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 being told that psychiatric nursing "wasn't real nursing," she persisted, eventually discovering psychoanalysis—a therapeutic approach that offered the depth she had been seeking. Through her own personal analysis and extensive professional training, she developed a practice model that places the therapeutic relationship at the center, rather than medication management.
Dr. Finley challenges the status quo with thought-provoking insights, suggesting that "probably 70% of people on drugs right now wouldn't need to be on them if they had good therapy." She dismantles common myths about private practice, revealing how therapist-focused care can be both financially sustainable and professionally fulfilling. Her work through the Finley Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Fellowship aims to build bridges between nursing and psychoanalysis, creating pathways for NPs to incorporate these powerful therapeutic principles into their practice.
Most compellingly, Dr. Finley connects modern psychotherapy practice back to nursing's roots, reminding us that Hildegard Peplau envisioned psychiatric nurses as primarily therapists who would provide intensive clinical work with their patients. This historical perspective offers a powerful validation for NPs seeking deeper engagement with their patients. As Dr. Finley puts it, "You can only take patients as far as you've gone yourself"—a challenge to both personal and professional growth that resonates with the true spirit of nursing. Visit finleypsych.com to learn more about the fellowship or connect with Dr. Finley directly.
Dr. Brooke Finley (brooke@finleypsych.com)
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
