Mental Health Blog

“I don’t know how anyone could go through practice without it.” Meet PPP Program Alum, Jean Braden, NP

• June 4, 2024
• The REACH Institute
• Uncategorized,

Jean Braden, a nurse practitioner based in Montana, has been providing dedicated care to children and families since 1987. In recent years, Jean has noted a significant rise in adolescent mental health concerns and often felt overwhelmed by the volume and intensity of those concerns. “For example, I had a patient whose family was really pressuring me to do a trial of ADHD medication for their adolescent who was failing in school…I knew I did not feel right about it and needed more information. This program provided me with the screening tools and information I needed to approach the family with an evidenced-based workup and feel confident in my assessment.

 

“I was able to go back to the family and say ‘I’ve just done this training – let’s dig in further and see what’s going on.’”

 

In February of 2024, Jean participated in The REACH Institute’s Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) course, and her confidence in addressing mental health concerns skyrocketed. “There are so many things that are easily assessed, very quickly, after this training,” she describes. “All of that information and access to assessment tools that you needed last week…after the weekend, you’ll have this information. I was able to go back to the family and say ‘I’ve just done this training – let’s dig in further and see what’s going on.’” Jean’s conviction resonated with the family, who welcomed her approach, and together they agreed on an evidence-based treatment plan that addressed their child’s unique circumstances.

To clinicians considering the PPP program, Jean says, “Our patients need our help and this program fills the knowledge gap. It will provide you with the tools and confidence to effectively address the myriad of mental health challenges with a very efficient and evidence-based approach. Many of us have had to learn this on the fly. This program met my needs perfectly. It is designed to be very interactive. You will meet clinicians experiencing your same challenges in the real world and learn from each other.” 

 

Visit thereachinstitute.org to learn more about The REACH Institute’s flagship training, Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP).