Navigating the Intersection of Psychiatry and Practice Ownership with Kathryn Werner

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.”