Louanna Winkler, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Licensed in Kentucky & Tennessee
Louanna Winkler, MSN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a diverse background in both medical and psychiatric care. Before becoming a nurse, she worked for several years as a certified pharmacy technician, giving her a strong foundation in medication knowledge and patient care from an early point in her healthcare career.
She earned her Associate Degree in Nursing (2015) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2018) from Morehead State University, followed by her Master of Science in Nursing as a PMHNP from Eastern Kentucky University in 2021.
Louanna spent seven years at the University of Kentucky’s Albert B. Chandler Medical Center, beginning her time there as a nursing care technician while in nursing school before transitioning into her role as a registered nurse. She worked as an RN on a progressive care telemetry and cardiothoracic unit, gaining extensive experience with complex medical conditions and developing a deep understanding of the important connection between physical and mental health.
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Louanna worked as a prescriber at a community mental health center, providing care to a wide range of patients in the outpatient clinic setting. During this time, she also served as a prescriber for an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, working with individuals living with serious and persistent mental illness. She has also practiced in private practice alongside a psychiatrist, further strengthening her collaborative, patient-centered approach to psychiatric care.
Louanna treats patients across the lifespan and has special interest in depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma-related disorders, women’s mental health, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and autism. She is especially passionate about working with individuals who may need extra patience, understanding, and advocacy within the healthcare system.
Her approach to care is holistic, collaborative, and educational. Louanna believes patients should be active participants in their treatment, with her role being to guide, inform, and support them in making thoughtful decisions about their care. She utilizes motivational interviewing and supportive talk therapy and does not believe medication is always the first or only answer. When medication is appropriate and desired, she uses evidence-based strategies to create individualized treatment plans that align with each patient’s goals, values, and life circumstances. Her priority is building trust and creating a space where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered.
Outside of work, Louanna enjoys spending time with her family, being in nature, going for walks, singing, and caring for her Goldendoodle, Atlas. She is the proud mother of two young children, which deepens her compassion for families navigating mental health care.