It’s time for another clinician spotlight! James Mueser, PMHNP-BC, is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with Rivia Mind operating out of New York, both in-person and virtually. We sat down and spoke with James recently about his experience coming into a career in mental health and eventually joining Rivia Mind. Here’s what he had to say:
Education & Background
When James first attended Columbia University, it was to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. While he had always been interested in understanding how things work, he ultimately found his work lacking in deeper personal connections. He decided, instead, to pursue nursing and returned to Columbia to obtain a Master’s degree in nursing.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, James worked as a registered nurse. Afterwards, he went back to Columbia a third time and obtained a doctorate in psychiatric nursing. “My own mental health journey has been difficult enough that I have a personal investment in alleviating the mental suffering of others,” he explained about his pull towards mental health, “though it’s important to note that I have made tremendous progress, which gives me hope that my patients can as well. I also find that there is still a large stigma around mental health despite the cultural progress we’ve made, and my temperament is uniquely fitted to helping decrease that stigma.”
In his career, James has provided patients across a variety of settings with personalized care, including some form of therapy.
Specialty & Approach To Therapy
James has treated patients with a variety of different mental health conditions, examining how they affect one another and utilizing a broad spectrum of safe and effective interventions like exercise and medication. “I think it’s important to note that the DSM diagnoses are not as distinctly separate as one might think, and there is plenty of symptom overlap in between.
“That being said, I feel that I am particularly effective at lifting people out of deep, persistent depression and the feeling of hopelessness that it can bring. I attribute this to my personality, which is permanently streaked with optimism, my ability to make people feel safe, and a wide array of interests in topics like philosophy, spirituality and art that lets me draw on a whole library of different ideas that may resonate with each individual.”
He has a unique therapy style, while still following evidence-based practices. His approach blends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and humanistic therapy, “the latter of which I think is underappreciated in its ability to build rapport.” Meanwhile, CBT focuses on cognitive distortions and the ways they can cause undue suffering. “Addressing these is important, but I try to stay clear of giving the impression, ‘Your thinking is bad and I’m going to fix it.’”
His humanistic method assumes that patients have the latent ability to heal themselves with the right nurturing. “I will ask you questions that help us both to better understand how your mind works. Patients will often really surprise me with their answers. Also I’m big on humor; this is a difficult process we are undertaking together, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable.”
Joining Rivia Mind
Here at Rivia Mind, we’re grateful that James’s career in mental health brought him to our team. But what does James enjoy about working with Rivia Mind? Here’s how he put it:
“Everyone is so kind. They recognize that we have to take good care of ourselves to take good care of other people, which is what I tell my patients all the time. They seem to share my vision of a brighter world, where we can truly see every other conscious being on this Earth as part of a shared fate, determined at scale by each cumulative action. I choose kindness, respect and peace, and I think it is in everyone’s nature to do so once they feel safe and whole.”
Advice To Those Starting Therapy
Reaching out for mental health support can be a daunting task, which is why we always ask our providers what advice they would give. One point that James emphasized is that “You can get better. The past does not predict the future, no matter how persistent or painful it may be. Know that there are lots of really kind, patient people out there who want to help you.”
Which begins, of course, with finding the right mental health provider. “Read the bio, give the person a try, and be neither discouraged nor afraid to move on if the fit isn’t right. In my experience, people want to feel seen, and this requires that the provider be able to make a real connection with you. Plenty of people can learn assessment skills, the psychopharmacology etc. But how does your provider make you feel? This is a deeply personal question, but I would advise looking for someone that respects you, challenges you, and is honest and kind. There’s plenty of room for individual differences after that, and they should be comfortable with these parts of themselves to bring the whole thing together in an authentic way.”
Self-Care For the Clinician
Everyone needs to practice self-care, including clinicians. But self-care looks different for everyone. For James, it’s a matter of practicing what he preaches: “ I am fairly regular about getting my exercise in, usually an intense 20 minute row while watching my shows before I cook dinner. Also a big lifelong fan of anime and video games, but since these can be very stimulating, I try to end my evening with reading or meditation. There is nothing quite like settling into the sensation of breathing and knowing that in that moment, everything is already perfect.”
Interested in making an appointment with James or our other skilled and compassionate providers? Contact Rivia Mind today.
You can start your mental health journey with a free 15-minute consultation.
