Shows
Peplau's GhostHow Curiosity, Not Magic Bullets, Helps People Heal with Marcus EvansSend us a textWhat if the most powerful tool in mental health isn’t a pill or a protocol, but disciplined curiosity? We sit down with Marcus Evans—psychoanalyst, longtime psychiatric nurse, and trainer at the Tavistock—to explore how a psychoanalytic lens can make care more humane for people living with psychosis, borderline states, and severe distress.Marcus takes us from old asylum wards to modern outpatient clinics, showing how labels help as rough maps but fail as destinies. He explains why some patients act out when supervision eases, how a harsh inner critic...
2025-11-1430 minPeplau's GhostFinding The Human In Fast-Paced Psychiatry with Dr Shawn GallagherSend us a textA 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 altered without changing the clock, and how to set clean expectations for 15–20 minute visits that still feel hum...
2025-10-2736 minPeplau's GhostSeven C’s, No Seasickness: How a Navy nurse (Dr. Richard Westphal) built a peer-support model that actually worksSend us a textA 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 another, and brought practical mental health tools into the flow of work.We walk thro...
2025-10-1042 minPeplau's GhostFrom Seventh-Grade Sybil to Somatic: Dr. Sara Jones on Psychotherapy, Nursing Leadership, and Changing SystemsSend us a textWhat 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 curiosity about how talk, relationship, and presence can heal. From there, Sarah maps an integrat...
2025-10-0332 minPeplau's GhostNursing Bridges the Gap When Therapists Aren't AvailableSend us a textWhat 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 medication management. Both guests share candid stories of "falling into" psychotherapy practice when faced with patients who desperately needed therapeutic support but had limited options.
2025-09-2236 minPeplau's GhostNurses are doing psychotherapy whether they know it or not with Dr Celeste FosterSend us a textDr. 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 working with children who couldn't articulate psychological experiences• Research revealed nurses perform complex psychodynamic interventions without recognizing their value• When asked directly about their contribution to care, nurs...
2025-09-1242 minPeplau's GhostTherapy Flows Like Honey Over a Honeycomb with Shana TrahanSend us a textWhat makes therapy truly effective? Is it the therapist's expertise, the specific methodology, or something else entirely? Shana 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, Shana's natural ability to connect with others becomes apparent. This innate capacity to create safe spaces for vulnerability has informed her entire approach to therapeutic work. Shana reveals what truly drives therapeutic success: client engagement. "The therapist almost has the easy work," she explains, "...
2025-09-0533 minPeplau's GhostFrom Pill-Slinging to Soul-Healing: One Nurse's JourneySend us a textWhat 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 de...
2025-08-1842 minPeplau's GhostWhat Makes a Nurse Therapist Unique? Finding Your Voice in Mental Healthcare with Dr Howard ButcherSend us a textWhen 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 the foundation that gives psychiatric mental health nurses their unique voice in healthcare. Using the vivid metaphor of...
2025-07-2234 minPeplau's GhostSimilarities Within Differences: A Conversation with Dr. Beth PhoenixSend us a textDr. 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 psychotherap...
2025-07-1432 minPeplau's Ghost"Stop Making Excuses": How Hildegard Peplau Shaped a Mental Health Pioneer Dr Cheryl ForchukSend us a textWhat 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 health precisely because "there's no clear right answer," creating space for creativity, flexibility, and truly patient-centered care.The heart of...
2025-06-2741 minPeplau's GhostTherapy Notes: What to Write When No One's Looking with Dr. Kate WheelerSend us a textEver 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 she prioritizes psychotherapy over medication management: "My goal is always to get people off of stuff rather than starting a medication." Her practical...
2025-06-1732 minPeplau's GhostPsychodynamic Nursing: A Lifelong Journey with Cheryl PuntilSend us a textHave 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 psychology, medicine, and social work perspectives. With passionate conviction, she explains how nurses observe patients in contexts no other providers...
2025-05-2041 minPeplau's GhostFrom Pills to Skills: Transforming Mental Health Through Cognitive Restructuring with Chelsea LandolinSend us a textWhat 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 recognizing how empowering the right therapy can be. Her candid explanation of how our brains process negative thoughts literally—"When you say 'I'm a failure,' your brain believes it...
2025-05-0938 minPeplau's GhostBridging Research and Practice: The Value of PhD-Prepared Psychiatric Nurses, Dr Kate MelinoSend us a textCrossing 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 centers across the country, almost no research examines these critical settings or the practitioners who serve there. Her research illuminates how psychiatric me...
2025-04-2832 minPeplau's GhostPsychotherapy in Advanced Nursing: Beyond the Nod with Dr Tess Judge-EllisSend us a textDr. 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 with grief and substance use disorders• Emphasizing that every nursing encounter has psychotherapeutic potential from the first moment• Comparing psychotherapy to "physical therapy for the brain"...
2025-04-0428 minPeplau's GhostWhen Pills Aren't Enough: A Candid Conversation with Dr. Tari Dilks on Psychotherapy's Vital Role in Mental HealthcareSend us a textWhat 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 nurse, revealing how the therapeutic relationship became her north star. "Psychotherapy is curative," she asserts, recounting a 15-year journey helping...
