Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast PA Mindset Matters

Hosts Mercedes Dodge and Jessica Spissinger of PA Mindset Matters reflect on wrapping their second season, highlighting interviews largely recorded at the inaugural PA Institute collaboration between Psych Congress and AAPA and previewing its return in early December in Orlando. They discuss their mission to connect psychiatric PAs and share standout guest takeaways. They note psych PA presence at AAPA, announce next season starting fall 2026 focusing on substance use, invite guests via pamindset.com, and thank APAP and supporters while sharing slide access through membership.

In medicine, it’s easy to focus on diagnoses, treatment plans, and checklists.

But some of the most meaningful moments in care happen when we pause long enough to see the person beyond them.

In this episode of Mindset Matters, we sit down with a leader in psychiatry to explore what it truly means to care for patients with intellectual and developmental differences—and how these experiences reshape the way we practice medicine as a whole.

This conversation goes beyond career paths. It’s about humanity in care—and the responsibility we carry as clinicians to approach patients with curiosity, compassion, and respect for their lived experience.

We explore:

• Caring for patients with intellectual disabilities in a system not always built for them
• Shifting from a diagnosis-driven model to a person-centered approach
• How psychiatry deepens our understanding of behavior, communication, and connection
• What these patients teach us about presence, patience, and meaning in medicine

This episode is a reminder that some of the most impactful care we provide doesn’t come from having the right answer—

It comes from being willing to see, listen, and understand more deeply.

Whether you work in psychiatry or another specialty, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about what it means to truly care for your patients.

In this Mini Mindset episode, we explore the often-overlooked connection between menopause, perimenopause, and mental health.

Many women present with symptoms that look like depression or anxiety—but what if the underlying driver is hormonal?

We discuss:

• The clinical overlap between mood disorders and perimenopause
• Why some patients experience partial response to SSRIs
• The role of sleep disruption, vasomotor symptoms, and estrogen fluctuations
• How to differentiate brain fog vs ADHD vs mood disorders
• Practical treatment considerations, including SNRIs and collaborative care with OB-GYN

We also highlight insights from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) and why clinicians need a broader lens when treating midlife patients.

This is a conversation about curiosity, validation, and better care for women in transition.

In this episode of The Mindset Matters, psychiatric PAs Mercedes Dodge and Jessica Spissinger interview Ava, a psych PA and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M, about her transition from emergency psychiatry to outpatient academic practice. She reflects on working across 13 Houston-area hospitals, the lack of continuity in emergency care, and how her mother’s mental illness shaped her path into psychiatry later in life. Ava discusses her current role—primarily adult outpatient care with teaching responsibilities—along with PA advocacy, job-search strategies, and prescribing challenges in Texas. She also shares favorite resources and wellness habits like puzzles and Peloton.

In this episode of PA Mindset Matters Mini Mindset, hosts Jessica Spissinger and Mercedes Dodge review the third and final seasonal onset mood disorder discussing “reverse seasonal affective disorder,” or summer-onset depression. They note it’s less common than winter-onset SAD (about 0.5–2.5% vs. 5–10%) and can be missed because summer is assumed to be a season which most people enjoy. However, for those who struggle with summer depression, it may present atypically with agitation, irritability, restlessness, insomnia, appetite loss, and weight loss, sometimes resembling anxiety or manic irritability, and is linked to prolonged daylight, humidity, heat, and circadian disruption (including spring time change). They emphasize planning ahead, screening for seasonal patterns over at least two years, and prioritizing environmental management (dimming evening light, reducing screens, blue-light blockers, blackout curtains, temperature control, avoiding the “indoor trap,” and timing outdoor activity). We review psychotropic, lifestyle and treatment planning approaches.

In this episode of PA Mindset Matters, hosts Mercedes Dodge, PA-C and Jessica Spissinger, PA-C connect with psychiatric physician assistant Jasprina Ming, DMS, MPAS, PA-C at Psych Congress to discuss pathways into psychiatry, the mental health workforce shortage, and the broader impact of psychiatric care.

Jasprina shares how growing up with a mother with mental illness shaped her perspective, emphasizing that treating one patient often means supporting an entire family and community while helping reduce stigma around mental health.

She also discusses her clinical approach to depression, anxiety, and ADHD, highlighting the importance of both psychopharmacology and psychotherapy in outpatient care.

Her career journey includes transitioning from a registered vascular technologist (RVT), where she performed vascular ultrasounds, to becoming a PA to be more involved in the full continuum of patient care. Despite being told that opportunities for PAs in psychiatry were limited in her area, she pursued the field through dedicated training and mentorship.

