Supporting Our Healers: A Comprehensive Resource Guide
Our Commitment to You
Dear Valued Psychiatric Provider,
We see you. We value you. You are not just another healthcare provider – you are a healer who brings compassion, intelligence, and intuitive care to every patient interaction.
We understand that as PMHNPs, you carry an immense weight. Too often, the healthcare system focuses solely on metrics and money, forgetting the heart that drives our work. But here, we remember: you are first and foremost a healer.
Your compassion is your strength, but it can also lead to giving too much of yourself. Remember: we are healing turtles, not healing hares. Sustainable, steady care creates lasting change. Your wellbeing is not secondary to patient care – it is essential to it.
If you feel overwhelmed, especially when working with children in difficult circumstances or managing complex trauma cases, please reach out to your manager. This isn't corporate lip service – we genuinely want to support you with whatever resources you need to stay whole while caring for others.
You matter. Your healing work matters. And your wellbeing matters.
Identity-Based Support Networks
For Male Providers
- Men in Nursing Network
- Monthly support groups
- Focus on unique challenges
- Leadership development
- Mentorship opportunities
- Professional networking
For Women Providers
- Women Providers Circle
- Monthly virtual meetings
- Free
- Focus on women-specific challenges
- Leadership development
- Work-life integration strategies
For LGBTQ+ Providers
- LGBTQ+ Provider Alliance
- Bi-weekly online meetings
- Free
- Identity-affirming professional space
- Practice challenges
- Community building
For African American Providers
- Black Mental Health Alliance
- Monthly support meetings
- Professional development
- Cultural competency resources
- Mentorship opportunities
- Free membership
- Black Mental Health Provider Network
- Weekly virtual connections
- Case consultation groups
- Professional development
- Identity-affirming space
- Cultural wisdom sharing
For Asian & South Asian Providers
- Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC) Provider Network
- Free membership
- Provider directory
- Peer support groups
- Cultural competency resources
- Monthly provider meetups
- South Asian Mental Health Alliance (SAMHA)
- Free membership
- Cultural consultation groups
- Peer supervision
- Identity-specific support
For Indigenous Providers
- Indigenous Mental Health Provider Circle
- Traditional healing integration
- Cultural wisdom sharing
- Elder guidance
- Community support
- Free membership
Essential Listening
Clinical Focus
- The Therapy for Therapists Podcast
- Provider self-care
- Burnout prevention
- Free on all platforms
- Clinical challenges
- NPR's Code Switch: Healthcare Episodes
- Healthcare disparities
- Cultural competency
- Provider experiences
- Free access
Professional Development
- Sounds True's "Insights at the Edge"
- Expert interviews
- Mindfulness practices
- Healing modalities
- Free access
Essential Reading
Provider Wellness
- "Burnout" by Emily & Amelia Nagoski
- Science-based stress management
- ~$20-25
- High-stress practice management
- "Trauma Stewardship" by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky
- Secondary trauma management
- ~$25
- Essential for trauma work
Child-Focused Practice
- "The Heart of the Work" by Bruce Perry
- Working with traumatized children
- Provider sustainability
- Self-care strategies
- ~$30
Clinical Excellence
- "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk
- Cost: ~$15-30
- Focus: Trauma treatment approaches
- Value: Fundamental trauma-informed care resource
Cultural Competency
- "Yellow Self-Care" by Asian Mental Health Collective
- Cultural identity integration
- Family expectations
- Professional boundaries
- ~$25
- "Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting" by Terrie Williams
- Mental health through a Black lens
- Provider self-reflection guides
- Community healing practices
- ~$25
- "Decolonizing Mental Health" by Indigenous Wellness Research Institute
- Traditional healing integration
- Cultural safety
- Free digital download
Identity & Resilience
- "The Queer and Transgender Resilience Workbook" by Anneliese Singh
- LGBTQ+ resilience building
- Personal and professional development
- ~$20
- "The Resilient Practitioner" by Thomas Skovholt
- Professional sustainability
- Long-term practice viability
- ~$45
Wellness Tools & Apps
Free Provider Resources
- Headspace for Healthcare Providers
