Medication Management
Merjurie Ricklefs, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, RN-BC, Ph.D(c)
“Invest in yourself, and when the time comes, invest in others, and you will leave the world a better place than when you found it.”
This quote guides Merj’s approach to life and her work.
Merj brings compassion, dedication, and a commitment to lifelong learning to mental health care and nursing. A board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), she holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). During her psychiatric clinical training, Merj had the honor and privilege of being mentored for 1.5 years by a seasoned U.S. Air Force veteran psychiatrist. She considers this mentorship a blessing and an invaluable part of her professional growth, helping shape her clinical knowledge, psychiatric practice, and approach to patient care.
She is currently completing her final dissertation for her second doctoral degree, a research-focused Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing. She helps people navigate life’s challenges while inspiring hope and confidence in their ability to move forward. She is especially passionate about supporting and empowering women, helping them feel heard, recognize their strengths, and advocate for their needs.
Alongside her clinical work, Merj serves as a graduate nursing professor at Chaminade University of Honolulu. She previously served as the PMHNP track coordinator and a nursing professor at Hawaii Pacific University. She has been inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Gamma Psi-at-Large and Pi Kappa chapters) and is also a member of the Delta Epsilon Tau International Honor Society, among others.
Merj is also working toward certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) to deepen her expertise in caring for women experiencing mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy and postpartum. Her goal is to provide thoughtful, research-informed care that helps women feel supported, understood, and confident in seeking help during this significant and often vulnerable time in their lives.
As a military spouse, she volunteered as an American Red Cross registered nurse in Hawaii, caring for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families facing challenges such as PTSD, substance misuse, anxiety, and depression. Proud of her nursing roots, she draws on her experience in medical-surgical units and behavioral health facilities to provide care that considers the whole person.
Merj’s practice is grounded in empathy and cultural competence. She welcomes clients of all races, cultures, religions, and ages, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community. She values listening to each patient’s story to understand their experiences, needs, and goals. Through personalized care for children, adolescents, and adults, she helps individuals build on their strengths and take an active role in their healing.
Certifications and Certificates:
Certificate of Completion in Religious Trauma Studies; Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART); Basic Life Support (BLS); Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS); Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS); Certified Mindfulness-Informed Professional (CMIP); Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety, Depression, and Personality Disorders.
Services Offered:
Medication management, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and Esketamine (Spravato).
When Merj is not working, she enjoys traveling, shopping, learning about people and their cultures, photography, and spending time with her family and dogs.
Jasmine Summers, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
“You always win when you move through life with authenticity, honesty, love and a grateful heart.”
This quote reflects Jasmine’s belief that compassionate mental health care begins with making people feel heard, understood, and respected.
Jasmine is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with more than a decade of nursing experience. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Southern New Hampshire University and completed her post-graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program through Purdue University Global. Her experience includes inpatient psychiatric care, behavioral health, correctional mental health, telepsychiatry, and caring for individuals with complex mental health needs.
Jasmine believes that mental health care should be personal. She takes time to listen to each person’s story and understand what they are experiencing rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis or a list of symptoms. Her approach is grounded in empathy, trauma-informed care, collaboration, and respect for each person’s individual
experiences and goals.
She has a particular interest in trauma-related conditions, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Jasmine believes that effective treatment is about more than simply managing symptoms. She works with patients to understand what may be contributing to their difficulties and to develop realistic treatment plans that fit their lives. She values
shared decision-making and wants her patients to feel comfortable asking questions, expressing concerns, and having an active voice in their care.
As a military spouse, Jasmine has experienced firsthand some of the unique challenges that can come with military life, including frequent transitions, changes in community, and the demands of supporting a military family. That experience has strengthened her appreciation for the importance of connection, adaptability, and having a safe place to
talk when life feels overwhelming.
Jasmine’s nursing background has also given her a strong appreciation for caring for the whole person. She recognizes that mental health can be influenced by physical health, relationships, environment, life experiences, and many other factors. She is currently completing a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional certificate to further develop her understanding of approaches that support mental and emotional well-being from a whole-person perspective.
Jasmine welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds and is committed to providing compassionate, culturally responsive care. She believes everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, without judgment, and as a whole person rather than simply a diagnosis.
When Jasmine is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, relaxing at home, and learning about new places and people. She also enjoys spending time with her cat, Cecelia, who firmly believes that Jasmine’s primary purpose in life is providing food, affection, and wand therapy. Jasmine is happy to fulfill her duties.
Clinic Manager
Yarely Lopez
“Be your own kind of beautiful, be unique as you are and be proud of it.”
Yarely has been living in Idaho Falls for over 15 years.
She is originally from Arizona but prefers living in the cold to the blazing Arizona heat! She is fluent in English and Spanish and can speak, write, and read in both languages. She is passionate about helping others wherever possible and believes everyone can heal. She loves the environment at Autumn Leaves and thinks it is an excellent place for patients and staff.
“In the summer, I love walking my dogs and being outdoors. During the wintertime, I like staying inside, being cozy and warm, and watching movies with popcorn and hot chocolate!”. Outside work, Yarely enjoys reading, shopping, and spending time with friends and family. Her goal is to one day own a big house so she can have friends and family over and own more cats and dogs.
Reception
Kai
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." -Buddha
Get in touch!
If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment, please don't hesitate to reach out.