The conversation also explores the realities of practicing psychiatry, including maintaining boundaries, avoiding burnout, and staying present outside of work. She shares practical strategies such as completing documentation during the workday and intentionally disconnecting after clinic to be fully present with family.

This episode highlights the human side of psychiatric care and reinforces that mental health is health, and that every clinician plays a role in recognizing and supporting it.

Mental health doesn’t live in one clinic—it shows up everywhere.

In this Mini Mindset episode of PA Mindset Matters, Mercedes Dodge, PA-C and Jessica Spissinger, PA-C take a closer look at collaborative care and why integrating behavioral health across specialties is essential for improving patient outcomes and reducing provider burnout.

From primary care to pediatrics to specialty clinics, behavioral health is already present—but too often, care is delivered in silos. In this episode, we explore how shifting toward a team-based, integrated model can help close gaps in care, reduce fragmentation, and support more comprehensive, patient-centered treatment.

Whether you’re in psychiatry, primary care, or any specialty managing complex patients, this episode offers practical insight into how collaborative care can be applied in real-world settings.

In this episode of The PA Mindset Matters, hosts Mercedes Dodge and Jessica Spissinger interview Edward Traverso about how his military deployment shaped his commitment to mental health. Edward describes discovering the PA profession, working on an adult inpatient involuntary unit, and completing a one-year psychiatry PA residency at the VA in Houston partnered with Baylor. Now practicing addiction psychiatry at New Start Clinic in Washington and Oregon, he emphasizes the role of substances in mental health, the importance of empathy and motivational interviewing, and building a non-paternalistic therapeutic alliance. He shares resources like The Carlat Report, NEI, and PCSS training, discusses diversifying roles to reduce burnout, and highlights interests including correctional psychiatry and interventional psychiatry. Edward’s path is a story of service, purpose, and redefining what it means to practice patient-centered care.

In this Mini Mindset episode of PA Mindset Matters, Jessica Spissinger and Mercedes Dodge discuss spring-onset mania as a seasonal pattern in bipolar disorder. Seasonal patterns require a consistent relationship with a specific time of year for at least two years, with manic episodes most often peaking in spring and autumn. They review manic symptoms using the DIGFAST mnemonic and distinguish hypomania from mania by duration, functional impairment, and possible psychosis.

The episode explores potential mechanisms including increased light exposure, circadian rhythm disruption, melatonin changes, dopamine variation, and genetic clock-gene vulnerability.

Treatment emphasizes acuity-based management, including mood stabilizers and antipsychotics for acute mania, with ECT for severe cases, and prevention strategies such as consistent sleep schedules, reduced evening light exposure, dark therapy, and blue-light–blocking glasses. The hosts also discuss a calendar-based prevention approach around the spring daylight-saving time change and share additional resources at pamindset.com.

Psychiatric PA Serah Sulaiman, MPAS, PA-C joins PA Mindset Matters to discuss pediatric mental health, emotional dysregulation, and Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) treatment programs.

In this episode, hosts Mercedes Dodge, PA-C and Jessica Spissinger, PA-C explore Serah’s path from teaching to psychiatry and her work supporting high-acuity youth transitioning from inpatient care, residential programs, or periods of school disruption back into daily life.

We discuss emotional dysregulation, interdisciplinary collaboration in behavioral health, and the role of creative outlets—like music and art—in helping patients develop healthier coping skills.

Serah also completed the CLINAQ Fellowship through Morehouse School of Medicine, where she explored innovative approaches to emotional dysregulation.

Outside of clinical practice, she creates music under the name Xyla (on TikTok), using songwriting to connect with others around mental health.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. 🌐 Read the blog recap at www.PAMindset.com

Exercise is not just a lifestyle recommendation. It’s neurobiology.

In this Mini Mindset episode of PA Mindset Matters, we take a clinical deep dive into exercise as a prescriptive tool in psychiatric care.

We review:

• Moderate to large effect sizes in depression • The Duke SMILE study (8% relapse with exercise vs 38% with medication alone) • Muscle–brain crosstalk and BDNF upregulation • Neuroplasticity, inflammation, and dopamine signaling • The F.I.T.T. framework for clinical prescription • Red flags and motivational interviewing strategies

This isn’t anti-medication. It’s physiology-informed psychiatry.

If we believe in neuroplasticity, we have to believe in movement.

