Find a Top Psychiatrist Near Me in Rio Rancho, NM – Book an Appointment Instantly

I am a Doctor of Nursing Practice providing psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and individual therapy via telehealth to clients throughout New Mexico. I have experience with a range of mental health conditions and particular expertise in depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, and psychotic disorders. I am openly gay and welcome members of the LGBTQIA+ community to the practice. There are particular hardships endured within this community whether it be rejection from one’s family or church, a challenging coming out process, or stigma, prejudice, and discrimination in various walks of life. Times are changing, but we still manage insidious stigma to overt hardships, leaving our community at higher risk for substance abuse, smoking, depression, anxiety, trauma, and more. I seek to provide a safe space for people in search of healing and wellness. Please reach out for support along your path to recovery.

As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I bring empathy, an easygoing communication style, and a sweet sense of humor, making it easy to communicate with my patients and family members. Having worked both in crisis management centers, drug Rehabs, Adult psych hospitals and children’s psych hospitals, I decided to go back to school for my Master’s in Nursing 4 years ago to expand my knowledge and use my wealth of experience in good use. As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, my goal is to educate and empower patients and family members.

Judy Johnson-Howey, PMHNP-BC, MSN, brings over two decades of nursing experience to mental health care. With a master's degree earned in 2021, she specializes in substance abuse, outpatient psychiatry, and telehealth. She is dedicated to breaking stigma and advancing mental health awareness while providing evidence-based care tailored to each patient's needs. In every interaction, I strive to embody the values of empathy, integrity, and resilience. I am humbled by the opportunity to walk alongside individuals and families on their journey toward healing and wholeness, and I am honored to be a trusted partner in their mental health journey. In my practice, I emphasize a comprehensive approach to mental health care, blending evidence-based medication management with therapeutic support tailored to each individual's unique needs. I am dedicated to fostering collaboration and empowerment, empowering my patients to take an active role in their mental health. Special appointment on request.

Dr. Merhege was born and raised in New Mexico with a lifelong connection to the land and its people.  Her decision to pursue a career in medicine is rooted in her ongoing desire to make a positive difference in the quality of her patients’ lives.

Dr. Merhege received a Bachelor of Science from New Mexico State University and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the University of New Mexico.  Her master’s thesis research centered on proteins involved in learning and memory. Dr. Merhege is the author/co-author of several scientific journal publications.

Dr. Merhege earned her Medical Degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine where she went on to complete a residency in psychiatry.  She served as chief resident in her 4th year of residency where she discovered how much she enjoyed teaching and training others.  She also directed her own learning towards pain medicine in order to prepare herself for the next phase of training.

Dr. Merhege completed a pain medicine fellowship through the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of New Mexico.  Her program was multidisciplinary with a focus on interventional spine interventions.

Dr. Merhege is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Pain Medicine.  She is a volunteer faculty member at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and enjoys teaching medical students and residents.

Dr. Merhege offers a wide range of treatments for pain management, and she believes that every patient deserves a specialized and individualized treatment plan.   Her services include modalities targeting the spine, peripheral nerves, and joints.  She continues her training so she can add new and developing procedures to help modulate pain.  She is excited to grow her practice in regenerative medicine. 

Dr. Merhege is a member of the Spine Intervention Society and she is dedicated to keeping her knowledge and skills up to date and expanding to serve her patients.  She feels privileged that individuals entrust their care to her and she believes patients should take an active part in their treatment plan for the best results.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Merhege enjoys outdoor activities, photography, sports, travel, cooking, and spending time with her spouse, family, and rescue dog. 

Mario A. Gutierrez, APRN, MSN, PMHNP-BC, is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Guadalupe Psychiatric and Mental Health Services in Los Lunas and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He has over 10 years of experience in mental health nursing and is dedicated to caring for diverse inpatient and outpatient adults.

 

Mario began his education at Saint Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, receiving his bachelor’s degree in biology. He later earned his Master of Education from the University of Texas in El Paso.  

 

Discovering his passion for health care, Mario pursued his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas. After earning his nursing degree, Mario served as a registered nurse in intensive care and immediate care unit at The Hospitals of Providence in El Paso, Texas. 

 

During this time, Mario also served as a registered nurse at the El Paso Psychiatric Center in Texas for the Texas Department of Health Services. He later served in the Mental Health Intensive Care Case Management (MHICM) program for Veteran Affairs, leading a team in providing mental health services for severely mentally ill veterans.

 

Mario then achieved his Master of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. After this, he served as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at several locations like La Clinica De Familia in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Sunwest Behavioral Health Organization in El Paso, and presently, El Paso VA HCS in El Paso. 

 

Mario enjoys working alongside the Guadalupe Psychiatric and Mental Health Services team and creating positive relationships with new and current patients. He looks forward to using his various healthcare experiences to provide quality patient care.

Guadalupe Psychiatric and Mental Health Services in Los Lunas, Albuquerque, and Rio Rancho, New Mexico, has a team of highly skilled, experienced doctors and nurse practitioners offering comprehensive and compassionate care to people aged 4 and over. Patients can expect integrated, personalized care and accessible appointments, including secure telepsychiatry consultations.

The team believes that its customers’ needs are of utmost importance, and every team member is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of Guadalupe Psychiatric and Mental Health Services’ business is from repeat customers and referrals.

Patients receive expert diagnosis and treatment for symptoms of conditions ranging from schizophrenia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and mood disorders. Guadalupe Psychiatric and Mental Health Services also offers specialized child psychiatry and geriatric mental health care.

Treatments available at Guadalupe Psychiatric and Mental Health Services include cutting-edge innovations such as BrainsWay® deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (Deep TMS™), Spravato™ esketamine nasal spray, and full spectrum lights. The team also excels in multiple talk therapies and has expert medication management skills.

Guadalupe Psychiatric and Mental Health Services provides an environment that values individuality and respects the human person. The practice accepts Medicare and Medicaid, the diverse team members speak Spanish and English, and they work closely with LGBTQIA+ people.

The patient is always the most important part of the team, whose members welcome the opportunity to earn new patients’ trust and deliver the best service available. Call Guadalupe Psychiatric and Mental Health Services today or book an appointment online to benefit from the highest quality mental health care.