Send us a text A busy inpatient hallway, a tight clock, and a patient who needs more than a prescription—this is where the art of psychiatric nursing matters most. We sit down with Dr. Shawn Gallagher, a dual-certified PMHNP and FNP, former ISPN president, and retired Army officer, to explore how small choices—eye contact, posture, sitting at the bedside—turn brief encounters into meaningful care. Sean shares mentorship pearls from his consultation-liaison roots, why perception of time can be...
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Send us a text A busy inpatient hallway, a tight clock, and a patient who needs more than a prescription—this is where the art of psychiatric nursing matters most. We sit down with Dr. Shawn Gallagher, a dual-certified PMHNP and FNP, former ISPN president, and retired Army officer, to explore how small choices—eye contact, posture, sitting at the bedside—turn brief encounters into meaningful care. Sean shares mentorship pearls from his consultation-liaison roots, why perception of time can be...
Send us a text A busy inpatient hallway, a tight clock, and a patient who needs more than a prescription—this is where the art of psychiatric nursing matters most. We sit down with Dr. Shawn Gallagher, a dual-certified PMHNP and FNP, former ISPN president, and retired Army officer, to explore how small choices—eye contact, posture, sitting at the bedside—turn brief encounters into meaningful care. Sean shares mentorship pearls from his consultation-liaison roots, why perception of time can be...
Send us a text A sailor on a dark deck, a torn letter, and a young corpsman learning to spot distress without a sound—that’s where our conversation begins. From that simple observation grew Stress First Aid, a peer-driven framework that replaces stigma with language people can use in real time: green, yellow, orange, red. We sit down with Dr. Richard Westfall to unpack how one napkin sketch—and a crucial shift from “disorder” to “injury”—reframed leadership, changed how teams support one anot...
Send us a text What if the most powerful change in mental health care happens in the space between two people—guided by skill, grounded in science, and held with genuine regard? That’s where we go with Dr. Sara Jones, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, researcher, and clinic owner who builds care around psychotherapy as a core competency, not an optional extra. We start with the spark: a seventh-grade encounter with Sybil that—despite later controversy—ignited a lifelong curiosi...
Send us a text What happens when mental health patients can't afford therapists, lack access, or have nowhere to turn? Enter the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, uniquely positioned to bridge critical gaps in our mental health system. In this illuminating conversation, host Dan Wesemann and Melissa Chapman welcomes Dr. Stephanie Bennett and Dr. Humberto Reinoso from Mercer University's nursing faculty to explore how PMHNPs are increasingly providing psychotherapy alongside medic...
Send us a text Dr. Celeste Foster shares her journey into psychodynamic practice and how her work with children experiencing medically unexplained symptoms led her to pursue specialized training in adolescent psychotherapy at the Tavistock Clinic. • Originally trained in mental health nursing heavily influenced by Hildegard Peplau's relational approach • Found that practice had shifted toward medicalization and symptom-focused models • Developed interest in psychoanalytic approaches when wor...
Send us a text What makes therapy truly effective? Is it the therapist's expertise, the specific methodology, or something else entirely? Shanna Trahan brings a refreshing perspective to these questions, drawing from her unique background as a 21-year educator, military officer, and practicing psychotherapist. From the very beginning of our conversation, Shanna's natural ability to connect with others becomes apparent. She shares how even before formal training, strangers would approach her ...
Send us a text What if psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners could practice in a way that truly transforms lives instead of just managing symptoms? Dr. Brooke Finley joins us to share her remarkable journey from traditional nursing to psychoanalytic practice, revealing a path many NPs don't even know exists. From her earliest days volunteering in healthcare at age 16, Dr. Finley found herself drawn to the profound human connections that emerge in moments of vulnerability. Despite bei...
Send us a text When Dr. Howard Butcher discovered a brochure about psychiatric nursing while studying biology, it changed the trajectory of his life. "I didn't know nurses could be therapists," he recalls, setting him on a path that would lead to becoming both a practicing nurse therapist and an influential nursing theory scholar. The pull between theory and practice forms the heart of this compelling conversation. Dr. Butcher articulates why nursing theory isn't just academic posturing—it's...
Send us a text Dr. Beth Phoenix, the 2023 APNA Psych Nurse of the Year and APNA past president, shares her insights on psychotherapy in nursing practice, challenging traditional views and advocating for a more flexible, pragmatic approach that extends beyond the conventional "50-minute hour" model. • Group therapy empowers patients through connections with each other rather than solely through therapist interventions • The impact of universality—discovering you're not alone with your problem...
Send us a text What happens when an internationally renowned mental health nursing expert shares stories of being mentored by the legendary Hildegard Peplau? Pure gold for psychiatric nurses and mental health professionals. Dr. Cheryl Forchuk takes us on a fascinating journey through her remarkable career, beginning with her discovery that psychiatric nursing provided the perfect home for her talents. Unlike other healthcare specialties with clear diagnostic pathways, she was drawn to mental...
