Before she became a nurse practitioner, Kathleen worked as a psychiatric nurse helping others with their mental health for nearly 15 years. “Working as a mental health nurse in an in-patient setting, I grew not only a passion for the field but also a curiosity. I saw becoming an advanced practitioner as an opportunity to further my knowledge in the field and enhance my skills to better serve my patients,” she explains.

Kathleen believes that mental health and well-being is equally important as physical health. “Mental wellness affects all dimensions of a person’s life and optimal mental wellness can help achieve improved quality of life. I also chose this area to help destigmatize mental illness and increase accessibility.”

In her work at Reliant Kathleen understands that it is not always easy to discuss mental health concerns. “I aim to offer a safe space to talk about these concerns,” she explains. “I work to build a partnership with each patient to help them identify goals and develop a plan of care together. I sincerely appreciate the relationships that I get to build with my patients and families. The day-to-day interaction with my patients is what I really love about my profession.”

When she is not busy seeing patients Kathleen enjoys spending spare time with her family, which includes two boys that keep her very busy. She also enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling as well.