In this Mindset Matters podcast, we feature Miriam Dineen, PA-C, interviewed at the PA Institute in Orland. Dineen shares her path from infectious diseases and hospital medicine to integrative medicine, and ultimately outpatient psychiatry during COVID due to rising mental health needs. She integrates lifestyle medicine into psychiatric care, sees pediatric and adult patients via in-person and telehealth visits, and earned her psychiatry CAQ to deepen her knowledge. In private practice she emphasizes strong supervision, lifelong learning, and involvement in PA education. Her interests include bipolar disorder (often delayed diagnosis), adolescents, neurodivergent patients, and reducing stigma. To prevent burnout, she encourages diversifying beyond full-time clinical work. She invites listeners to connect on LinkedIn and notes her upcoming AAPA Congress Elevate session in Las Vegas.

In this Mini-Mindset episode, Jessica Spissinger and Mercedes Dodge break down seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a seasonal subtype of depression—not just the “winter blues.” They review winter triggers, common symptoms (hypersomnia, carb cravings, weight gain, low energy), and key risk factors. The episode highlights evidence-based treatments including light therapy (10,000 lux in the morning), CBT tailored to SAD, and medications like bupropion and SSRIs. They also share practical coping strategies—exercise, sleep hygiene, vitamin D, and maximizing natural light—plus real-life winter wellness ideas and a seasonal timeline for prevention and treatment. Tune in for real insights with real applications.

In this episode of The Mindset Matters podcast, hosts Mercedes Dodge and Jessica Spissinger interview Victoria (Tor )Starner, a psychiatric physician assistant (PA). Tor discusses her journey from pediatric outpatient care to her current role in psychiatry, working initially in a fully remote setting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlights the importance of mentorship and the value of networking in advancing her career. Tor shares her passion for mental health, continuous learning through resources like podcasts, and incorporating personal hobbies such as dance into her therapeutic practice. The discussion also covers her recent transition to an on-site position in New York City focusing on treatments like Spravato and TMS, and her interest in ADHD, anxiety, and women's mental health. Listeners are encouraged to find mentors, ask about mentorship in job interviews, and trust their training when entering new roles in psychiatry.

Trauma shows up everywhere in healthcare—not just in psychiatry. In this Mini Mindset episode, Mercedes Dodge, PA-C, CAQ-Psychiatry, and Jessica Spissinger, PA-C take a focused deep dive into how trauma presents across clinical settings, including primary care, pediatrics, urgent care, orthopedics, and mental health.

We explore the history of trauma and PTSD, from early concepts of dissociation to formal recognition in DSM-III and the expanded understanding in DSM-5. The discussion includes the landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, the biology of toxic stress, and how chronic trauma impacts the nervous system, brain development, and long-term health outcomes.

This episode breaks down trauma-informed care in practical terms—how to recognize trauma responses, explain them to patients, and shift clinical framing from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” We review evidence-based treatments including trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, prolonged exposure, and cognitive processing therapy, along with key medication considerations for PTSD.

We also discuss the role of SSRIs in PTSD, when adjunctive medications such as prazosin, clonidine, or guanfacine may be helpful, and why benzodiazepines are generally contraindicated in trauma-related disorders.

If trauma is part of your clinical world—and it is—this episode will help you recognize it, talk about it, and treat it with greater confidence and compassion.

In this episode of Mindset Matters, we sit down with Yuliya Bjorgan, a Psychiatric PA practicing in outpatient private care with experience spanning general psychiatry and addiction medicine.

Yuliya shares how a lifelong curiosity about psychiatry, supportive preceptors, and openness to opportunity shaped her path into mental health care. We explore her current work treating bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety, how addiction medicine deepened her understanding of patient behavior, and why approaching patients—and careers—with no expectations can be transformative.

She also discusses the role of continuous learning through books, conferences, and evidence-based resources, and how creative outlets like running, painting, beadwork, and elaborate cooking help her stay grounded outside of clinical work.

This episode offers thoughtful insight for PAs navigating psychiatry, addiction medicine, or simply seeking a more curious, patient-centered way of practicing.

In this week’s episode of PA Mindset Matters, Jessica and Mercedes discuss motivational interviewing in their newest Mini Mindset release. Developed in the 1980s by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick, motivational interviewing began as an approach for addressing alcohol use and has since expanded across mental health, primary care, and preventive care. Rather than focusing on advice-giving or fixing, MI emphasizes collaboration, compassion, and helping patients uncover their own motivations for change. The episode highlights why this communication style remains a valuable skill for clinicians across all stages of practice.

