Unraveling Wiccan: A PMHNP-BC’s Mental Health Perspective on Billy Kaplan
By: Andrew Hewitt, PMHNP-BC AbstractWilliam “Billy” Kaplan—codename Wiccan—is a powerful young superhero in the Marvel Universe. As a queer, Jewish teen grappling with trauma, identity, and extraordinary magical powers, his psychological landscape is rich for clinical exploration. This blog, authored by a PMHNP-BC, examines his character through the lens of the DSM-5, grounding the analysis […]
More Than One Goodbye: The Mental Health Impact of Polyamorous Breakups
By: Andrew Hewitt, PMHNP-BC As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I’ve observed that breakups are among the most challenging life events, regardless of relationship structure. However, the dissolution of a polyamorous relationship can present unique and complex mental health challenges that are often misunderstood or invalidated by a mononormative society. The grief, anxiety, and distress […]
Breaking Free: A PMHNP-BC’s Clinical Insight into Laura Kinney (X-23)
By Andrew J. Hewitt, APRN-BC Abstract Laura Kinney, known as X-23, embodies profound themes of trauma, identity fragmentation, self-harm, and eventual growth. Created as a cloned assassin, her journey mirrors complex post-traumatic stress, dissociation, and recovery pathways. This blog explores X-23’s psychological profile through DSM-5–informed constructs and recent comic storylines, offering a narrative that resonates with […]
Harnessing the Power of Movement: The PMHNP-BC Perspective on Exercise and Mental Health
By: Andrew J Hewitt, PMHNP-BC Abstract Physical activity is more than a path to physical fitness—it is a powerful intervention for mental wellness. Grounded in DSM-5 principles and contemporary evidence, this paper explores how aerobic, resistance, mind-body, and combined exercise modalities positively impact mood, anxiety, cognition, and quality of life across diverse populations. Drawing from […]
Finding Your Calm: Navigating Anxiety and Depression with the Wisdom of “Inside Out”
By: Jessie Helmbright, PMHNP In my role as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Pasco County , Florida, I get to work with a lot of you as you deal with the challenges of depression and anxiety. It’s a path that can occasionally feel completely draining, stressful, and lonely. However, I want you to know that […]
Monthly Mental Wellness Series: Learn Practical Skills and Techniques to Support Your Mental Health in Pasco County
By: Karen Schwartz Triana LMHC Month 1: The Foundations of Chill Your starter pack for keeping it together (most days). Welcome to Month 1 of Coping Skill of the Week: Now with Fewer Meltdowns! This month is for you if you’ve ever had the feeling that your emotions were hosting a party and neglected to invite your […]
Into the Shadows of Limbo: A Clinical Exploration of Magik (Illyana Rasputina)
By Andrew J. Hewitt , APRN-BC Abstract Illyana Rasputina—known as Magik—is a profoundly complex X-Men character whose arc is marked by trauma, dissociation, identity fragmentation, and resilience. This analysis applies DSM-5–informed constructs to unpack symptoms and adaptive patterns shaped by her early abduction, extended trauma in Limbo, and the emergence of her demonic persona, Darkchilde. Citing […]
How Red Light Therapy Can Benefit Pasco County, Florida — A Community Guide
By: Haley McRaven, BSN Introduction Red light therapy — also called photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level light/laser therapy (LLLT) — is a noninvasive treatment that delivers red and near-infrared light (roughly 600–950 nm) to tissue with the goal of altering cellular metabolism, reducing inflammation, and supporting tissue repair (Hernández-Bule et al., 2024). Once niche and largely […]
Breaking Through Dimensions: A PMHNP-BC’s Clinical Exploration of America Chavez Through DSM-5
Author: Andrew J. Hewitt, APRN-BC Abstract America Chavez, also known as Miss America, is a queer Latina superhero whose identity is shaped by trauma, resilience, intersectional identity, and heroism. This paper examines her psychological profile through the DSM-5 framework, highlighting grief processing, identity development, and anxiety regulation. Her narrative offers valuable lessons for clinicians employing Superhero Therapy and […]
A Mind Across Worlds: How Seeing Your Parallel Self Might Affect Mental Health
By Andrew Hewitt, PMHNP-BC Abstract The multiverse hypothesis—that multiple universes exist simultaneously, each hosting versions of ourselves—raises profound psychological questions. This paper examines how encountering a variant self from another universe might influence identity, anxiety, cognitive rigidity, and therapeutic growth. Drawing from recent literature and integrating DSM‑5 concepts, the narrative explores cognitive-resilience implications, narrative identity, […]