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ABOUT HEATHER HONSTEIN

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HEATHER HONSTEIN,
MS-N, PMHNP-BC

PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTIONER & RESEARCH THERAPIST

ABOUT ME

Heather Honstein is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, psychedelic therapist, clinical researcher, and educator dedicated to advancing innovative approaches to mental health care. Her work sits at the intersection of psychiatry, psychotherapy, research, and integrative medicine. Drawing on experience spanning psychiatric nursing, intensive care, psychedelic-assisted therapy, clinical trials, and contemplative practices, she approaches healing through a holistic lens that honors the biological, psychological, social, and existential dimensions of human experience.

 

Heather currently serves as a Nurse Practitioner and Research Therapist supporting novel psychiatric treatment development, while also maintaining clinical practice focused on trauma-informed, evidence-based care. She is particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms of transformation, resilience, and meaning-making in mental health treatment, and in helping bridge the worlds of research, clinical practice, education, and public engagement.

AREAS I CARE ABOUT

  • I am interested in advancing innovative mental health treatments through clinical research, implementation science, and systems design. My work spans psychedelic-assisted therapy research, protocol development, study operations, and the translation of emerging treatments into real-world clinical practice. I am particularly interested in questions of safety, ethics, therapist factors, patient selection, mechanism of action, and how novel interventions can be integrated into scalable, sustainable models of care.

  • I am interested in understanding how trauma shapes the mind, body, relationships, and sense of self, as well as how individuals heal and build resilience. My approach is grounded in a biopsychosocial and integrative framework that recognizes the interconnected roles of biology, psychology, lifestyle, relationships, culture, spirituality, and meaning. I am particularly interested in developing holistic, evidence-informed approaches that address the whole person and expand treatment options for individuals living with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, and moral injury.

  • I am committed to improving mental health outcomes for active duty service members, veterans, and military families. This population faces unique challenges related to trauma exposure, operational stress, transitions, identity, family systems, and access to care. My work focuses on supporting the development of innovative treatments and care models that address these complex needs while recognizing the strengths, resilience, and service of military communities.

  • I am interested in consciousness, subjective experience, and the ways individuals make meaning of healing, identity, and transformation. My work draws on qualitative and phenomenological approaches to explore altered states of consciousness, spirituality, contemplative traditions, and the relationship between mind, brain, and lived experience. I am particularly interested in how experiences of awe, connection, transcendence, and self-transcendence contribute to psychological wellbeing and personal growth.

  • My interest in mental health extends beyond clinical and research settings into contemplative traditions and embodied practices. Yoga, meditation, breathwork, and mindfulness have been important influences on my understanding of wellbeing, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and personal growth. I am interested in exploring how contemplative practices can complement psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy while helping individuals cultivate greater presence, resilience, and connection in everyday life.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON:

  • Developing and implementing novel psychedelic-assisted therapy protocols for PTSD and related conditions.

  • Advancing clinical research exploring consciousness, subjective experience, and mechanisms of therapeutic change.

  • Building scalable models for integrating psychedelic therapies into mainstream psychiatric care.

  • Developing treatment manuals, SOPs, and training materials for therapists and medical providers.

  • Exploring new frameworks for understanding mental health diagnoses through phenomenology, personality structure, and lived experience.

  • Collaborating on research, educational, and policy initiatives related to psychedelic medicine, trauma recovery, and mental health innovation.

  • Expanding opportunities for teaching, speaking, and mentorship within psychiatry, psychotherapy, and psychedelic research communities.

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