Meet Janelle Aguilon, PMHNP of Summit Together Mental Health

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janelle Aguilon, PMHNP.

Hi Janelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I come from a big family and most of us are nurses. Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by conversations about the healthcare world. I knew early on that I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful impact in my community, but I was drawn to exploring a different path. That led me to major in social work during college.

About halfway through I realized I had a genuine passion for healthcare after all, so I transitioned into nursing with deeper understanding of what holistic support really means. My social work education opened my eyes to the importance of mental health and how emotional wellbeing is just as vital as physical health.

Becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner brought all my passions together. Today, I run my own Colorado-based virtual practice, where I have the freedom to build my own systems and deliver care in a way that truly aligns with my values to best support my patients.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road! I started my career in a more traditional role under a larger company. It was unexpected to be working from home right out of school, but I graduated at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many others, I had to adapt quickly. Being a brand new provider in a remote setting was challenging, to say the least, but over time I gained experience and confidence in my role.

Working in telehealth requires a strong sense of independence. Once I became comfortable managing my caseload and making clinical decisions on my own, I had a thought: “I’m already doing most of this myself… Why not take the start a private practice?”

Becoming self-employed came with its own set of challenges. I underestimated how much I didn’t know about the business side of things. Every part of the practice has been a learning experience and mostly self-taught through online resources and a lot of trial and error. Today, I look back with pride knowing that everything—from the website, to appointments, to social media graphics—was built by me from the ground up.

We’ve been impressed with Summit Together Mental Health, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP) based in Colorado, and I run a virtual outpatient psychiatry clinic called Summit Together Mental Health. I provide mental health evaluations and medication management. I work with both children and adults, starting at age 6, and I specialize in supporting children, young adults, and individuals navigating trauma or PTSD.

What sets my practice apart is the genuine person-centered approach I bring to psychiatric care. With a background in social work, I don’t just look at symptoms or prescriptions. I take the time to truly understand each patient’s story, values, and goals. My focus is on collaboration, not just treatment. I often ask, “What’s going on in your life?” “What are you working on in therapy?” “What does mental wellness mean to you beyond medication?”

I’m especially proud that my practice creates space for flexibility, communication, and whole-person care. Some of the benefits of being in private practice are being able to personalize responses, having an open door to have conversations with other professionals in a patient’s care team, and having control in continually adapting my systems to better serve patient needs. My goal is to offer support that’s based on teamwork and rooted in trust and understanding. Rather than simply telling you what to do, I work with my patients to co-create a treatment plan that is effective and feels comfortable for them.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Having a flexible mindset has been essential for me. When I launched my practice, I had many smaller goals and expectations in place but not all of them unfolded as planned. What kept me moving forward was the ability to pivot when needed and stay focused on the bigger picture. Flexibility allowed me to adapt, learn from challenges, and continue building something meaningful.

That same mindset shows up in how I care for my patients. I don’t believe that there’s a one-size-fits-all solution to treating someone’s mental health so I offer personalized options that meet each person’s needs and level of comfortability.

Flexibility also helps me stay competitive in today’s fast-paced environment. As larger healthcare companies continue to grow, I’m constantly revising my systems and procedures so that I can stay relevant without losing sight of why I started this journey in the first place.

Pricing:

• In-network insurances: Aetna, Cigna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, UnitedHealthcare (Optum), SelectHeatlh, Oxford, Oscar
• Self-Pay New Patients: $290 first appointment
• Self-Pay Existing Patients: $150 follow up appointments

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.summitmhealth.com
• Other: https://g.co/kgs/A8q4kVF