Meet Tara Kidd, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Tara Kidd is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and the founder of High Tide Behavioral Health, serving Fort Walton Beach and the surrounding communities of the Florida Panhandle. With a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington, Tara brings a rare combination of clinical expertise, military service, and genuine compassion to every patient she sees.

A Calling Rooted in Service

Before founding High Tide Behavioral Health, Tara Kidd served her country as a United States Marine Corps veteran, including deployments in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her military service gave Tara a firsthand understanding of the unique psychological challenges faced by veterans, active duty service members, and military families. That experience didn’t just shape her career — it shaped her purpose. Tara is deeply committed to reducing the stigma around mental health care, particularly within military and first responder communities who are so often taught to push through pain rather than seek help.

From the ER to Behavioral Health

Tara’s path to psychiatric care began in the emergency room, where she spent years as an ER trauma nurse. Working on the front lines of crisis care, Tara witnessed daily how closely physical and mental health are intertwined. She saw patients in their most vulnerable moments and recognized that treating the body without addressing the mind left too many people without the full care they needed. That insight drove her to pursue advanced psychiatric training and ultimately to build a practice where whole-person care is at the center of everything.

Why Tara Founded High Tide Behavioral Health

After years of working within larger healthcare organizations, Tara Kidd founded High Tide Behavioral Health with a clear vision — to create a practice where patients feel truly heard, valued, and empowered. Tara believes that mental health care should never feel rushed or impersonal. At High Tide Behavioral Health, every appointment is an opportunity to build a real therapeutic relationship, develop an individualized treatment plan, and make a meaningful difference in a patient’s life. Tara is passionate about making mental health care accessible to everyone in the Fort Walton Beach area and beyond, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Comprehensive Psychiatric Care for All Ages

Tara Kidd provides compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. She treats a wide range of behavioral health conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, trauma, mood disorders, and substance use. Tara takes a holistic, medication-assisted approach — combining careful psychiatric evaluation with compassionate listening and individualized treatment planning. Whether a patient is navigating a new diagnosis or managing a long-term condition, Tara meets them where they are.

High Tide Behavioral Health offers both in-person appointments in Fort Walton Beach and telehealth services.

Begin Your Journey at High Tide Behavioral Health

If you or a loved one is ready to take the first step toward better mental health, Tara Kidd and the team at High Tide Behavioral Health are here to help. High Tide Behavioral Health is currently accepting new patients of all ages. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.