Smart Psychiatry for Deep Thinkers

At Wily Wellness, we provide smart, compassionate psychiatric care for those who think deeply and feel intensely. Our doctorally prepared, dual board-certified nurse practitioners bring deep expertise and a collaborative approach to ensure you receive the highest level of care. As lifelong learners, we continuously expand our knowledge to better serve you. While we teach, research, and publish, our most meaningful insights come from working alongside you. You are the expert in your own life—we bring curiosity, science-backed care, and a deep commitment to helping you navigate life’s challenges with confidence. Whether you're facing anxiety, depression, or major transitions, we tailor our support to help you find clarity, resilience, and renewed purpose.

Welcome to Wily Wellness!

I’m Dr. Heather Carlisle, a board-certified Psychiatric and Family Nurse Practitioner with a passion for helping individuals in midlife and beyond navigate life’s complexities. My approach is engaged, solutions-focused, and deeply personal. With a background in both medicine and psychotherapy, I integrate science-based treatments with meaningful conversations to help you regain clarity, confidence, and joy. My patients describe me as warm, perceptive, and intellectually curious—someone who listens with deep empathy while also providing actionable strategies for change. I founded Wily Wellness in 2021 to provide the kind of care I wished I would have received years ago. I hope my approach resonates with you.

Wily Wellness proudly serves patients in-person in Tucson, Arizona, and via video visits throughout the states of Arizona and Washington.

Services

  • Medication Management

    A thoughtful, measured approach to prescribing, with an emphasis on what serves you best - even if that means no medications.

  • Psychotherapy

    A collaborative and interactive therapy experience that provides insight and action-oriented solutions.

  • Ketamine Treatment

    Medically supervised ketamine therapy, offering relief from depression, anxiety, and existential distress.

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Gain clarity, ease distress, and find a renewed sense of perspective. Click below or keep scrolling to learn more.

Who do we help?

You are intelligent, seasoned, and self-aware. You've probably read quite a few self-help books. 🙂 Perhaps you’ve spent your life building a career, raising a family, or contributing to your field. Now, you find yourself at a crossroads—grappling with changes in identity, loss, or uncertainty about what’s next. You’ve tried therapy or medication before, but it never quite felt like the right fit. You crave deep, meaningful conversations and expert guidance to help you move forward.

What We Treat

  • Persistent low mood and/or a lingering sense of sadness or emptiness, even when life seems "fine."

  • A racing mind, excessive worry, and difficulty feeling at ease.

  • Retirement, career shifts, serious illness, grief, or simply wondering, What now?

  • Struggling to adapt to change, feeling overwhelmed or unmoored.

  • Loss of motivation, energy, or joy in activities that once mattered.

  • Addressing fears of mortality, meaning, and what comes next.

How We Work

We’re different!

  • We take a holistic approach that blends medicine, psychotherapy, and whole-person care--earning us a reputation as "unicorns" among patients and colleagues. When needed, we prescribe medication alongside lifestyle optimization and research-backed treatments. Supplements and nutraceuticals can complement or reduce the need for medication, while lab testing helps uncover underlying medical contributors like nutrient deficiencies. Whether you need therapy, medication, or both, we offer thoughtful, collaborative care.

  • Our sessions are more than just conversations--they are meaningful, interactive, and solution-focused. We actively work through challenges with practical strategies, offering insights, guidance, and sometimes a well-placed challenge. You're not a passive recipient; your knowledge, experience, and intuition are central to your care. With longer appointments and increased attention, we create space for real progress.

  • We take the time to understand you. Your journey begins with a comprehensive 50-minute intake appointment, where we review past treatments, current concerns, and explore the root of the issue. For complex histories, two sessions may be needed to fully understand your experience and craft an effective treatment plan. Lab testing is often recommended at the first visit, with results reviewed in a follow-up session. Treatment may include medication, psychotherapy, supplements, and behavioral strategies to help you feel better as efficiently as possible.

    Follow-ups range from 25 to 50 minutes, depending on your needs, while ketamine sessions last 90 minutes to 2 hours for a deeper therapeutic experience.

  • We’ve embraced the latest technology to make your experience seamless. Once you're an established patient, you can schedule and reschedule appointments without waiting for confirmation. Our streamlined system allows you to message us directly for questions, concerns, or requests—no more voicemails lost in the abyss. Sessions are available via telehealth or in the office, and our intuitive online platform makes every step, from your first visit to ongoing care, simple and stress-free.

    Also, though we don't work with insurance companies, Wily Wellness uses Reimbursify to make the process of filing claims for out-of-network reimbursement as easy as possible. Please check out the blue widget in the bottom right corner of the screen.

  • At Wily Wellness, we prioritize trauma-informed care, ensuring you feel heard, empowered, and safe from the very beginning. We take the time to listen, explain your treatment options clearly, and support you in making informed decisions, giving you space to ask questions, share concerns, or explore alternatives. Unfortunately, many providers overlook these essential principles, particularly when it comes to choosing pharmacological treatment, leaving patients feeling rushed or unheard. We recognize that effective medication management requires individualized treatment, sensitivity to your experiences, and careful monitoring. By integrating these principles, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care that respects your dignity and unique journey toward healing.

  • At Wily Wellness, we value data-driven decision-making and use industry-standard rating scales like the PHQ-9 (for depression) and GAD-7 (for anxiety) to help track treatment progress. However, we believe these tools should be used thoughtfully and in context rather than as the sole measure of success.

    While these standardized tools can offer a structured way to monitor trends over time, they also have limitations. Self-reported scores may fluctuate based on mood, personal perception, and cultural factors, and they often miss key nuances such as functional improvements, coping strategies, and overall well-being.

    At Wily Wellness, we use the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and others as starting points for meaningful conversations—not as rigid metrics that define your progress. We integrate these tools with clinical judgment, patient dialogue, and qualitative assessments to gain a comprehensive understanding of your mental health journey. Our focus is not just on numbers but on real-life improvements that reflect your healing, growth, and ability to engage more fully in the life you want to lead.

What You Can Expect

  • A greater sense of clarity and control over your thoughts and emotions.

  • Relief from the weight of persistent worry, sadness, or disconnection.

  • A renewed sense of meaning, direction, and engagement with life.

  • Support in making changes—both small and profound—that align with your values.

This is mental health treatment for people who don’t want generic therapy. It’s for those seeking meaningful dialogue, thoughtful exploration, and innovative solutions. If that sounds like what you’re looking for, let’s work together.

Ready to move forward?

Gain clarity, ease distress, and find a renewed sense of perspective. Click below to get started.