- Free with NPI number
- Meditation, sleep content
- Quick resets
- Ten Percent Happier for Healthcare
- Free for healthcare workers
- Clinical setting focus
- Between-session tools
Cultural Wellness Tools
- Liberate Meditation App
- BIPOC & LGBTQ+ focus
- Free access
- Cultural healing practices
- Native Wellness App
- Indigenous healing practices
- Traditional teachings
- Free access
Identity-Affirming Tools
- Rest for Resistance
- Free
- Marginalized providers focus
- Community support resources
Daily Practice Toolkit
Quick Self-Care Practices
1. The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise (2 min)
2. 2-Minute Hand Massage
3. Color Breathing
4. Desk Stretches
5. Microbreak Meditation
Trauma-Informed Daily Protocol
1. Morning Body Scan (5 min)
- Physical tension check
- Emotional temperature
- Intention setting
2. Between-Session Reset (2 min)
- Somatic release
- Boundary reinforcement
- Energy clearing
3. End-of-Day Release (10 min)
- Tension release
- Emotional processing
- Containment closure
Child-Work Specific Practices
1. Post-Difficult-Session Care (5 min)
- Emotional release exercise
- Heart-protecting visualization
- Compassion practice
2. Weekly Case Load Balance
- Review emotional impact
- Adjust scheduling if needed
- Seek supervision when needed
Crisis Support
Crisis
- National Crisis Line: 988
- Physician Support Line: 1-888-409-0141
- 24/7 confidential support
- Peer-to-peer assistance
- Multi-lingual options
Professional Communities
Online Spaces
- The Sanctuary
- Online retreat space
- Various pricing tiers
- Virtual workshops
- Support circles
- Inclusive Therapists' Provider Portal
- Cultural competency development
- Membership fee varies
- Training resources
Professional Organizations
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)
- Primary professional organization
- Annual membership
- Resources, networking
- International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN)
- Global psychiatric nursing
- Annual membership
- International perspective
Core Principles
Core Principles
- Your identity strengthens your practice
- Regular self-care is non-negotiable
- Community support is essential
- Boundaries protect your ability to serve
- Vicarious trauma requires active management
- Cultural wisdom enhances care
- Working with children requires extra self-care
- Your wellbeing directly impacts patient care
Essential Provider Self-Care
Personal Therapy Journey
- The Importance of Our Own Work
- Maintaining our emotional wellness
- Processing clinical experiences
- Personal growth and insight
- Regular therapeutic support
Mindful Nourishment
- Sustaining Our Energy
- Regular meal breaks
- Keeping nourishing snacks accessible
- Staying hydrated throughout the day
- Mindful eating practices
- Cultural food connections
- Community meals when possible
Restorative Sleep
- Sleep Hygiene Practices
- Consistent sleep schedule
- Relaxing bedtime routine
- Technology boundaries
- Comfortable sleep environment
- Post-call recovery practices
Daily Rhythms
- Morning Practice
- Gentle wake-up routine
- Morning movement
- Intentional start
- Workday Structure
- Regular breaks
- Meal times
- Movement moments
- Evening Unwinding
- Work-home transition
- Gentle evening routine
- Relaxation practices
Remember: Your manager is here to support you. If you need additional resources or support, especially when dealing with challenging cases or feeling overwhelmed, please reach out. Your wellbeing is our priority.
Social Media Resources
Identity-Focused Accounts
- @blacktherapistscollective
- Black mental health advocacy
- Provider support
- Cultural competency
- Practice building resources
- @queerdoc
- LGBTQ+ healthcare perspectives
- Daily updates
- Practice approaches
- Self-care strategies
- @therapistsofcolor
- BIPOC provider resources
- Cultural competency
- Daily posts, weekly stories
- Practice management
- @southasianmentalhealth
- Cultural identity in practice
- Family dynamics
- Intergenerational healing
- Provider self-care
- @asianmentalhealthproject
- Asian provider experiences
- Cultural competency
- Multi-language resources
- Practice building
- @indigenoushealers
- Traditional medicine integration
- Cultural wisdom
- Community healing
- Weekly updates
Clinical Support
- @traumainformedproviders
- Secondary trauma prevention
- Provider resilience
- Weekly evidence-based content
- @childtherapistcollective
- Support for child-focused providers
- Coping strategies
- Case consultation
- Self-care for challenging cases