Today we’d like to introduce you to Carey Dean.
Hi Carey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
From the beginning of my nursing career, I always knew my heart was in mental health. Although I explored several specialties and gained valuable experience in different areas of nursing, every path eventually led me back to psychiatric care. Those experiences only strengthened my passion for helping individuals struggling with mental health challenges.
I was fortunate to have a manager early in my career who truly believed in supporting professional growth. While working full time as a nurse manager, she encouraged me to return to school and pursue my Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree. Balancing work, school, and life was challenging, but having that support made all the difference.
After graduating and beginning work in an outpatient psychiatric practice, I realized pursuing my Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certification was the next step I was meant to take. Once again, I found myself trying to juggle a demanding full-time position while completing graduate school and clinical hours.
The final portion of my education became one of the most difficult seasons of my life. By that point, I no longer had the administrative support I once relied on, and there were moments when finishing felt almost impossible. I was working full time during the day, completing schoolwork and clinical hours during evenings and weekends, while still trying to care for my family and be present at home. It pushed me mentally, emotionally, and physically in ways I had never experienced before.
Despite the challenges, I completed my degree and earned my PMHNP certification. Looking back, there were so many moments that seemed to fall into place and quietly guide me toward opening my own practice.
During my final year working in a corporate outpatient clinic, I came to a painful realization. Despite the blood, sweat, tears, and years of dedication I had poured into my employer, I ultimately felt like just another employee number. After 16 years of service, I found myself feeling pushed aside and emotionally defeated. It was an incredibly dark time in my life, but it also became the turning point that forced me to choose myself, my purpose, and my passion.
At the same time, I had been volunteering one day a week at a local free clinic, providing psychiatric care to patients in need. Through that experience, an opportunity unexpectedly presented itself when office space practically fell into my lap. Suddenly, owning my own practice no longer felt impossible — it felt real.
I took a leap of faith and rented the office space before I had everything figured out. Over the next six months, I immersed myself in learning everything required to open and run a private practice. I truly started from the ground up, and I could not have done it without a few close friends and family who generously donated their time, support, and encouragement to help me launch the business.
In August 2024, we officially opened our doors.
At the time, we had almost no patients and very little certainty about what the future would hold. I still laugh when I think about those first few weeks — sitting in the office waiting for the phone to ring and getting excited every time someone walked through the door.
What started as a dream built on faith and determination has grown beyond anything I could have imagined. Today, I serve more than 1,000 patients, employ six incredible team members, and am already beginning to consider expanding the practice to meet the growing need in our community.
Most recently, I was honored to be recognized as one of the top three mental health providers in the community. While I am incredibly proud of that recognition, what means the most to me is knowing that every challenge, setback, and sacrifice led me to a place where I can truly make a difference in the lives of others.
My journey has not been easy, but it has been deeply meaningful. Through every obstacle, I have learned the importance of perseverance, faith, and following the path that truly speaks to your heart.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As I mentioned before, the road has been anything but smooth. Even now, with the practice established and growing, I am constantly learning every single day. Owning and operating a private mental health practice comes with challenges that I never fully anticipated, especially because I am one of the few private practices in my area that accepts commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.
While I strongly believe in making mental health care accessible to everyone, accepting these forms of insurance also means navigating an overwhelming number of rules, regulations, policies, and administrative requirements. The learning curve is constant, and honestly, it never truly levels out.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing growth while continuing to provide the quality, compassionate care that I have dedicated my entire career to delivering. As demand for services continues to increase, I am constantly working to figure out how to continue accepting new patients without compromising the level of care each person deserves.
Financially, there have been difficult moments where I honestly was not sure how I was going to keep everything afloat. There have been times when I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water. Starting and sustaining a practice requires sacrifices that many people never see behind the scenes.
Still, every challenge has also created an opportunity to learn, adapt, and improve. Each obstacle has pushed me to become stronger as both a provider and a business owner. While the journey continues to test me in new ways every day, it has also reaffirmed why I started this practice in the first place — to provide meaningful, accessible mental health care to the community I love serving.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My practice specializes in outpatient psychiatric services, and I work with patients facing a wide range of mental health conditions. One of the things that sets my practice apart is that we accept patients of all ages as well as commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid, which is uncommon for many smaller private mental health practices in our area. Accessibility to mental health care has always been extremely important to me because I believe quality care should be available to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances or age.
What I am most proud of is not only building a successful practice from the ground up, but doing so during one of the most difficult periods of my life. I opened my practice with little more than determination, faith, and a small support system of people who believed in me. We started with almost no patients, and today we serve more than 1,000 individuals in our community and continue to grow. Being recognized as one of the top three mental health providers in the community has been an incredible honor, but what means the most to me is knowing that people trust us with their care and feel supported when they walk through our doors.
I believe what truly sets me apart is my personal investment in both my patients and my practice. I understand what it feels like to struggle, to feel overwhelmed, and to fight through difficult seasons personally and professionally. Because of that, I lead with empathy, authenticity, and compassion. I never wanted my practice to feel cold or transactional. I wanted it to be a place where patients feel heard, valued, and cared for as individuals.
I am also proud that despite the rapid growth of the practice, I remain deeply committed to maintaining the quality of care that I have dedicated my entire career to providing. Every day presents new challenges and opportunities to improve, and I continue to learn and grow alongside my patients and team. For me, this work is much more than a career — it is truly my purpose.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
One of the biggest lessons I have learned throughout my journey is the importance of surrounding yourself with people who genuinely support your growth. I would not be where I am today without mentors, colleagues, friends, and peers who encouraged me during some of the most difficult seasons of my life and career.
For anyone looking to find a mentor or build a strong professional network, my biggest piece of advice is to be intentional about building authentic relationships. Some of the most valuable mentors in my life were not people I formally sought out — they were individuals I worked alongside, respected, and learned from over time. Early in my career, I was fortunate to have a manager who believed in me and encouraged me to continue my education and pursue leadership opportunities. That support changed the entire trajectory of my career.
I also believe it is important to never be afraid to ask questions or admit when you do not know something. Some of the best networking opportunities happen simply through being open, curious, and willing to learn. People are often much more willing to help than we realize, especially when they see genuine passion and dedication.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ascwp.org
