Ninety minutes, not fifteen
A real evaluation: full history, direct questions, and time to understand what is pulling you under. You leave with a clear plan and a first foothold.
Epicarus Private Psychiatry
Where Clarity Becomes Capacity.
Private psychiatric care that looks beyond symptoms. Evidence-based psychiatry, with attention to how you think, feel, recover, perform, and live.
Currently booking for late October — join the waitlist
πInfinite. Whole. Still being written. You are more than a diagnosis.
A different relationship with care
Mental health rarely exists in isolation. Sleep, stress, physical health, hormones, metabolism, nutrition, medication, relationships, work, recovery, and purpose all shape how we feel and function.
Diagnosis and evidence-based treatment are the foundation, not the end of the investigation — we take time to understand the person behind it.
Care Beyond the Diagnosis.
Psychiatric care for adults who don't have the option of falling apart
“You always have it all together.”
“You never drop the ball.”
“You never look stressed. How do you do it?”
“I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
They see someone present, capable, and on top of it — the one everyone turns to. Underneath, something has been off: sleep, focus, energy, the sense that you're running on less than you used to have.
Think about the last time someone asked how you were doing — and waited for the real answer.
Take as long as you need.
A wave you never saw coming took your footing. Another followed. Now you're further out than you meant to go. Here is how we help you find it again.
A real evaluation: full history, direct questions, and time to understand what is pulling you under. You leave with a clear plan and a first foothold.
Evaluation, a check-in two weeks later, then monthly visits while we adjust and see what holds. The first year is one price; once you're steady, visits become less frequent.
No insurance claims, diagnosis codes filed with a payer, or explanation of benefits at home. You pay for time, attention, and privacy.
The Epicarus Integrative Framework™
Care is organized across Mind, Performance, Recovery, Purpose, and Longevity — with biology, experience, responsibilities, relationships, strengths, and goals all in view.
Mood · Anxiety · Attention · Cognition · Trauma · Diagnosis · Medication
Diagnostic clarity and evidence-based psychiatric treatment.
Executive function · Focus · Decision-making · Cognitive demands
How mental health affects thinking, leadership, creativity, and function under pressure.
Sleep · Stress · Rest · Energy · Resilience
We identify what interferes with rest and restoration.
Identity · Relationships · Values · Transitions · Meaning
Responsibilities, relationships, transitions, and meaning.
Prevention · Medication optimization · Sustainable health
Today's concerns, with long-term health and function in view.
Introducing Clarity
The Whole Story — because care should see the whole of yours.
Most care starts with forms. Ours starts with understanding. Between sessions, Epicarus patients use a guided reflection experience to trace what they're feeling back to where it began — and to decide, themselves, what to bring into the room.
You arrive at each session already knowing what you want to work on. Your clinician arrives knowing it too. This is psychiatry built around insight, not intake — care designed for people who intend to grow.
In development for Epicarus patients — join the waitlist
Join the waitlistEpicarus is a private psychiatric practice led by Nicole J. Brown, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, providing psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, medication management and integrative care by telehealth to adults in Texas and North Carolina.
If everyone else has needed you first, you're in good company. You don't have to keep doing this alone.
A final invitation
Care that understands the person, the circumstances, and the life surrounding the symptoms.
Join the waitlistIs this you?
Most people who come here are functioning. That's why it can go unaddressed for years.
πYour life is larger than any single label — infinite, whole, and still being written.
You hear it all the time
“You always get it right.”
“You set the standard for the rest of us.”
When you slip, you don't correct and move on. You decide something is wrong with you.
They are outwardly successful and privately depleted. Others depend on them, and they often hear that they seem fine.
You don't have to be in crisis, or hold a particular title, to deserve care. If this sounds like you, that's reason enough.
You can stop holding it together for a while.
Join the waitlistHow care works
A wave you didn't see coming takes your footing. Another follows. Soon you're further out than you meant to go. That is often where people are when they find us.
