Madison Psychiatric Associates

12/18/2025

09/24/2025

Today, we’re honored to celebrate a truly remarkable milestone: 24 years of dedication, heart, and hard work from Nicole.

Nicole has been a constant presence through so many seasons of change — not just showing up, but showing up with integrity, passion, and care for the people around her. Whether it’s offering support to a teammate, solving a problem with quiet determination, or just being someone everyone can count on, Nicole has shaped our workplace in ways that can’t be measured.

She leads by example, brings kindness to her work, and holds a wealth of knowledge. Her loyalty and consistency are rare — and deeply appreciated.

Nicole, thank you for giving so much of yourself to MPA for 24 years. You’ve made a lasting impact on all of us, and we’re so grateful to walk this journey with you.

Here’s to you and your incredible milestone!

09/12/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Brian Vasey on completing the Wisconsin Ironman Race on September 7th!

We’re proud to celebrate Brian’s incredible achievement and his dedication to a meaningful cause. In addition to finishing this grueling race, Brian raised over $5,000 in support of Gilda’s Club Madison through his fundraising efforts.

There’s still time to contribute! If you’d like to support Gilda’s Club and Brian’s campaign, you can donate here: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/briansfundraiser/

08/12/2025

Before the First Day
Reflect on the summer and get excited about the upcoming school year. Then, talk to your child about school at a different time.
• Find a relaxed time when you can give your full attention, such as after dinner or at another quiet moment.
• Skip questions your kids don’t want to answer or don’t understand.
• Make sure not to force a discussion; stop asking questions if they don’t want to talk.
• If you have several children, you may want to find one-on-one time with each of them rather than trying to ask them all at once in a group.

Talk about and practice any expected changes.
• Have a conversation about any changes that will happen this school year.
• If your child is meeting the bus in a new location, visit the bus stop with them a few times before the first day of school.
• For children starting middle or high school, visiting the school and practicing how to walk from one class to another may be helpful. Many schools have these visit days scheduled. Make sure to reach out and find out when they are!

Get back into a routine.
• Sit down together and create a schedule for school days. Talk through expectations for mornings and after school. Once you agree on that, start using that schedule a few weeks before school starts to get into the habit.
• Sleep schedules are often different over the summer. About two weeks before school starts, gradually (for example, 15 minutes each day) move your child’s bedtime and wake-up time back to what they will be during the school year.

Get organized.
• Designate a place for your child to work on homework, keep school materials, etc.
• Include your child in picking out supplies, choosing a spot and deciding where to put things away. This helps them learn organizational skills.
• Print the school calendar to help you plan ahead. Also, you can use it throughout the year to notice how it may be related to your child’s mood and emotional changes. For instance, you may notice that your child has increased anxiety at the end of the semester.

Discuss expectations – yours and your child’s.
• Ask your child what their goals are for the school year if age appropriate.
• Come up with a plan with your child of when and how to ask for help when they need it. This can be school staff or peers, depending on the child’s concern.
• Remind them of your rules and expectations. For example, is your rule that homework be done before screen time?

Connect with the school.
• Feeling connected to their school is positive for children’s mental health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can support school connectedness by showing interest in their teachers and school activities.
• Meet their teachers at the start of the school year and talk about your child’s goals, strengths and areas of growth.
• Take note of school events for families and add them to your calendar. Showing up to events increases children’s feelings of support and connection to their school.
• Encourage your child to get involved in activities outside of schoolwork. Look at the school website together to see what clubs and sports are offered or meet with the school counselor.

On the first day, don't forget to set them up for success! Make sure they get enough sleep and the morning goes smoothly. Taking a few deep breaths with them before heading out the door can help calm everyone. After school, celebrate the start of the school year with a fun meal or treat!

07/18/2025

Thank you to the person who put this by the plant on our front step! You brightened our day!!!

06/24/2025

Try these 15 ideas for summer wellness:

1. Ditch the couch and relax outdoors. Grab a blanket or lawn chair and something to read and set up camp on a shady patch of grass.
2. Go for a stroll. A long walk can be a great way to clear your head and enjoy a warm summer afternoon. You can also grab a friend and get your exercise while catching up.
3. Explore your local farmer’s market. Take advantage of seasonal produce and local vendors. A trip to the farmer’s market can be a great opportunity to try new foods and incorporate healthier options into your diet.
4. Start a garden or join a community garden. Gardening can be a nice way to meditate, enjoy the outdoors and get some sunshine. It can also serve as a bonding time with your family or a way to make new friends. And at the end of the day, you can enjoy the literal fruits (and vegetables) of your labor!
5. Tidy one small space. Perhaps a drawer or the top of your desk – even having one space clean and free of clutter can help you feel calmer.
6. Make a summer feel-good playlist. Bring on the summer tunes! Music can be an effortless way to improve your mood and motivate you to get moving. Bonus points for listening while exercising or cleaning.
7. Have a picnic. Enjoying a meal outside can be an easy way to get some fresh air and sunshine and shake up your daily routine.
8. Try a new exercise. Getting those endorphins flowing can help calm your mind and improve your mood. Think about doing something outdoors like hiking, tennis or swimming. Just don’t forget your sunscreen and bug spray!
9. Look for things going on in your community. Search online or in the newspaper for events going on around town. Consider outdoor movies, yard sales, festivals, farmer’s markets, concerts or dance classes. Making fun plans can help you feel excited and give you something to look forward to.
10. Start or continue a journal. Writing can be a great way to express how you feel and check-in with your emotions. Or, it can just be a place to doodle or draw. Make it whatever you need.
11. Reconnect with someone. Call an old friend – or even a grandparent or parent.
12. Do an at-home spa day. Taking a bubble bath, using a face mask or doing a DIY pedicure can all be affordable ways to help yourself feel cared for. A candle, essential oils and relaxing tunes can all add to the spa vibe.
13. Go exploring. Pull up a map and find a new area of town that you haven’t been to yet.
14. Practice mindfulness. Try meditation or make a list of 10 things you are thankful for.
15. Do a needs assessment. How did your last week go? Is there anything you could do to make next week better? Maybe you need more sleep, more social time or to prepare some healthy meals before your next busy week. Take a moment to reflect and think about how you can make time for whatever you need to best care for yourself.

