Colleen Fornear is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner whose path to mental healthcare was shaped by both personal experience and a profound curiosity about the stories behind her patients’ struggles. Originally from Illinois, Colleen relocated to Queen Creek, Arizona about ten years ago seeking warmer skies and the chance to build a life closer to family, and she hasn’t looked back since. Today, she proudly serves the Queen Creek community, a place she’s watched grow and flourish right alongside her own career.

Education and Background

Colleen earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing, where she laid the foundation for a career defined by compassionate, hands-on care. She went on to spend eight years in medical nursing, working in hospital oncology and later in an infusion center alongside lung transplant patients, an experience that would quietly reshape her professional calling.

It was in that infusion center that Colleen began to see her patients in a new light. Working closely with individuals facing serious illness, she found herself drawn not just to their physical recovery, but to the deeply human side of their journeys and the emotional toll that so often accompanies long-term health struggles. “I really loved that part of the job,” she reflects, “learning what brought them there and how I could help them feel better, not just physically, but emotionally.”

That recognition set her on a new path. Colleen returned to school, completing her

graduate training at Walden University while simultaneously working as an RN at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, immersing herself fully in the world of psychiatric care. After graduating, she went on to work at Arizona’s Children Association, where she spent two years working with children and adolescents before joining Serenity Mental Health Centers.

Care Philosophy

Colleen’s approach is grounded in listening first. In an initial appointment, she takes time to explore not just what brings a patient in today, but the full arc of their story: their medical and psychiatric history, their childhood, their early adult years, because she believes that understanding the whole person is the only way to build a treatment plan that truly works.

Collaboration is central to how she practices. While Colleen always offers her clinical recommendations, she believes deeply that patients should be active participants in their own care. “I want it to be a treatment plan they’re going to stick with,” she explains. “I want them to agree with it, because ultimately, it’s their life.” She holds space for patients to advocate for themselves, and when working with adolescents, she’s equally thoughtful about helping families navigate the process together.

Colleen also takes a whole-person view of health, often reviewing labs and considering underlying physical factors before arriving at a diagnosis. She never wants to see a patient reduced to a list of symptoms; she’s interested in the full picture.

Above all, what Colleen most wants her patients to know is that her office is a judgment free space. Whatever someone has been through, whatever they’re carrying, she wants them to feel safe enough to share it all. “I want them to feel heard,” she says simply. “No embarrassment, no shame, just their story.”

Personal Interests

When she’s not in the office, Colleen is busy cheering on her two boys, at their various sports events, a weekend ritual that keeps the whole family happily on the go. She and her family enjoy exploring local Queen Creek gems like Pecan Lakes and Chenet Farms, and they make regular trips back to Illinois to visit family and friends.

At home, Colleen’s beloved dog Stella, her “baby girl” and the household’s only girl, keeps life lively. In her quieter moments, Colleen enjoys reading, working out, and volunteering through her church community.

What to Expect

Patients who see Colleen can expect to feel genuinely heard from the very first visit. Her calm, unhurried approach creates the kind of space where people feel comfortable opening up, and her commitment to collaborative, patient-centered care means that no one leaves her office without a voice in their own treatment plan. No matter where a patient is in their journey, Colleen meets them exactly where they are, with patience, compassion, and a genuine commitment to helping them move forward.