πCare holds the whole sequence — not only the moment that brought you here.
Before you start
A complimentary 15-minute call to make sure the fit is right — no history-taking, no forms. Then a confidential intake on your own time, so your first appointment isn't spent on paperwork.
Foundation · Your first year
The diagnostic work and the adjusting happen here, with close follow-up while we see what holds.
You learn your pattern: what comes before things slide, what you reach for, who you stop calling, and what you tell yourself. See it earlier; change it earlier.
Continuation · Once things are steady
Once the regimen is settled, visits stretch to every six to eight weeks.
We move to Continuation together, based on how you're doing. If things change, visits become more frequent again.
If you take a controlled medication, a 15-minute medication check-in every four weeks is included. A check-in that becomes a full appointment is billed as a follow-up visit.
The goal isn't to stop the waves. It's to keep your footing — balanced, steady, and able to weather what comes.
Messaging covers non-urgent questions, medication concerns, and coordination, with a one-business-day response. Questions that can't be answered safely by message require an appointment.
People in demanding roles often disappear once they feel steady. We plan a deliberate step-down, so steady doesn't mean gone.
With written permission, I coordinate with your primary care provider, therapist, and specialists. Nothing is shared without consent.
Reserve
It is offered by private introduction. See Fees and privacy.
Join the waitlistThe approach
Exhaustion, poor focus, anxiety, disrupted sleep, weight change, and a medication that stopped working can be reduced to one diagnosis. Usually they shouldn't be.
πMind, body, spirit, relationships, and purpose belong in the same circle of care.
The Epicarus Integrative Framework™
The Epicarus Integrative Framework™ organizes what we help you rebuild across five connected dimensions.
Mood · Anxiety · Attention · Cognition · Trauma · Medication
We begin with diagnostic clarity and evidence-based treatment.
Executive function · Focus · Decision-making · Cognitive demands
How mental health affects thinking, leadership, creativity, and function under pressure.
Sleep · Stress · Rest · Energy · Resilience
Performance without recovery is not sustainable.
Identity · Relationships · Values · Transitions · Meaning
Mental health is influenced by more than symptoms.
Prevention · Medication optimization · Long-term function
Treatment should address today's concerns while keeping long-term health in view.
Clinical method
To find what is pulling you under, every evaluation here looks at the same seven domains.
Depression, anxiety, ADHD and executive-function difficulty, PTSD and trauma-related symptoms, OCD, bipolar-spectrum conditions. Careful differential diagnosis matters — adult ADHD, bipolar illness, and chronic stress can look alike and are treated very differently.
Insomnia, circadian disruption, insufficient sleep, and untreated sleep apnea — a major driver of psychiatric symptoms in demanding schedules. Formal sleep evaluation is recommended when indicated.
Under-treatment, adverse effects, activation, interactions, adherence, and the cumulative side-effect burden of a regimen assembled over years.
Thyroid and other endocrine conditions, anemia, nutrient deficiencies, and neurologic or inflammatory contributors — checked with appropriate laboratory work, with referral outside psychiatry when indicated.
Nutrition, activity, weight and metabolic changes including those associated with psychiatric medication, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.
Trauma, coping patterns, perfectionism, avoidance, and emotional regulation — addressed within visits and, where indicated, alongside a therapist.
Workload, leadership demands, relationships, and the specific pressures of being responsible for other people's outcomes.
Conventional psychiatric assessment and prescribing, with attention to sleep, medical contributors, metabolic health, lifestyle, and targeted psychotherapeutic work — within training, licensure, and current evidence.
It does not promise one root cause or replace medication with supplements. Supplements are reviewed for interactions and evidence like any other intervention.
We track the same functional domains at every visit — sleep, energy, concentration, mood, irritability, engagement outside work. Progress is measured against those, not against how well you're managing to appear.
Stand-alone assessments
Foundation is the full path. Stand-alone assessments offer a thorough evaluation or a focused look at one question. Each ends with a written plan you keep.