In this episode of Mindset Matters, recorded at the Psych Congress PA Institute in December 2025, we had the honor of sitting down with Anthony Campanella, PA-C, CAQ-Psychiatry—a psychiatric PA with five years of experience across child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry.

Anthony shares how one inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry rotation—and one patient—changed the course of his career, shifting him from an initial interest in orthopedics to a deeply fulfilling path in mental health care.

We explore what it’s like to care for high-acuity patients, including the use of long-acting injectables, how collaborative care strengthens outcomes, and why combining psychopharmacology with supportive psychotherapy and patient autonomy is essential for long-term success.

Anthony also reflects on self-care, boundaries, and sustainability in psychiatry—and how caring for yourself allows you to show up more fully for patients. This episode is a must-listen for PAs considering psychiatry or anyone navigating career pivots with purpose.

In this episode of The Mindset Matters Podcast, hosts Mercedes Dodge, PA-C, CAQ-Psychiatry, and Jessica Spissinger, PA-C, sit down with Rebecca DePalma, known online as “West Coast PA.” Rebecca shares how one high school talk sparked her lifelong passion for becoming a Physician Assistant and how that early inspiration led her into the field of psychiatry. She discusses her journey from PA school to telepsychiatry practice, the importance of mentorship, and how she now gives back by precepting students and presenting at her former high school to inspire future PAs. Rebecca also talks about her experience co-authoring The First-Line Guide: Psychiatric and Behavioral Medicine to help bridge educational gaps for new clinicians. This conversation explores the evolving role of psychiatric PAs, the tangible impact of mental health care, and the power of mentorship and community within medicine. Whether you’re a PA student, practicing clinician, or someone interested in mental health, this episode offers valuable insight into building a meaningful and sustainable career in psychiatry.

Welcome to The Mindset Matters, the podcast where psychiatry, medicine, and human connection meet — hosted by psychiatric PAs Mercedes Dodge and Jessica Spissinger. In this episode, we explore how Physician Associates are stepping into psychiatry to close the mental health access gap. From the national psychiatrist shortage to post-COVID demand, Mercedes and Jessica break down what it takes to transition from primary care to psychiatric practice. They debunk myths about PA training, discuss fellowship and certification options, and share practical strategies for building competence and confidence in psychiatry. Whether you’re a practicing PA, a student, or a clinician curious about mental health care, this episode will inspire you to see psychiatry through a new lens — one grounded in the medical model, teamwork, and compassion.

Join Mercedes Dodge, PA-C, and Jessica Spissinger, PA-C, in this inspiring Mindset Matters episode featuring Sarah Tatko, a psychiatric PA who has carved her own path from speech therapy to advanced psychiatric care. Together, they explore the art and science of ketamine therapy, blending clinical precision with human vulnerability. Hear Sarah’s reflections on integrating CBT with ketamine-assisted treatment, navigating the emotional challenges of the PA profession, and building mentorship-driven, compassionate care. Whether you’re a clinician or simply curious about the future of psychiatry, this episode delivers insight, authenticity, and hope.

In this episode of The Mindset Matters Podcast, psychiatric PAs Mercedes Dodge and Jessica Spissinger dive into the fascinating journey of ketamine—from its origins as a battlefield anesthetic during the Vietnam War to its modern role as a rapid-acting antidepressant transforming mental health care. They unpack the differences between racemic ketamine and esketamine (Spravato®), discuss their use in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain, and examine the evidence behind ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. The conversation explores how this once-controversial drug evolved from party stigma to clinical promise, highlighting mechanisms of action, dosing routes, safety considerations, side effects, and regulatory frameworks that guide its use today. You’ll also hear insights on combining ketamine with therapy to enhance long-term outcomes, myths and misconceptions, and what clinicians need to know before integrating ketamine into practice. Whether you’re a PA, clinician, or mental-health enthusiast, this episode offers a balanced, practical, and evidence-based look at one of psychiatry’s most exciting frontiers.

Two psych PAs—Mercedes Dodge, PA-C, CAQ-Psych and Jessica Spissinger, PA-C—sit down with Kathryn Werner, PA-C, owner of White Pine Mental Health & Wellness and senior consultant at CPACteam.com, to explore her journey from disliking her psychiatry rotation to building a purpose-driven practice that thrives on clinical depth and compassion. Kathryn shares how the PA generalist mindset sharpens psychiatric assessment, why niche marketing can transform a private practice, and how to deliver OCD care that truly works through proper dosing, exposure-response alignment, and patient education. The conversation also covers practical strategies for polypharmacy decision-making, navigating state-by-state legislative and payer challenges, and creating a sustainable approach to self-care—from boundary setting to Kathryn’s now-famous “enriched bathroom break.”

