Empowered Psychiatric Solutions

01/15/2026

New episode of the Empowered Stories podcast is live.

In this episode, I talk about what often happens after a health worker reaches out for help - and how the system’s response can either support healing or unintentionally make things harder. I walk through two common pathways: one driven by fear and discipline, and another centered on peer support, evidence-based care, and a safe return to work.

This conversation is not about discouraging people from getting help. It’s about creating systems that respond with dignity, compassion, and prevention in mind.

Watch here - https://youtu.be/xdoTsbfJMBE?feature=shared

Content note: This episode includes discussion of su***de. If you or someone you know needs support, you can call or text 988, the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.

What happens after a health worker asks for help?In this episode, psychiatric nurse practitioner Chris Wojnar examines what often follows disclosure of menta...

11/25/2025

Feeling fried but still forcing yourself to “power through”?

For the nurse or health worker who’s doing everything “right” and still feels stuck, heavy, and guilty for not being okay. I wrote this with you in mind.

Nurse or health worker in Wisconsin feeling burned out but still “pushing through”? Learn what trauma-informed, non-shaming psychiatric care and telehealth support can look like for you.

11/19/2025

I just shared a new video on nurse well-being and su***de prevention, and it might be one of the most honest talks I’ve given.

In it, I talk about what many nurses carry but rarely say out loud: moral distress, fear of losing a license or job, the pressure to be “perfect,” and the quiet belief that everyone would be better off without you. I also share parts of my own story and what helped me stay.

This isn’t a fluffy wellness talk. We walk through:
- How work environments and policies can increase or reduce su***de risk
- Why “be more resilient” is not a solution
- What leaders and organizations can do differently right now
- How to check in and respond when you’re worried about a colleague

The video discusses suicidal thoughts and su***de risk in an educational, prevention-focused way. There are no graphic details, but please only watch if you have the emotional capacity today.

You can watch it here:

This video is an educational episode on nurse well-being, moral distress, and su***de prevention. It explores how workplace culture, systems, and stigma impa...

11/06/2025

One year ago, I took a leap of faith and launched Empowered Psychiatric Solutions.

It wasn’t just about starting a business - it was about creating a different kind of space for mental health care.

A space where people feel seen, understood, and supported.

Where treatment isn’t something done to you, but something we build with you.

This first year has been full of growth, learning, and so many reminders of why this work matters.

Every conversation, every breakthrough, every act of courage shared by a client or colleague - it’s reaffirmed that compassionate, human-centered care can truly change lives.

To everyone who has trusted me, collaborated, or simply believed in this mission: thank you. You’ve helped turn a vision into something real.

Here’s to another year of growing, healing, and changing the conversation - together.

11/06/2025

One year ago, I took a leap of faith and launched Empowered Psychiatric Solutions.

It wasn’t just about starting a business - it was about creating a different kind of space for mental health care.

A space where people feel seen, understood, and supported.

Where treatment isn’t something done to you, but something we build with you.

This first year has been full of growth, learning, and so many reminders of why this work matters.

Every conversation, every breakthrough, every act of courage shared by a client or colleague - it’s reaffirmed that compassionate, human-centered care can truly change lives.

To everyone who has trusted me, collaborated, or simply believed in this mission: thank you. You’ve helped turn a vision into something real.

Here’s to another year of growing, healing, and changing the conversation - together.

07/24/2025

I'm honored to be presenting at the IHI Forum in Anaheim this December. My workshop will focus on protecting the rights and safety of clinicians who seek mental health care. It's time to end the stigma, change the system, and make it safe for every clinician to get the help they need. If you're attending, I hope you'll join me. December 7–10, 2025. Anaheim, CA.

06/22/2025

Did you know that in Wisconsin, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) must still pay for a collaborative agreement with a physician or dentist just to practice?

These agreements, often costing $800 to $1,000/month, are not for supervision or mentorship. They’re legal paperwork allowing APRNs to do what they’re already trained to do: provide high-quality, independent care.

APRNs are graduate-educated clinicians prepared to diagnose, treat, and manage patient care independently. They consult with other providers when a case is outside their scope, just like any responsible professional.

This outdated requirement limits access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas. Over half the country has already moved forward. Wisconsin should too.

Congratulations to the Wisconsin Nurses Association and the Wisconsin APRN workforce for advocating for this long overdue update to practice limitations in legislature.

04/14/2025

Speaking at an elementary school (ages 6-11) in Chicago about mental health and “Feelings Are Superpowers”! This includes an at-home safety guide for parents on how to identify warning signs within their children.

04/02/2025

Presenting at American Association of Suicidology annual conference in Columbus, Ohio, with Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and Sarah Gaer. Almost a full room of attendees to learn how su***de prevention frameworks in healthcare, primarily focused on patients and the community, must be applied to those doing the work and at a high risk for su***de - the healthcare workforce.

The Workplace Su***de Prevention and United Su***de Survivors International H.O.P.E. Certification (https://lnkd.in/gc--B8fi) is a necessary component for healthcare well-being programs - most of which do not compassionately, effectively, and safely prevent, prepare, and respond to comprehensive mental health, substance use, and su***de prevention needs of the workforce.

03/30/2025

Here in beautiful Phoenix highlighting the critical need for hospital systems and workplaces to integrate comprehensive su***de, mental health, and substance use frameworks into their business plans.

Caring for the caregiver is a foundational component to any company’s strategy.