πAn assessment names a moment; it does not contain the whole of you.
Includes the comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, plus the broader factors that may shape symptoms:
It concludes with an individualized treatment and care strategy.
An extended evaluation of how psychiatric health, recovery, lifestyle, and cognitive demands shape sustained performance.
A complimentary 15-minute consultation call comes first, so we can confirm the right starting point.
See how care works →About
Careful assessment, clear plans, and clear professional boundaries.
πThe symbol at the heart of EπCARUS represents a life no diagnosis can contain.

Founder · Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner · U.S. Army Veteran
I work with adults carrying a great deal and quietly running out of room. Most have functioned well enough that no one asked how they were doing — often including themselves.
A fifteen-minute medication visit can't answer the questions that matter: depression, untreated sleep apnea, a thyroid problem, the medication itself, or years without a real break. The answer changes the treatment.
My path includes more than two decades in nursing — military healthcare, behavioral health, emergency and crisis assessment, collaborative care, and clinical leadership. My approach is collaborative and trauma-informed: careful diagnosis, attention to medical and sleep contributors, and a focus on function rather than a score. You leave every visit understanding the plan.
Clinical areas of focus
Depression · Anxiety · PTSD and trauma-related conditions · ADHD · Bipolar disorder · Insomnia and sleep concerns · Stress and burnout · Major life transitions
Who I see
Adults in demanding roles or carrying responsibility for others, including those in the middle of a major transition.

Our heart · Why π
Pi is infinite. Its digits never end and never repeat — and within that endless, non-repeating sequence, every possible story is already written: every birth date, every first word, every life ever lived.
As one teacher put it, “all of the world's infinite possibilities are contained within this simple circle.”
That is why π sits at the heart of EπCARUS.
A diagnosis is a single moment. You are the entire infinite sequence — mind, body, spirit, relationships, purpose — and no single label can contain you. We practice care beyond the diagnosis: seeing the whole of you, honoring every part of you, and walking beside you toward wholeness in every aspect of life.
The π closes our circle — wholeness, in every aspect of life. Your story is still being written, and it is whole.
The Epicarus clinical standard
Every decision here rests on independent clinical judgment. Membership level or payment method never determines whether a medication, test, referral, or treatment is appropriate.
The standard: careful assessment, clear documentation, shared decision-making, appropriate follow-up, respect for scope of practice, and coordination with other clinicians when indicated.
The team
Every clinician works within their license, training, and expertise. Non-clinical roles are identified clearly.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Founder & Clinical Director
Nicole J. Brown is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Army Nurse veteran, and founder of Epicarus. She built the practice for adults whose work leaves little room to be unwell.
Nicole provides psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management. She works with professionals, leaders, service members, veterans, and anyone in a demanding season or major transition.
She created the Epicarus Integrative Framework™ to organize care across five connected dimensions: Mind, Performance, Recovery, Purpose, and Longevity. As Founder and Clinical Director, she sets the clinical direction of the practice.
Her services include evaluation, diagnosis and treatment planning; medication starts, adjustments, and monitoring; assessment of mood, anxiety, trauma, attention, cognition, and sleep; medication education; care coordination; and referral when indicated.
Clinical boundaries
Nicole provides psychiatric care and medication management; she does not replace primary care, specialists, therapy, or emergency care. Concerns outside psychiatric scope go to Andrew or your established providers. James Eric Brown's coaching and resilience support is non-clinical and separate from treatment. Each team member works within their training, licensure, and scope.
Nurse Practitioner | Medical Wellness & Musculoskeletal Health
Andrew L. Bridges is a Family Nurse Practitioner with a background in orthopedic and surgical care. At Epicarus, he focuses on medical wellness, pain and musculoskeletal assessment, metabolic health, and primary care integration.
Within the framework, Andrew supports Longevity, Recovery, and Performance — identifying physical factors that affect sleep, energy, mobility, cognition, and function. His approach is thorough and collaborative, with an emphasis on education, prevention, and long-term wellness.
