Boyd Cowan is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who has been working in the mental health field for 15 years and providing psychiatric care as a nurse practitioner for 9 years. Boyd brings a unique perspective to mental health treatment, combining extensive training in both psychiatric nursing and psychology. He earned his Master of Science in Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from Seattle University in 2016. He previously completed a Master of Arts in Psychology from Seattle University in 2012. Boyd graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences in 2010.
Boyd specializes in providing psychiatric assessment, medication management, and psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults across a wide range of mental health conditions. His approach is grounded in existential phenomenological psychology, which gives him deep appreciation and respect for the uniqueness of every person. Boyd is committed to providing a collaborative and accepting atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual preference, or spiritual practice.
Boyd has experience across multiple clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, residential treatment facilities, intensive eating disorder programs, and TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) clinics. At the University of Puget Sound counseling center, he provided psychiatric services for students. He also delivered monthly trainings for medical professionals, psychologists, and psychology interns on topics such as treating and diagnosing borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and major depression. Boyd maintained a successful private practice in Washington State for 7 years. He has served as adjunct faculty at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, providing instruction in psychopharmacology for the graduate psychiatric nurse practitioner program. He has experience as a clinical supervisor for psychiatric nurse practitioner interns and has provided expert witness testimony and legal consultation for liability lawsuits involving other nurse practitioners.
Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Boyd gained valuable foundational experience across several roles. He worked as a child and family therapist and as a residential counselor in a program for children with acute mental health problems. He conducted ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) coaching with children on the autism spectrum. Boyd also served as a Designated Mental Health Professional, conducting evaluations for involuntary detention under Washington State legal code. This diverse background provides him with a comprehensive understanding of mental health treatment across multiple perspectives and developmental stages.
Boyd’s approach integrates the depth of psychological understanding with the precision of psychiatric medicine, always grounded in evidence-based practice. Drawing from the existential phenomenological tradition influenced by thinkers like Heidegger, Kierkegaard, Sartre, and Levinas, Boyd understands that authentic healing begins with recognizing each person’s fundamental freedom to create meaning and choose their path forward. His approach emphasizes the infinite responsibility we have toward one another — what Levinas called the “face-to-face” encounter. This creates a therapeutic space where clients are truly seen and heard in their uniqueness. Rather than reducing individuals to diagnostic categories, Boyd honors the anxiety and uncertainty that Kierkegaard recognized as essential to authentic existence. He helps clients navigate their own being-in-the-world with courage and intentionality. This philosophical foundation is combined with rigorous adherence to evidence-based treatments and best practices in psychiatric care. “My goal is to help each person I work with live their best life,” says Boyd. “I believe in taking a flexible, collaborative approach that honors the uniqueness of every individual. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all treatment model, we’ll work together to discover what resonates most with you and your specific goals.”
Boyd has developed particular expertise in several specialized areas that are often underdiagnosed or undertreated. He has specialized experience and training in treating OCD, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, as well as patients with disordered eating. Boyd has provided trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and received certification for this through the University of Washington. His comprehensive understanding of these complex conditions allows him to provide nuanced, evidence-based treatment that many patients have struggled to find elsewhere.
Background & Credentials
Boyd Cowan is licensed as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, and Washington State, with autonomous practice privileges. He earned his Master of Science in Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from Seattle University in 2016, following his Master of Arts in Psychology from Seattle University in 2012. Boyd graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences in 2010.
Services
- Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnosis
- Medication Management
- Brief Psychotherapy
- Individual Therapy, adolescents and adults (on a case-by-case basis)
- Expert Consultation
Expertise
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression and Mood Disorders
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- PTSD and Trauma-Related Disorders
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Eating Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Sleep Disorders
- Medication Management
- Treatment-Resistant Conditions
Personal Life
Boyd grew up in New Mexico and lived in the Seattle area for 20 years, where he maintained a private practice before moving to the DMV area to explore something new. Boyd is married with three children and has one dog. His strong sense of adventure and desire to understand new cultures and experiences led him to make the cross-country move to the East Coast. When not working, Boyd enjoys playing tennis, making music, and reading literature. He is an avid traveler who brings his curiosity about different perspectives and experiences into his clinical work, helping him connect with clients from diverse backgrounds and walks of life.
