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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 nurse, revealing how the therapeutic relationship became her north star. "Psychotherapy is curative," she asserts, recounting a 15-year journey helping a patient with dissociative identity disorder achieve full integration—a powerful testament to therapy's transformative potential.

The conversation delves into the challenges facing psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners today, where employers often hire advanced practice nurses solely for medication management rather than comprehensive care. Dr. Dilks worries that the art of psychotherapy in nursing could disappear under financial pressures, despite research clearly showing patients benefit most from combined approaches.

Perhaps most moving is her candid discussion about working with suicidal patients when other providers refused. "Who does then?" she asks, sharing a poignant story about giving a chronically suicidal patient and her family "extra years" together. This perspective challenges us to reconsider how we approach risk, liability, and the true meaning of patient-centered care.

For clinicians, Dr. Dilks offers practical wisdom: develop an eclectic therapeutic approach, recognize when you need your own therapy, and find powerful ways to disconnect (like her preference for scuba diving where "nobody can talk to me underwater"). For educators, she emphasizes the critical need to help students experience psychotherapy's power firsthand.

Whether you're a psychiatric nurse practitioner, mental health professional, or simply interested in the therapeutic relationship, this conversation reminds us that beneath all our clinical tools and interventions lies the fundamental healing power of human connection.

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