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Healing Team

Medication Management

Merjurie Ricklefs, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, RN-BC, Ph.D(c)

"Invest in yourself, and when the time comes, invest in others, and you will leave the world a better place than when you found it."

This is a quote that Merj lives by daily.

Merj embodies dedication, compassion, and a profound commitment to mental health and nursing. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a Board-Certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), she not only heals but inspires. She has been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the Honor Society in Nursing. She is a member of several honor chapters, mainly Gamma Psi-at-Large, Pi Kappa Chapter, and Delta Epsilon Tau International Honor Society. Currently a graduate nursing professor at Walden University, she is a prior PMHNP Track Coordinator and a professor at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, Hawaii. Committed to lifelong learning, she is pursuing her second doctorate, a Ph.D. in Nursing, focused on research science to deepen her impact on mental health.

Her journey is one of service and resilience. As a military spouse, she volunteered as an American Red Cross Registered Nurse, caring for active duty and veterans service members and their families grappling with challenges like PTSD, substance misuse, anxiety, and depression in Hawaii. Her diverse experience in medical-surgical units and behavioral health facilities underscores her holistic approach to care.

Merj’s practice is grounded in empathy and cultural competence, welcoming clients of all races, cultures, religions, ages, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Rooted in her nursing background, she listens intently to every story, offering personalized care to clients across the lifespan—from children to adults—addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, ADHD, OCD, and more.

With a heart for service and a vision for transformative care, Merj stands as a beacon of hope, empowering individuals to heal and thrive.

Certifications/Certificates:

Certificate of Completion: Religious Trauma Studies. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Certified Mindfulness Informed Professional (CMIP), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Certification Training in Treating Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Certified Grief Counseling Specialist (CGCS).

Services Offered: Medication Management (alone), Therapy (alone), Medication Management + Therapy. 

When Merj is not working, she is on home improvement projects, shopping, sightseeing, and spending time with her family, four dogs, and Holland lop bunnies.

Counseling/Therapy

Oscar Reyes, LMSW

Oscar obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 2016 and Master of Social Work in 2021 at Idaho State University. Oscar is also a Licensed Master Social Worker and working towards his Clinical Licensing. He is EMDR trained and also has experience using IFS, DBT, and ACT.

Oscar enjoys working with a diverse group of people. Oscar has worked with anxiety, depression, ADHD, faith issues, faith transitioning, LGBTQIA+ related issues, couples, negative beliefs, and trauma related issues. Oscar is also bilingual and does sessions in Spanish as well.

Oscar enjoys physical activities such as playing soccer, going to the gym, and training in martial arts. He also enjoys playing with his dogs, watching movies, and eating delicious food.

Clinic Manager

Yarely Lopez

“Be your own kind of beautiful, be unique as you are and be proud of it.”

Yarely has been living in Idaho Falls for over 15 years.
She is originally from Arizona but prefers living in the cold to the blazing Arizona heat! She is fluent in English and Spanish and can speak, write, and read in both languages. She is passionate about helping others wherever possible and believes everyone can heal. She loves the environment at Autumn Leaves and thinks it is an excellent place for patients and staff.

“In the summer, I love walking my dogs and being outdoors. During the wintertime, I like staying inside, being cozy and warm, and watching movies with popcorn and hot chocolate!”. Outside work, Yarely enjoys reading, shopping, and spending time with friends and family. Her goal is to one day own a big house so she can have friends and family over and own more cats and dogs.

Reception

Kai

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."   -Buddha

Kai has had family in Idaho Falls their entire life and has enjoyed visiting over the years, but they have been living here in Idaho Falls for three years now and plan to stay for quite some time. Through their own experiences, they have come to love and appreciate Autumn Leaves Psychiatry and are excited to be part of the team.
Experiencing many things in their formative years that brought them into the mental health sphere, they hope to use those experiences to support and care for all who come to Autumn Leaves for care. They hope to bring a calm, understanding, and encouraging atmosphere for anyone seeking support and care for themselves or their family.
When not at Autumn Leaves, Kai enjoys living with their family and being homey. Though relaxing at home brings them peace and comfort, they occasionally like to venture out for coffee and the Farmer's Market. They love animals, and although they have cats, they love any cute creature they encounter!

Get in touch!

If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment, please don't hesitate to reach out.