Dr. Yen Anker, DNP, is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Adult-Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health at Brandman University. Dr. Anker understands the definition of addiction and mental health is complex and often an area of debate; therefore, she has left it best to be defined by the individual and their families. Since everyone has their own struggles or aspirations to improve their state of being, she understands what is meaningful for one individual may not be the same for another. Nevertheless, at some point in each person’s life, they may seek guidance and treatment for either themselves or their loved one’s substance use and/or mental health care needs. Her clinical philosophy considers a collaborative approach between her, the individual, and their loved ones, accounting for individual autonomy yet preserving the individual’s ability to engage in healthy, full-filling relationships in life.