Kate Bender
Kate knows, firsthand, life is messy and hard. Sometimes people need support and help from a professional. When working with Kate, your mental health will be compassionately addressed in a manner that honors your mind, body, and spirit.
Multiple surgeries and hospitalizations as a young child sparked Kate’s interest in healthcare. She long thought medical school was in her future, but life can be unpredictable. Her love of math and science brought her to Worcester Polytechnic Institute for her undergraduate education. At WPI, Kate graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering. After graduating, Kate knew her future was not in a lab but rather directly helping people. When considering what type of training to pursue to enter the healthcare field, Kate considered various options. The nursing field where a holistic approach with patient-centered care meets science and evidence-based practice was the right fit.
Kate’s initial training as an Adult Nurse Practitioner at The Ohio State University, lead to an early career with an internal medicine focus. She practiced as an ANCC board-certified APRN, in various settings including hospital-based medicine, pain management, hematology/oncology, post-acute rehabilitation, long-term care, and home-based preventive care. In her first position providing pain management for patients, it became apparent what a significant impact mental health had on physical health. This early impression inspired her interest in understanding mental health and well-being. When the time was right, Kate returned to school to earn a Post Master’s Certificate from Johns Hopkins University in psychiatric nursing. Because of her passion for learning as well as her desire to research and better understand the trait of sensory processing sensitivity, Kate is currently earning her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” — Vivian Greene
Now, as a dual ANCC board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Kate focuses her practice on mental health management. Her unique training and experience, first as an engineer then as a dual-certified APRN, make one of Kate’s greatest strengths her ability to look at the whole picture and thoughtfully translate what feels overwhelming into more manageable information. She believes her clients (and their close family) are experts in themselves, and she is the medical expert.
Kate is passionate about connecting with clients and their families to empower them in attaining better health. Her approach to medical management is to listen to her clients and their families to understand what symptoms they are experiencing and how the symptoms are impacting their life. She then partners with them to identify options for treatment. When collaborating with her clients on the best solution for them, she always considers the client from a holistic perspective. No one lives in a void, so Kate explores the client’s health from a metabolic, psychiatric, nutritional, behavioral, and environmental standpoint. A traditional prescription is not always the best answer.
Kate’s passion for helping people live healthier and happier lives lead to her meeting Alex Klein in his role as a director at a therapeutic school. Like Alex, she knows having a connected system of support to restore health and balance requires a multifaceted approach. Recognizing clients