Dr. Erin Cheers MD
Erin is a knowledgeable and experienced psychiatrist that leads with connection and collaboration. She works with children, adolescents, and adults. Erin’s practice is primarily focused on diagnostic evaluation and the initiation and management of psychotropic medications. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar affective disorders, thought disorders, and PTSD. Erin is an expert in diagnosing and treating ADHD in both children and adults, as well. Dr. Cheers strives to provide excellent evidence-based care while tailoring treatment to each individual’s needs. She is conservative with medications while also treating symptoms aggressively when necessary.
Education and Training
Erin Cheers is a board-certified psychiatrist and treats patients of all ages. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2006 with a BA in Accountancy, Erin worked for a few years in finance and accounting. She quickly realized her true passion was in psychiatry and medicine, so she enrolled in and completed her Pre-Med Post-Baccalaureate Certificate at Northwestern University in Chicago from 2009-2010. She then attended medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska from 2011-2015. Dr. Cheers completed her post-graduate training at the UW-Madison and graduated from both the General Psychiatry Residency and the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. She is a board-certified diplomat of the National Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is involved with multiple organizations (AMA, WPA, AACAP, APA and is an alum of the WPA Board of Physicians as a Fellow Trainee member from 2019-2021).
Collaborative and Empowering Approach to Care
Dr. Cheers will tell you she loves her job and is truly passionate about building relationships with patients and their families. Her philosophy as a psychiatrist and a medical doctor is centered around collaboration with and really listening to her patients. Through these dynamics, along with her medical training and experience, Erin will complete a thorough diagnostic assessment, discuss patients’ treatment goals, provide psychoeducation about treatment options, and form a treatment plan with patients and families. She believes strongly in providing just the right amount of guidance and psychoeducation such that patients feel knowledgeable, involved with and very well-supported in the treatment plans. When appropriate, Erin will readily seek further information and education on topics relevant to patient’s questions or care. She approaches every single patient’s treatment as if she were treating one of her own family members or children.
Importantly, Erin encourages patients and their families to ask questions, educate themselves, and put her skills to the test! She works to treat symptoms while empowering patients and families with the knowledge to advocate for themselves going forward. She deeply respects patients and families who may be hesitant about starting or changing medication. Erin encourages patients and families to take time their time, learn about treatment options, and have all concerns addressed before making decisions.
Medications Managed with Care
Often when seeking initial contact with a psychiatrist, patients or families are suffering with acute and impairing symptoms (such as panic, insomnia, social avoidance or school avoidance, emotional or physical dysregulation, etc.) Dr. Cheers approaches acute suffering more aggressively at the start of treatment if patients and families agree it is appropriate. Erin believes in the medicine she prescribes, and she works to alleviate suffering both in the moment and long-term. The goal is for patients to ultimately take the least number of medications at the lowest doses necessary to achieve and maintain optimal results – all while feeling comfortable and informed about the treatment. Dr. Cheers diligently tracks the utility of medications over time, adjusts doses when indicated, and discontinues medications when they are no longer necessary.
Patients with Complex Medical Needs
Erin has a special passion for medically complex patients who also suffer with mental health symptoms. As the mother of three children, one of whom is medically complex and has special needs, Dr. Cheers has personal experience with many obstacles families may be facing. She welcomes patients with global developmental delays, intellectual and physical differences and medically complex children and adults with mental health concerns. She has experience working with all ages and is comfortable discussing and treating mental health symptoms within the context of co-morbid illnesses or difficulties. In addition to her personal experiences, Erin has treated many patients with co-morbidities such as Ehlers Danlos, Multiple Sclerosis, Post-Concussive Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, and many other conditions.
Dr. Cheers knows excellent care often requires collaboration with other providers, teachers, caregivers, etc. She encourages communication with patients’ care teams when appropriate to ensure the best possible outcomes. Erin often works with schools, programs and other integral parts of a patient’s life to help promote the overall well-being of her patients and their families. Especially when caring for children or adults with special needs, Erin will go above and beyond to support patients in whatever aspects are needed. She is well-versed in the IEP and 504 plan processes and is very familiar with other opportunities and programs inherent to special needs (Katie Beckett, Long Term Childcare Waiver, community resources, etc.) Her personal and professional experience makes her an exceptionally strong ally in advocating for patients and families.
Connections with Community
Erin offers only limited psychotherapy as she focuses her practice primarily on diagnostics, evaluation and medication management. Most often, however, the gold-standard treatment for mental health disorders also calls for participation in psychotherapy. Evidence clearly supports the combination of psychotherapy with psychiatric medications (when appropriate) as the most effective and efficient way to treat many mental health symptoms. Over the course of her career, Erin has been privileged to work with many excellent behavioral therapists in the area. She is always happy to provide recommendations for therapists and other behavioral health programs in the community when needed.