“The therapeutic alliance with patients is what I love the most about my work.”
Gregory is a relatively new AAPPN member. He joined as a student working to complete his doctorate at the Washington State University – Tri-Cities. After graduating in May 2025 (Congratulations, Gregory!), he started working at Kadlec Behavioral Health and opened a private practice, River Rock Psychiatry.
We asked Gregory to share his experience as a PMHNP and as a new AAPPN Education Committee volunteer.
Tell us about your nursing practice.
I always wanted to be a nurse, as I love helping people. But the opportunity to fulfil this dream didn’t occur until my late 30s. It was my wife’s work in mental health that inspired me to work in psychiatric nursing.
The therapeutic alliance with patients is what I love the most about my work. I’m always working with them to move the needle forward. I derive energy from my work, and my mission in life is to make a positive impact on people.
My practice focuses on comprehensive psychiatric assessment, medication management, and brief psychotherapy with emphasis on collaborative, patient centered care. Additionally, I’m educating myself on more naturalistic and wholistic approaches.
What role does AAPPN play in your career?
I’m always learning something—even if only a nugget—from interactions with my patients or colleagues. AAPPN helps with this learning. I’ve been a member of the AAPPN Education Committee since October 2025, and I look forward to ongoing involvement with educational activities, as well as with other AAPPN activities.
What do you do for your own selfcare practice?
With my later entry into nursing practice, I find that I have perspective that nurses with less life experience can benefit from. This includes perspective about work, including the importance of selfcare. I work out almost daily. I also engage in seasonal recreation, such as skiing and hiking, and make time for family and friends.
Many thanks to Rosa Johnson and Gregory Saunders for their help writing this article.
Update: Gregory was named Outstanding Volunteer for 2026. Read his award acceptance statement.