident - to equip her audience with the knowledge for confident prescribing while being mindful of patient safety!"
- Dr. Ahunna Freeman, PharmD, BCGP
 "What sets this course apart is its practical approach to learning. The material is presented clearly and concisely, making it easy to understand and apply in real-world clinical settings.
Additionally, I must commend Claire's responsiveness to questions regarding the material. Her prompt and helpful responses have enhanced my learning experience and have been instrumental in clarifying information.”
-Â Kiran K., PMHNP
 “As a new grad PMHNP I am so glad that I took the Mental Disorders Crash Course. I have learned so much! This course helped to fill in the gaps in learning that I felt were missing from my PMHNP program."
-Heather S., PMHNP
“Everything is complicated, and this course really helped simplify things and helped me think on a more step by step level.”Â
-Â Deborah T., FNP
GET STARTED TODAY!
Mental Disorders Crash Course
Master diagnosis and treatment planning with real-life clinical insight — not just textbook definitions.
LIFETIME MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
 This activity is approved for 13.1 contact hours of continuing education (which includes 3.05 hours of pharmacology) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners®.
Activity ID# 24066680.
This activity was planned in accordance with AANP Accreditation Standards and Policies.
Lifetime Money-Back Guarantee
I offer a lifetime money back guarantee.Â
If you’re worried about wasting money on this Mental Disorders Crash Course and not finding it helpful, I don’t want that to be a worry or reason you don’t sign up.Â
That's why I'm offering a lifetime money back guarantee.Â
If you find the course unhelpful at any point, shoot me an email telling me to kick rocks and I'll refund you.Â
I want this course to be helpful to you because you deserve to know how to accurately and effectively diagnose and treat your patients.Â
The work you’re doing is needed, so difficult, and often undervalued. You absolutely deserve to have an arsenal of resources and support to help you along the way.Â
If that’s not me and I'm not helpful, I don’t want your money.
Please note: Our lifetime money-back guarantee applies exclusively to nurse practitioners. While physician assistants (PAs) are welcome to enroll, this course is specifically tailored to the educational needs of nurse practitioners. Therefore, refunds will not be granted to PAs who choose to take this course.
even more success stories...
"It's so concise and it's broken down by the diagnosis, the evaluation, the treatment, the labs…everything is there, so it's been really great in helping me gain the confidence I need."
- Autumn A. | PMHNP, FNP practicing in a holistic private practice in Indiana
"I know I needed more help in psych and approaching it the right way…[this course helped] weeding out incorrect diagnoses and where to go from there."
- Deborah T. | FNP practicing geri psych in a long term care facility in Vermont
"I actually plan on going back through it. I'll probably go through [the course] like numerous times. I just think you can't go wrong...it's just a solid course."
-Ra'Kasha S. | PMHNP new grad in AlabamaÂ
meet your instructor, Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP
Hi there! My name is Claire and I'm a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
I created Stress Free Psych NP, an online educational resource, because I didn’t feel prepared for practice out of school. Since 2022, my resources have reached over 10,000 professionals over 3 channels.
My story is very similar to what most NPs experience when they start practicing.
I finished school in 2018 and started practice excited by the prospect of helping people. I quickly burned out with the volume and complexity of patients I saw. I needed less stress in practice and I wasn’t the only one – NPs experience too much stress on the job and so now I’m on a quest for there to be many more stress free NPs!
I've been fortunate to have had a range of clinical experiences working in community mental health, private practice, addiction PHP settings, and with a tribal clinic serving an American Indian population. I received my DNP from Kent State University, MSN from Case Western Reserve University, and BA in Psychology from Washington University in St Louis.
When I’m not helping NPs stress less, I work in a community health setting providing mental health care to marginalized and under-served populations.
I am a travel enthusiast, Friends show aficionado, prefer tea over coffee (weird, I know), and am known to never pass up a free cookie!
commonly asked questions
Will I have to go through this entire Course to find it helpful?
Do I have to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner to take this Course?
Do you offer continuing education hours?
Can I get continuing education hours if I'm certified by ANCC?
GET STARTED TODAY!
Mental Disorders Crash Course
LIFETIME MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
This activity is approved for 13.1 contact hours of continuing education (which includes 3.05 hours of pharmacology) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners®.
Activity ID# 24066680.
This activity was planned in accordance with AANP Accreditation Standards and Policies.