Director of Performance, Resilience & Transition · Non-clinical
James Eric Brown brings senior military leadership experience and a deep understanding of performance, resilience, accountability, and transition in high-demand environments.
At Epicarus, James supports people navigating leadership responsibilities, career transitions, retirement, and shifts in identity — sustaining performance without losing balance or purpose. Within the framework, his work mainly supports Performance, Recovery, and Purpose.
He focuses on leadership, resilience, goal execution, stress management, sustainable routines, transition planning, mentorship, and what comes next.
James's role is non-clinical. He complements the clinical team through coaching, education, mentorship, and performance-focused support.
Fees & privacy
Fees follow the care. The first year is most intensive and has one price. Once you're steady, support and cost decrease.
πThe structure changes with your needs; the commitment to your whole story does not.
Foundation · Your first year
Evaluation, two-week follow-up, monthly visits, labs and review, messaging, priority scheduling, and coordination.
$7,800 per year, or $7,150 prepaid annually — one month free.
Reaching sixteen visits does not end your care.
Continuation · After you're stable
Choose based on how much support you want between visits.
Continuation Direct is for people who are steady, need two visits a year, and don't want to pay for anything between them. If you take a controlled medication, a quick 15-minute check-in every four weeks is included in either Continuation option; if one becomes a full appointment, it is billed as a follow-up visit.
Reserve · By private introduction
A limited number of patients receive appointments within two business days, same-business-day messaging, quarterly reviews, evening and weekend appointments when available, and direct specialist coordination. Covers up to 24 visits per year.
Reserve is offered by private introduction and is not listed with a price. If you think it fits, mention it when you get in touch.
Andrew L. Bridges, FNP, offers medical wellness visits that look at the physical factors affecting sleep, energy, mobility, cognition, and overall function. These visits are separate from psychiatric care, and they are not insurance.
Medical wellness visits do not replace your primary care provider. Laboratory testing is billed directly by the laboratory.
Laboratory testing — billed directly by the laboratory. Medications — billed by your pharmacy. Care from any other provider.
Fees purchase time, access, coordination, and a defined number of visits. They are not insurance and do not cover outside medical care — keep health insurance for care beyond this practice.
No fee entitles anyone to a particular medication, diagnosis, or document. Prescribing decisions, including for controlled medications, rest on clinical judgment and the law.
Insurance billing means submitting your diagnosis to a third party, justifying medical necessity to a company that has never met you, and fitting visits to reimbursement rather than need.
Outside insurance, no diagnosis is filed with a payer, no explanation of benefits arrives at home, visit length is a clinical decision, and treatment is not limited by plan authorization.
On request, Epicarus provides an itemized receipt (superbill) you may submit to your plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement. If your plan includes out-of-network mental health benefits, you may recover part of the fees; reimbursement is determined solely by your plan and is not guaranteed.
Submitting a claim yourself does place a diagnosis in your insurer's records — which some patients specifically want to avoid. We can discuss the tradeoff.
Your record is protected health information under HIPAA. It is not shared with your employer, and nothing is released without your written authorization, except in the limited situations required by law — described in the privacy notice you receive at intake, which I am glad to walk through with you before you decide.
Practically: no insurance claims, discreet billing descriptors, reminders that do not identify the practice, and telehealth visits with no waiting room.
Many of the people I see are physicians, nurses, attorneys, pilots, and others whose licensure raises real questions about seeking care. Those questions vary by profession and state, and they are worth discussing openly rather than avoiding.
Generally, licensing bodies are concerned with impairment and the ability to practice safely — not with the fact that someone receives care. What applies to your license is something we can talk through, and you may also want to review it with your own counsel or professional association.
As a self-pay patient you are entitled to a written Good Faith Estimate of expected costs before beginning care, and you may request one at any time.
Join the waitlistFrequently asked questions
Direct answers about care, privacy, and next steps.
πEvery question is part of a larger story. We make room for the whole of it.