Join Jessica Spissinger and Mercedes Dodge as they dive into the emerging science of Lifestyle Psychiatry — where evidence-based medicine meets everyday habits. In this episode, they unpack the six pillars of lifestyle psychiatry: physical activity, nutrition, restorative sleep, stress management, toxic exposure reduction, and social connectedness. Discover how these pillars can transform care for conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, and more. You’ll also hear insights into related fields like nutritional and metabolic psychiatry, plus key studies and practical strategies for integrating lifestyle interventions into mental health practice.

Tune in for an engaging, research-informed discussion that highlights holistic, person-centered approaches to mental wellness — designed for both clinicians and anyone passionate about mental health.

In this engaging episode of Mindset Matters, we are joined by Kat Astrup, a dedicated PA with extensive experience in family medicine and psychiatry. Kat also hosts her own podcast, 'PA the FI Way,' where she discusses medicine, finances, and living a balanced life. Kat shares her journey from learning about the PA profession after an ACL injury to her educational path at Des Moines University and her transition from family medicine to psychiatry. Kat opens up about experiencing burnout, discovering financial independence, and the importance of self-care. Tune in to learn about her insights on dealing with mental health in busy professional lives, the importance of supportive professional networks, and practical tips for achieving a focused, fulfilling career in healthcare.

Join us in this mini-mindset episode as we dive deeply into the history, development, and modern-day relevance of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) in clinical practice. From their origins in the 1950s as accidental discoveries from hydrazine compounds to their niche use today, we explore the myths, misconceptions, and clinical implications of these 'relics' of psychiatry. Learn about the various MAOIs, their discovery stories, pharmacological effects, and the impact they had—and continue to have—on the field of psychotropic medications. Whether you're a healthcare professional or a curious learner, this episode sheds light on the importance of understanding the history and evolution of psychiatric medications.

Join us as we speak with Rita Rose, PA-C, a child & adolescent psychiatry PA whose journey spans multiple states and now Italy. She shares her path from novice to advocate, insights on parenting, lifestyle’s role in mental health, and advice for aspiring PAs. Hear how she stays active in advocacy and education despite distance, and why fostering independence, creativity, and mindfulness matters.

Burnout is more than exhaustion—it’s a crisis in medicine. Mercedes Dodge and Jessica Spissinger dive into its roots, dimensions, and impact, sharing lessons from COVID-19 and Dr. Lorna Breen’s story. They challenge the myth of balance, explore integration, and offer real strategies for change. Tune in for insight, inspiration, and tools to protect your well-being and transform how we approach mental health in healthcare.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Sherlonda Adkins, telepsychiatry PA and life strategy coach. She shares her journey from psych PA to coaching and public speaking, highlighting self-advocacy, lifelong learning, and community support. Dr. Adkins offers tips on balance, journaling, and flexibility—showing how to harness your strengths and thrive in both career and life.

Welcome to the debut of Mini Mindset, a quick companion to Mindset Matters. We unpack tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs): what they are, how they work, when to use them, and how to keep patients safe. From depression and anxiety to pain and insomnia, learn why TCAs still matter today in a fast, practical listen for clinicians and curious minds.

Join us as we talk with Elisa Hernandez Hock, a psychiatric PA with 20+ years in outpatient and emergency psychiatry. She shares her hybrid practice model, building an integrative clinic in El Paso, and her advocacy work. Hear her faith-driven approach, resilience, and passion for mentoring future PAs while advancing the role of psychiatric providers.

Jay Somers, psychiatric PA, shares his journey from performing arts and philosophy to psychiatry, highlighting how creativity and critical thinking shape his patient care. He discusses lifestyle medicine, clinician well-being, and insights from diverse practice settings. Hear his advice for new PAs, teaching experiences, and leadership role as chair at the upcoming PA Institute.

In this episode, seasoned psychiatric PA J. Michael shares his journey from emergency medicine to psychiatry. He reflects on the challenges faced by psych PAs, the need for better pathways into the field, and the importance of faith, camaraderie, and holistic care. J. Michael offers insights on building patient rapport, preventing burnout, and staying passionate through continual learning. A must-listen for current and aspiring psych PAs.

PA Mindset Matters is a podcast by psychiatric PAs Mercedes Dodge and Jessica Spissinger, highlighting the impact of PAs in mental health. We share inspiring stories, clinical insights, and conversations with PAs across specialties to expand knowledge, foster connection, and support well-being in our profession.