Interview Questions & Answers
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What was your path to becoming a mental health provider?
My journey began in the transplant ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic, where I witnessed firsthand how deeply stress and trauma impact the mind and body. Experiencing burnout myself shifted my focus and led me to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Since then, I’ve worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings and now run my own integrative telepsychiatry practice. I combine evidence-based medication management with mindfulness, functional labs, and lifestyle strategies to treat conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression. My goal is to provide compassionate, personalized care that sees the whole person.
What should someone know about working with you?
Working with me is a collaborative and tailored experience. During our intake, we’ll explore your symptoms, history, and goals to build a treatment plan that aligns with your needs and values. This might include medication, therapy referrals, functional testing, or holistic tools. I don’t just check boxes—I track your progress by how you feel in everyday life. I work best with motivated adults open to a holistic lens, particularly those managing ADHD, anxiety, depression, or burnout. Above all, I strive to make you feel seen, heard, and supported throughout your journey.
How do you continue learning and building new skills?
I’m dedicated to lifelong learning so I can provide the highest quality of care. I regularly complete continuing education in psychopharmacology, mood disorders, ADHD, trauma, and functional psychiatry. I stay current on emerging treatments like ketamine therapy, nutraceuticals, and neurobiological interventions. I also participate in case consultations and professional trainings focused on complex diagnoses, mind-body health, and nervous system regulation. Lately, I’ve been especially drawn to exploring how ADHD, trauma, and anxiety intersect—and how nutrition, sleep, and emotional regulation support healing.
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Q&A With Erwin | Handling Difficult or Vulgar Patients With Compassion
Q: How do you deal with patients who are vulgar, aggressive, or difficult to work with?
Erwin:
This is a powerful question—and it gets to the heart of why we do this work.
When someone lashes out or uses vulgar language, I try to remember: this is pain speaking, not character. I’ve learned to look beneath the surface. What’s behind the anger? Often it’s fear, trauma, grief, or shame. People who are hardest to reach are often the ones who’ve been hurt the most.
Here’s how I approach it:
I don’t take it personally.
Even if the words are sharp, I remind myself: “This isn’t about me—it’s about their struggle.”
I don’t judge.
Every behavior makes more sense when you understand the story behind it. Judgment only widens the gap.
I validate the feeling—without endorsing the behavior.
I might say, “I can see you’re really upset. I want to understand what’s going on.”
I set boundaries with compassion.
Being kind doesn’t mean being passive. I’ll calmly redirect the conversation:
“Let’s take a breath and try again. I’m here to help, but I need us to speak respectfully.”
I put myself in their shoes.
If I were overwhelmed, scared, or misunderstood, I’d want patience—not punishment.
I offer consistency.
Many patients expect rejection. When I remain calm and steady, it can rebuild safety and trust over time.
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Final Thought
Difficult patients aren’t “bad.” Often, they’re people who’ve never been taught how to feel safe, seen, or heard. My role isn’t to control or “fix” them—it’s to hold space, reflect their worth, and stay grounded, even when they can’t.