Not yet. Epicarus is currently booking for late October — join the waitlist, and we will reach out as appointments open.
Yes. Stand-alone assessments offer a thorough evaluation before you decide what comes next. See Assessments.
No. Epicarus is private-pay and does not bill insurance. On request, I provide a superbill you can submit to your plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement; reimbursement is determined by your plan and is not guaranteed.
No. There is one clinical standard. Clinically appropriate assessment and treatment are not withheld at any level. The difference between Foundation, Continuation and Reserve is time, access, and coordination around the clinical relationship.
Yes, when medication is clinically appropriate. No fee, membership or assessment guarantees that a particular medication — including a controlled substance — will be prescribed.
Yes, when it's clinically indicated and within my scope of practice. Laboratory work is billed directly by the laboratory and is not part of Epicarus fees.
No. Epicarus is a psychiatric practice. When a medical need goes beyond psychiatric scope, I coordinate with or refer you to an appropriately qualified physician or other clinician.
Yes, with your written permission. Nothing is shared without your consent.
By telehealth, to adults in Texas or North Carolina at the time of the appointment. Care is offered only where the treating clinician is licensed and authorized to practice. This practice is private-pay in both states.
No. Epicarus does not provide emergency or 24-hour care. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or go to your nearest emergency department.
Begin
Epicarus is currently booking for late October. Join the waitlist with a short message — you don't need to explain or organize everything. A sentence is enough.
πYour story does not need to be finished or neatly told before care can begin.
Epicarus is not yet seeing patients — we are booking for late October. Join the waitlist, and I'll respond within 48 hours to confirm your place. When appointments open, waitlist members are contacted first for a complimentary 15-minute consultation. If we're a fit, you'll receive intake materials and a first appointment; if not, I'll help you find another option.
Telehealth visits for adults located in Texas or North Carolina at the time of the appointment.
Appointment timing may include early morning, evening, and lunch-hour blocks; availability will be confirmed when scheduling.
Questions before joining? Call (737) 234-8685.
Administrative office: EPICARUS PLLC, 5900 Balcones Drive, Suite #19118, Austin, TX 78731. All visits are by telehealth; there is no walk-in office.
Private pay — see Fees and privacy.
Privacy Policy
EPICARUS PLLC ("Epicarus," "we," "our") operates epicarus.com. This policy explains what information we collect through the website and how we handle it. Our full Notice of Privacy Practices — which governs your protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA — is provided at intake.
Our contact and waitlist forms may ask for your name, phone number, email address, and a brief reason for your inquiry. Any health information you submit through these forms becomes PHI once received, and we protect it under HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices. Please do not submit sensitive details (such as a full clinical history) through the general contact form; we will collect what we need through our secure intake process.
We use the information you provide to respond to your inquiry, add you to our waitlist, schedule appointments, and conduct our practice operations. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information, and we do not use it for marketing by third parties.
EPICARUS PLLC is a private-pay practice. We do not accept insurance and do not verify insurance coverage. On request, we can provide a superbill you may submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Like most websites, ours may collect basic technical data when you visit — such as your device type, browser, pages viewed, and approximate location. If we use analytics or cookies, they are used only to understand site traffic and improve the site; they are never used to identify you or your health information. Your browser can be set to refuse cookies.
Visits and communications are conducted through our HIPAA-compliant platforms (video, phone/text, and our electronic health record). By using the website's scheduling or messaging features, you understand that information moves into those secure systems.
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information — including encrypted transmission and access controls on systems that hold PHI. No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure, but we take the protection of your information seriously and notify you as required by law if a breach occurs.
This website and practice serve adults only.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or go to your nearest emergency room. This website is not monitored 24/7.
Our site may link to outside resources (for example, crisis lines). We are not responsible for their privacy practices.
We may update this policy as our practice and website evolve. The current version will always be posted here.
Contact: (737) 234-8685 · [email protected]
Effective date: This policy takes effect on the practice's first day of operations.