Rebecca A. Casey, MSN, APRN

I was drawn to psychiatry because of its emphasis on deeply listening to a person's story. I believe we all have the capacity to heal when someone listens carefully and partners with us to find treatments that move us toward the life we want.

I have a particular interest in reproductive psychiatry. Pregnancy and postpartum can be a psychiatrically vulnerable window for many women, and optimizing mental health during this time can bring meaningful downstream benefits for both mother and child. The interplay of hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation and changes in family systems can be depleting for all mothers but felt especially by those with psychiatric conditions. During care, I seek to understand a woman's personal history of illness and response to treatment. This helps empower and guide care decisions during pregnancy and lactation that keeps a mother’s well-being and values at the center.

On the proactive Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), I work at the intersection of physical illness and mental health. Psychiatric care during difficult medical experiences like cancer treatment, physical trauma, or post-surgical recovery can optimize healing and ensure a patient is fully seen and understood. The proactive model of BIT is particularly meaningful to me, since it runs counter to the reactive approach that is common in medicine.

Most of all, I continue to learn from my patients what it means to overcome suffering and live well despite psychiatric illness.