05/01/2025

May is Mental Health Awareness month.

02/26/2025

31 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health

1. Track gratitude and achievement with a journal. Include 3 things you were grateful for and 3 things you were able to accomplish each day.



2. Start your day with a cup of co­ffee. Coff­ee consumption is linked to lower rates of depression. If you can’t drink coff­ee because of the caff­eine, try another good-for-you drink like green tea.



3. Set up a getaway. It could be camping with friends or a trip to the tropics. The act of planning a vacation and having something to look forward to can boost your overall happiness for up to 8 weeks!



4, Work your strengths. Do something you're good at to build self-confidence, then tackle a tougher task.



5. Keep it cool for a good night's sleep. The optimal temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.



6. "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Martin Luther King, Jr. Think of something in your life you want to improve, and figure out what you can do to take a step in the right direction.



7. Experiment with a new recipe, write a poem, paint or try a Pinterest project. Creative expression and overall well-being are linked.



8. Show some love to someone in your life. Close, quality, relationships are key for a happy, healthy life.



9. Boost brainpower by treating yourself to a couple pieces of dark chocolate every few days. The flavonoids, caffeine, and theobromine in chocolate are thought to work together to improve alertness and mental skills.



10. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” -Maya Angelou. If you have personal experience with mental illness or recovery, share on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr with . Check out what other people are saying here.



11. Sometimes, we don't need to add new activities to get more pleasure. We just need to soak up the joy in the ones we've already got. Trying to be optimistic doesn't mean ignoring the uglier sides of life. It just means focusing on the positive as much as possible.



12. Feeling anxious? Take a trip down memory lane and do some coloring for about 20 minutes to help you clear your mind. Pick a design that's geometric and a little complicated for the best effect.



13. Take time to laugh. Hang out with a funny friend, watch a comedy or check out cute videos online. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.



14. Go off the grid. Leave your smart phone at home for a day and disconnect from constant emails, alerts, and other interruptions. Spend time doing something fun with someone face-to-face.



15. Dance around while you do your housework. Not only will you get chores done, but dancing reduces levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and increases endorphins (the body's "feel-good" chemicals).



16. Go ahead and yawn. Studies suggest that yawning helps cool the brain and improves alertness and mental efficiency.



17. Relax in a warm bath once a week. Try adding Epsom salts to soothe aches and pains and help boost magnesium levels, which can be depleted by stress.



18. Has something been bothering you? Let it all out…on paper. Writing about upsetting experiences can reduce symptoms of depression.



19. Spend some time with a furry friend. Time with animals lowers the stress hormone - cortisol, and boosts oxytocin - which stimulates feelings of happiness. If you don’t have a pet, hang out with a friend who does or volunteer at a shelter.



20. “What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when you bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen.” - Henry David Thoreau. Practice mindfulness by staying "in the present."



21. Be a tourist in your own town. Often times people only explore attractions on trips, but you may be surprised what cool things are in your own backyard.



22. Try prepping your lunches or picking out your clothes for the work week. You'll save some time in the mornings and have a sense of control about the week ahead.



23. Work some omega-3 fatty acids into your diet–they are linked to decreased rates of depression and schizophrenia among their many benefits. Fish oil supplements work but eating your omega-3s in foods like wild salmon, flaxseeds or walnuts also helps build healthy gut bacteria.



24. Practice forgiveness - even if it's just forgiving that person who cut you off during your commute. People who forgive have better mental health and report being more satisfied with their lives.



25. "What appear to be calamities are often the sources of fortune." - Disraeli. Try to find the silver lining in something kind of cruddy that happened recently.



26. Feeling stressed? Smile. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but smiling can help to lower your heart rate and calm you down.



27. Send a thank you note - not for a material item, but to let someone know why you appreciate them. Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness.



28. Do something with friends and family - have a cookout, go to a park, or play a game. People are 12 times more likely to feel happy on days that they spend 6-7 hours with friends and family.



29. Take 30 minutes to go for a walk in nature - it could be a stroll through a park, or a hike in the woods. Research shows that being in nature can increase energy levels, reduce depression and boost well-being.



30. Do your best to enjoy 15 minutes of sunshine and apply sunscreen. Sunlight synthesizes Vitamin D, which experts believe is a mood elevator.



31. "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein. Try something outside of your comfort zone to make room for adventure and excitement in your life.