Psychiatric N.P.
Teacher.
Duck wrangler. Dog trainer.
Bootleg architect.
Dismissed repeatedly in my own pursuit of health.
Daughter to a dad with dementia.
Hello! I’m Kathy, a psychiatric nurse practitioner based in Kansas City. I love to read, train rescue dogs, and spend time landscaping my herb & flower garden. I also love a good adventure—like a ride in the nose of a WWII-era B-17!
I believe that symptoms are never just “in your head.” There’s more to you, and all of you–your whole story– must be considered. Sometimes the smallest detail can change everything. It’s not about simply quieting symptoms. It’s about getting to the root cause, finding your ground zero, and rebuilding from there using scientifically proven methods.
My Story
I grew up in South Korea and Tennessee, and my fondness for animals was evident from the beginning. Once, I was found sitting motionless in a clover patch near my grandparents’ cabin waiting for wild rabbits to appear (spoiler alert: they did!). I developed an early love for books. At age 6, I remember sneakily reading ahead after my parents stopped at a cliffhanger. School was different; I found the experience extremely stressful and always felt that I had to work much harder than peers who made similar grades.
Interest in health-related topics was evident very early. Around the time I was learning to talk, my favorite doll was found with a Band-Aid stuck to its neck. When asked about it I offered a confident report on Mimi’s diagnosis and treatment: “She had a throat, so I shot her.” Thankfully my parents intuited that I had addressed the sore throat with an injection rather than a shotgun! It has always been part of my nature to identify a problem at its root cause, act in a methodical manner to improve it, and then evaluate the results.
So, it wasn’t much of a surprise to anyone when I eventually decided to go to nursing school. Once there, I distinctly remember the moment I realized psychiatry was NOT the specialty for me. It was the first day of my psychiatric clinical rotation and the elevator doors opened onto a locked psych ward. With one look at the patients, I instantly felt an overwhelming certainty that medication was not their primary need. Whatever it was they really needed, they weren’t going to get it there. It was an unusual experience, and many years passed before I felt equipped to do it differently and circled back to psychiatry. Thankfully, much has changed in the field of psychiatry since then.
In 2008 I moved to Kansas City for a new job. I felt like somewhat of a pioneer; my ancestors have lived in many states but I was the first to settle in Missouri. Or so I thought at the time! Recently I learned that I was simply following a well-worn historical path; my 3x great-grandmother was married in Boonville, MO in 1842. Her ancestors remained in Olathe and Wichita for about 40 years before moving on. Maybe that’s why Kansas City so quickly felt like home.
photo: my dad’s ancestor with his invention, Wichita KS
In the meantime, my career progressed from floor nursing through management, a couple of start-ups, and a national consulting role. I gained first-hand understanding of how insurance companies work and observed their interactions with the clinicians who serve their policyholders. As I started my business and considered how to support my clients most effectively, I decided to operate outside insurance networks.
Personal experiences also strongly influence how I practice. Witnessing unaddressed mental illness in my family deepened my commitment to providing compassionate and effective care to those who struggle. A friend died by suicide. And navigating dementia with my veteran father has given me firsthand insight into the challenges faced by caregivers. These experiences flavor my approach to clients every day.
KATHY STEEN IPC
In my time away from work I’m a bootleg architect, designing and building structures for my expanding garden. I share my backyard with a few urban ducks, mainly because they are hilarious! In addition to providing comic relief, they also serve as bug control and produce balanced fertilizer for my edible plants.
While I’ve loved ALL my rescue dogs, I have a particular affinity for fear-aggressive Great Danes; providing them a calm, secure environment is rewarding. As a result of my work with them, I’ve become a pretty good dog trainer. I’m frequently asked how the dogs and ducks get along, and the answer is that the dogs learn that ducks are ‘family’ and leave them alone….for the most part. One of my rescue Danes, Lucy, calmly broke up a duck fight by nudging the combatants apart with her nose!
p.s. Danes drool. A lot!
A Personal Note
During my first semester of high school, I experienced a viral illness that hung on for months. I missed so much school that I almost failed my classes. I never fully recovered and lived with debilitating fatigue, headaches, and brain fog for years. Getting out of bed in the morning felt like pulling a stalled 18-wheeler up a hill…with its brakes engaged. Doctors checked basic screening labs, found nothing, and told me “you just have a lot going on, that’s why you’re tired.” Being repeatedly dismissed resulted in decades of undiagnosed symptoms before someone finally provided answers—and I know how to ‘work the system’! In the meantime, integrative strategies proved more helpful than Western medicine alone. That experience fueled my passion for integrative medicine and the power of a holistic approach.
I believe that ”Nothing is ever finished and done with in this world” (Elizabeth Goudge).
Where there is life, there is hope.
If you lack hope, I will carry yours until you’re ready for it.
Working with Me
When you’re not feeling your best it can be hard to find help you can trust. You need someone who will:
take time to listen and really hear what you say
value your opinions and experiences
consider your interests, priorities, and limitations
explain your options in detail
work with you to create a detailed plan to help you get better
provide timely options for follow-up when you’re ready for the next step
I specialize in providing personalized, integrative mental health care to people facing a range of challenges. Whether you are dealing with symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar spectrum, ADHD, or autism spectrum, I believe that true healing involves identifying the root cause of your symptoms and considering all of you—mind, body, and spirit. My treatment philosophy emphasizes listening, validation, understanding, and equipping you to take control of your mental health journey. We will be equal partners in your treatment and there will be room in my schedule for frequent appointments if that’s what you need at first. With a little time, I hope to work myself out of a job because you’ll be feeling too well to need me often!