Boyd Cowan, PMHNP-BC

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Gender: Male | Office Location: Reston, Old Town, Telehealth | States Licensed In: Virginia, Maryland

Languages: English | Services Offered: Medication Management | Credentials: Nurse Practitioner

Age Group: Ages 5+

About Me

I’m Boyd Cowan, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. I’ve spent sixteen years in mental health — crisis intervention, inpatient care, intensive eating disorder programs, TMS clinics, and outpatient practice — with the last ten as a prescriber.

Maybe you’ve been struggling for a while, feeling stuck or overwhelmed, or you’re exhausted from managing on your own. Whatever brings you here, my goal is to make this feel less overwhelming and more hopeful. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

I work with children, teens, and adults ages 5 to 65.

My Medication Management Approach

I treat anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD and trauma, eating disorders, and sleep problems. I provide psychiatric evaluation, medication management, therapy, and Spravato (esketamine) for treatment-resistant depression.

I blend existential therapy training with psychiatric science — practical, collaborative care that honors who you are rather than fitting you into a mold. I also draw on CBT, DBT, and ACT when they’re useful. Some of what we do is medication; some of it is conversation. What stands out to me after all these years isn’t the diagnoses, it’s the courage it takes to ask for help and what becomes possible when someone feels heard.

What to Expect When Working with Me

People come to me at different points. Some are seeking psychiatric care for the first time and aren’t sure what to expect. Some are returning after time away. Others have been in treatment for years and are looking for diagnostic clarity, a second opinion, or a plan that works better than the one they have.

The first appointment is a full psychiatric evaluation — what you’ve been experiencing, your history, what you’ve already tried, and what you want to be different. We usually leave with a plan, though not always a prescription. Early on we’ll meet more often to see how treatment is working and make adjustments, then space visits out as things stabilize.

What I try to offer is care that takes the whole person into account — your history, your circumstances, what matters to you — rather than treatment aimed only at a diagnosis. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been at this a long time, I’d be glad to talk with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during my first psychiatric appointment?

Your first appointment is a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. We’ll talk about what you’ve been experiencing, your medical and mental health history, previous treatment, medications you’ve tried, and what you would like to change. My goal is to understand the bigger picture and work with you to develop a treatment plan. We will usually leave the first appointment with a plan, although that does not always mean starting or changing medication right away.

Do you prescribe medication, and will I have a say in my treatment?

Yes. I provide psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management for patients in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. I see treatment as collaborative, so you are part of the decisions we make. If you’re concerned about a medication, experiencing side effects, or feel that something isn’t working, I want to know. Medication can be an important part of psychiatric care, but the goal is to find an approach that makes sense for you rather than fitting you into a predetermined treatment plan.

What mental health conditions do you treat?

I work with children, teens, and adults ages 5 to 65, experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD and trauma, eating disorders, and sleep problems. My background includes crisis intervention, inpatient psychiatric care, intensive eating disorder treatment, TMS clinics, and outpatient psychiatry. That range of experience helps me work with patients whose needs may be straightforward as well as those with more complex treatment histories.

Do you provide both medication management and therapy?

Yes. My approach combines psychiatric care with therapy when appropriate. Some of what we do may involve medication, and some may involve conversation. I have training in existential therapy as well as CBT, DBT, ACT, and trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT), and believe psychiatric treatment should consider the person behind the symptoms—not simply the diagnosis. We’ll determine what makes the most sense based on your needs, goals, symptoms, and response to treatment.

Do you offer Spravato for treatment-resistant depression?

Yes. I provide Spravato (esketamine) treatment at the Reston office for appropriate patients with treatment-resistant depression. Spravato is administered in the office under monitoring rather than taken independently at home. If you’re interested in Spravato, we can discuss your symptoms and treatment history to determine whether it may be an appropriate option for your care.

Boyd provides in-person appointments at our Reston location, as well as telehealth services for clients who prefer to meet virtually.

For Current Patients:

How to Contact Boyd

We are no longer using Jotforms for patient communications with this provider.

If you are in need of a prescription refill or wish to ask a clinical question about your recent appointment or prescribed medication, you must send a message via our TherapyNotes Patient Portal. Please contact us at 703-935-0058, ext 2, or email us at [email protected] to request a portal link if you are not already registered.

Link to Portal: https://www.therapyportal.com/p/drgoldberg/ 

If you are experiencing an emergency, proceed to your nearest emergency room or dial 911.

Boyd only checks his messages during his working hours. Prescription Refill Requests take between 5-7 business days, please make sure to request a refill more than a week before you will run out of medication.

How to Request a Refill on the Portal

When requesting a medication refill, please make sure to include the following information. We strongly encourage copying and pasting the format below into the message and completing the information:

• Medication Name:
• Dosage:
• Frequency you take medication
• If you have had a follow-up in the last 90 days
• Pharmacy Name and Location

If you have missed your scheduled follow up appointment and are granted your request for refills, there will be a $30.00 refill fee added to your account balance and charged to the credit card on file. you may also be charged for lost prescriptions or prescription changes between visits.

Controlled substances require appointments no longer than 90-days apart. You will not be charged for refills if you are requesting your regular, monthly refill of a controlled medication.

Please note that our Patient Portal is not to be used for appointment cancelations. If you need to cancel an existing appointment or are told you must make an appointment to receive a refill please call 703-935-0058, Option 2, or email [email protected]. If you need to cancel, please contact us at least two full business days (Saturdays and Sundays not included) prior to your appointment date and time to avoid incurring any late cancelation charges.

If you do not have access to the portal, please call 703-935-0058, Option 2, or email [email protected].