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 problems—is profoundly therapeutic in group settings
• 69% of advanced practice nurses combine psychotherapy with medication management
• Nursing leads in flexible application of psychotherapeutic techniques across various healthcare settings
• Psychotherapy doesn't require a full 50-minute session—effective techniques can be integrated into briefer encounters
• The "fixer" mentality from acute care nursing must transition to a facilitator role in psychiatric practice
• Advanced practice psychiatric nurses should claim more ownership over their psychotherapy skills
• Evidence-based psychotherapies have a strong track record and should remain integral to psychiatric nursing practice
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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