2025-03-1831 minPeplau's GhostNursing with Soul: When 15 Minutes Just Isn't Enough with Marcelli RodriguezSend us a textMacelli Pascal Rodriguez--Owner and provider at Transformationshttps://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 ...
2025-03-0927 minPeplau's GhostHow Psychotherapy Transforms Patient Care in Pediatric Oncology with Dr. FosterSend us a textDr Kristi Foster email: kristin-j-foster@uiowa.eduLet’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 ...
2025-03-0427 minPeplau's GhostIntegrative Nursing's Impact on Psychotherapy with Prof Gisli Kort KristóferssonSend us a textThis 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 • Diverse therapeutic styles and their applications • Barriers nurses encounter in psychotherapy • The allure of prescribing medications • Future directions for psychotherapy in nursing • Emphasizing the therapeuti...
2025-02-2332 minPeplau's GhostA Tribute to Hildegard Peplau's Lasting Legacy with Dr. Kitty BuckwalterSend us a textEver 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 in geropsychiatry and the parallels between her experiences and those of Peplau, offering a heartfelt tribute to the mother of psychiatric nursing. E...
2025-02-1442 minPeplau's GhostElevating Therapy through Nursing Expertise with Chris McCormick-PriesSend us a textChris McCormick-Pries discusses her journey in psychotherapy and the importance of building therapeutic relationships. Throughout the episode, she shares her insights on various psychotherapeutic modalities, the challenges faced by psychiatric nurses, and the need for mentorship in the field.• Building relationships as a cornerstone of successful therapy • Personal anecdotes highlight the transformative power of psychotherapy • Importance of diverse psychotherapeutic modalities in practice • Addressing barriers for advanced practice psychiatric nurses • Emphasizing the need for mentorship and supervision in clinics • Advocating for the inclusion of psychotherapy training in nursing education...
2025-01-3126 minPeplau's GhostPsychedelic Therapy's Promise with Andrew PennSend us a textPsychedelic therapy emerges as a transformative approach to mental health treatment, blending elements of traditional psychotherapy with the profound insights gained through psychedelics. Andrew Penn discusses the significance of set and setting, the therapeutic potential of these substances, and the intrinsic value of presence in the healing process. • Introduction of Andrew Penn and his extensive background• Historical context of psychedelics and therapeutic interest• Importance of set and setting in psychedelic experiences• Overview of the therapeutic structure: preparation, dosing, and integration• Role of presence in nursing and its impact on...
2025-01-1835 minPeplau's GhostMental Health Care's New Frontier with Dr. Allyson NealSend us a textThis episode focuses on the necessity of integrating psychotherapy into mental health treatment, as highlighted by Dr. Allyson Neal. Through real-life experiences, she advocates for the vital role therapy plays in effective patient care and encourages nurses to lead the way in this essential domain.• Dr. Neal's journey from pediatric nursing to psychotherapy • The misconception that psychotherapy is secondary to medications • Importance of addressing root causes of mental distress • Case study highlighting successful therapeutic intervention • Challenges faced by mental health providers in therapy delivery • Encouragement for nurses to advocat...
2025-01-1028 minPeplau's GhostDr Gabrielle AbelardSend us a textWelcome to a last episode of Peplau’s Ghost for 2024. The podcast by PMHNPs for Everyone. In this episode we welcome Dr Gabrielle Abelard who is a PMHNP/PMHCNS and program director for the PMHNP program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She is also the founder and CEO of Abelard Psychotherapy a clinical practice that has 2 locations in Sloghton, MA and Dedham, MA. She has too many awards and leadership positions to report but here are a few. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) and the Na...
2024-12-2428 minPeplau's GhostDr. Barbara PetersonSend us a textWelcome to a new and improved episode of Peplau’s Ghost! The podcast by PMHNPs for Everyone. In this episode we discuss the state of psychotherapy as reviewed by Dr Barbara Peterson. Dr Peterson is a Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota. She is also the director of DEI and program coordinator for the PMHNP program at the University of Minnesota. She was selected to be a Fellow in the National Academy of Practice (FNAP) which celebrates interprofessional practice in 2021. She is the current president of the International Society of Psychiatric Nurses (IS...
2024-12-1727 minPeplau's GhostDr. Kathy DelaneySend us a textAnother stimulating episode on the Peplau Ghost podcast. The podcast is thrilled to welcome Dr Delaney who is a living PMHNP legend. She is a full professor at Rush University in Chicago, IL. and has numerous awards and distinctions. Dr. Delaney is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (2010), psychiatric nurse of the year at the American Psychiatric Nurse Association (2015), Distinguished Alumni at Rush University (2018) and National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty outstanding policy award (2020). She is also a writing “beast” and has over 130 published articles and recently stepped down as editor of t...
2024-12-1032 minPeplau's GhostDr. Mary MoellerSend us a textWelcome to a latest episode of Peplau’s Ghost. We are thrilled to have in this episode Dr. Mary Moeller from Lutheran Pacific University where is currently retired and now works as an expert witness and consults with MDM Psychiatric Associates. Dr Moeller has been around the world writing and presenting as a psychiatric-mental health nurse. She is a distinguished expert in caring for those with schizophrenia and mood disorders. She has written over 50 articles and book chapter and presented over 1000 times in all 50 states and in Europe, Asia and elsewhere. She is...
2024-11-2532 min