PA Mindset Matters

Mini Mindset: Prescribing Movement — Exercise as a Powerful Tool in Lifestyle Psychiatry

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.

Bridging Psychiatry and Integrative Medicine with Miriam Dineen

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.

Navigating Winter-Onset Depression: A Conversation about Seasonal Affective Disorder

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.

From Pediatrics to Psychiatry: Victoria Starner's Journey as a PA

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.

Beyond Pathology: The Journey of Trauma-Informed Care I PA Mini Mindset Series

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.

No Expectations, Deep Impact: Curiosity, Addiction Medicine, and Growth in Psychiatry I Yuliya Bjorgan

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.

Motivational Interviewing: A Mini Mindset for Patient-Centered Care

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.

Choosing Psychiatry: 1 Rotation, 1 Patient, a Career Changed I Anthony Campanella, PA-C, CAQ-Psych

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.

Exploring the Journey of a Psychiatric PA | Featuring Rebecca “West Coast PA” DePalma

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.

Bridging the Gap: PAs and the Path to Psychiatry I Mini Mindset

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.