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Innovating Mental Health Care: A PA's Journey in Psychedelic Therapy

Welcome to The PA Mindset Matters, where psychiatry, medicine, and the human experience converge. This is a space for psychiatric Physician Associates (PAs) and other mental-health professionals to deepen understanding, grow their skill set, and connect within an evolving landscape of care.

In this episode, hosts Mercedes Dodge, PA-C, and Jessica Spissinger, PA-C, sit down with Sarah Tatko, PA-C—a clinician reshaping the future of psychiatric care through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP).


Bridging the Gap in Mental Health

The Mindset Matters podcast highlights how PAs are advancing access, advocacy, and innovation in mental health. Through meaningful dialogue and shared experiences, Mercedes and Jessica create a community grounded in clinical excellence, personal well-being, and authentic connection.

Sarah exemplifies that mission—bridging traditional psychiatry with emerging psychedelic modalities while maintaining a focus on evidence-based, compassionate care.


Sarah’s Journey: From Speech Therapy to Psychiatry

Before psychiatry, Sarah’s path began in speech therapy and emergency medicine—disciplines that shaped her ability to connect deeply with patients and communicate with empathy. She credits an unexpected mentorship from a radiation oncologist as the turning point that inspired her transition into psychiatry and, ultimately, into psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Her story reminds us how vulnerability, mentorship, and curiosity can redefine a career—and how the PA role continues to expand in new and meaningful directions.


The Transformational Power of Ketamine Therapy

Sarah’s venture into ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) marked a defining shift in her clinical approach. She describes ketamine not as a cure, but as a catalyst—a medicine that opens the door to healing when paired with skilled psychotherapeutic support.

She emphasizes the importance of creating safe, intentional spaces that allow patients to process experiences in an environment that feels warm, grounded, and emotionally supported—quite different from the sterile settings that often define traditional psychiatric care.

For PAs exploring this field, Sarah encourages first embarking on their own therapeutic or reflective journey, ensuring authenticity and groundedness in the work they do.


Educational Pathways for PAs

Sarah recommends structured, evidence-based training that integrates medical foundations, ethics, and psychotherapeutic practice.

Top educational programs and resources:


Recommended reading list:

  • The Myth of Normal & In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts — by Gabor Maté

  • The Body Keeps the Score — by Bessel van der Kolk

  • How to Change Your Mind — by Michael Pollan

  • The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide — by James Fadiman

  • Stealing Fire — by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal


Core Research & Clinical Frameworks

For clinicians wanting to ground their knowledge in evidence-based literature, Sarah recommends:

  1. Zarate et al. (2006) – A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression, Archives of General Psychiatry.→ The landmark study establishing ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effect.

  2. American Psychiatric Association Consensus Statement (2017) – The Use of Ketamine in the Treatment of Mood Disorders: Consensus Statement, JAMA Psychiatry.→ Clinical guidelines on patient selection, safety, and administration.

  3. Dore et al. (2019) – Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP): Patient Demographics, Clinical Data, and Outcomes in Three Large Practices, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.→ Real-world data supporting the integration of psychotherapy with ketamine.

  4. The Handbook of Medical Hallucinogens – Edited by Charles Grob & Jim Grigsby (2021).→ Comprehensive, peer-reviewed reference on psychedelic medicine and ethics.

  5. Clinical Training Programs: KRIYA Institute, Polaris Insight Center, and IPI Training Programs.


Vulnerability, Mentorship, and the Human Connection

At the heart of Sarah’s message is the power of vulnerability—in both patient care and professional growth. She reminds us that vulnerability fosters empathy, deepens connection, and sustains longevity in medicine. Through ongoing mentorship and community, Sarah continues to help shape a generation of PAs who approach mental health with both science and soul.

Connect with Sarah and learn more about her clinical work at Cantos Psychiatry.


Final Thoughts

Sarah Tatko’s story is a powerful testament to curiosity, compassion, and courage in the evolving field of psychiatric medicine. Her work reflects what The Mindset Matters stands for—bridging the gap between medical practice and human experience to create lasting change.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: “Ketamine Therapy in Psychiatry: A Journey of Vulnerability and Healing” — now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Podbean.


Extra: Here is a PDF with resources curated by our wonderful guest speaker:


 
 
 

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