Send us a text Ever wondered how psychiatric nurse practitioners seamlessly blend talk therapy with medication management? In this illuminating conversation, we're joined by Dr. Kate Wheeler (lovingly dubbed "East Coast Kate") who shares her journey of maintaining a vibrant psychotherapy practice even after retiring from academia. Dr. Wheeler offers a candid look at her approach to therapy, particularly her specialization in EMDR for trauma patients. With refreshing honesty, she explains why...
Send us a text Have we lost the art of truly seeing our patients? In this profound conversation with Cheryl Puntil, a psychodynamic psychotherapist who recently retired as Chief Nursing Officer at Austin Riggs Center, we explore the unique power nurses bring to therapeutic relationships after her remarkable 43-year career in psychiatric mental health nursing. Cheryl shares why she chose nursing over other professions, calling it "the best profession ever" for its unique integration of psycho...
Send us a text What if you could teach your patients to be their own therapists? Chelsea Landolin, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner from UCSF (University of California-San Fransisco: Chelsea.Landolin@ucsf.edu), reveals how cognitive behavioral therapy creates lasting change beyond medication alone. Chelsea shares her fascinating journey from psychopharmacology researcher to CBT advocate, describing that pivotal moment watching Carl Rogers' therapeutic approach with 'Gloria' and r...
Send us a text Crossing the finish line of a doctoral program leaves an unexpected void—a "phantom limb" where dissertation deadlines once lived. In this candid conversation with newly-minted Dr. Kate Melino, we explore the transformative journey of pursuing a PhD in psychiatric mental health nursing and the surprising discoveries that emerged from her research. Dr. Melino's work uncovered a startling revelation: despite over 30 million Americans receiving care in community mental health cen...
Send us a text Dr. Tess Judge-Ellis shares her journey from family nurse practitioner to psychiatric mental health specialist, highlighting the power of nurse-led psychotherapy in rural communities and beyond. • Starting as a family NP in a town of 1,000 people before adding psychiatric specialization • Creating accessible mental health services through a designated "counseling room" that reduced stigma • Using interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and motivational interviewing to help patients ...
Send us a text What happens when the art of psychotherapy gets pushed aside in favor of medication management? In this thought-provoking episode, we're joined by Dr. Tari Dilks (taridilks@gmail.com), retired full professor and past president of the American Psychiatric Nurse Association, who shares wisdom from her remarkable 50-year journey in psychiatric nursing. Dr. Dilks takes us through her evolution from mental health technician to licensed professional counselor to advanced practice nu...
Send us a text Macelli Pascal Rodriguez--Owner and provider at Transformations https://ruma.transformationhealthservices.com/team/ Let’s Connect Dr Dan Wesemann Email: daniel-wesemann@uiowa.edu Website: https://nursing.uiowa.edu/academics/dnp-programs/psych-mental-health-nurse-practitioner LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-wesemann Dr Kate Melino Email: Katerina.Melino@ucsf.edu Dr Sean Convoy Email: sc585@duke.edu Dr Kendra Delany Email: Kendra@empowered-heart.com Dr Melissa ...
Send us a text Dr Kristi Foster email: kristin-j-foster@uiowa.edu Let’s Connect Dr Dan Wesemann Email: daniel-wesemann@uiowa.edu Website: https://nursing.uiowa.edu/academics/dnp-programs/psych-mental-health-nurse-practitioner LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-wesemann Dr Kate Melino Email: Katerina.Melino@ucsf.edu Dr Sean Convoy Email: sc585@duke.edu Dr Kendra Delany Email: Kendra@empowered-heart.com Dr Melissa Chapman Email: mchapman@pdastats.com
Send us a text This episode emphasizes the integration of psychotherapy within nursing as a vital component of holistic patient care. We explore personal experiences, barriers to practice, and the future potential for nurses in psychotherapy while underscoring the importance of therapeutic relationships. • Importance of integrative nursing • Personal journey into psychotherapy • The need for a holistic approach in care • Challenges faced in early therapy sessions • Di...
Send us a text Ever wondered about the driving force behind psychiatric mental health nursing? Join us as the remarkable Dr. Kathleen Kitty Buckwalter unravels her starstruck encounter with the legendary Hildegard Peplau. Dr. Buckwalter, alongside esteemed guests Dr. Sean Convoy from Duke University and Dr. Melissa Chapman, share their personal stories and insights, painting a vivid picture of Peplau's influential journey. Listen closely as Dr. Buckwalter reflects on her own impressive career...
Send us a text A busy inpatient hallway, a tight clock, and a patient who needs more than a prescription—this is where the art of psychiatric nursing matters most. We sit down with Dr. Shawn Gallagher, a dual-certified PMHNP and FNP, former ISPN president, and retired Army officer, to explore how small choices—eye contact, posture, sitting at the bedside—turn brief encounters into meaningful care. Sean shares mentorship pearls from his consultation-liaison roots, why perception of time can be...
