Diane Ackroyd, PMHNP
Diane Ackroyd is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) in Newport Beach with a deep-seated passion for mental health care, focusing particularly on bipolar disorders, trauma, and psychotic conditions.
More about Diane Ackroyd
Diane Ackroyd is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a deep-seated passion for mental health care, focusing particularly on bipolar disorders, trauma, and psychotic conditions. When it comes to her patient-care approach, Diane is guided by the principle of “curiosity.” She collaborates with individuals to delve into their life stressors and works to formulate life-affirming treatment goals.
Over time, Diane has incorporated a range of care models into her practice, most notably the harm reduction model. This approach aims to mitigate the adverse effects of behaviors like substance abuse or self-harm, even if the patient is not yet ready to stop these activities completely.
Joining Mindful Health Solutions aligned well with Diane’s professional goals and personal interests, particularly her intrigue with psychedelic medicine. She was also drawn to the practice due to its focus on cutting-edge treatments like TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and esketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). Diane values the opportunity these treatments offer to educate patients about the comprehensive range of options available to them, beyond just medication.
Diane’s overarching goal is to create a therapeutic environment where patients can not only seek treatment but also learn to love and laugh at themselves, thereby embracing a fuller, more enriching life experience.
Personal Interests
Diane Ackroyd currently resides just outside of Los Angeles, having moved from the East Coast. She appreciates the area’s close proximity to canyons and the coast, which allows her to engage in daily walks or hikes as part of her self-care routine. Outside of her professional life, Diane enjoys traveling, particularly within California. She also practices Iyengar yoga, listens to podcasts and audiobooks, and has a deep-rooted spiritual practice. Dance and music hold a special place in her life, aligning with her belief that music is a universal language.
Education & Experience
Diane Ackroyd’s professional journey began in Boston, where she first served as an inpatient psychiatric RN for five years. She then pursued her Master of Science and became a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). This educational shift led her to a community mental health clinic, where she wore many hats—from providing adult therapy and running a long-acting medication clinic to aiding patients toward deinstitutionalization from state hospitals.
Within a year, Diane was promoted to the director of the clinic’s day program. She later left this role to establish one of the first Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) in the country. Her career then took her to New York City, where she initially served as a nurse manager on a psychiatric unit. Later, she transitioned into a clinical role at another NYC hospital, taking on responsibilities such as staff supervision, training programs, group therapy sessions, and emergency room consultations.
Diane was selected by her department to head the Quality Assurance Committee, especially due to her involvement in areas scrutinized by The Joint Commission. Once Clinical Nurse Specialists gained the eligibility to become Nurse Practitioners, Diane completed her post-master’s degree from NYU, where she had previously acted as a preceptor for nursing students. This additional qualification allowed her to expand her professional scope, including roles as a consultation-liaison and conducting a hospital-wide study on the use of one-to-one aides for patients.
Certifications & Memberships
- Board Certified Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Licensed Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry
- Licensed Registered Nurse