MEET OUR TEAM
We are a small practice in San Diego that is passionate about inclusivity and on a mission to change the way mental healthcare is delivered. We believe in breaking down stigma, prioritizing individual care, and treating the whole person. By creating a space rooted in compassion and flexibility, we’re able to focus on what matters most: helping our clients heal and thrive on their own terms.
MEET KIRSTEN KUHN
MSN, PMHNP-BC (she/her)
Owner and Visionary behind Mind Menders
Kirsten is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with over 18 years of experience in psychiatric and emergency medicine. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University. Throughout her extensive career, Kirsten has come to believe that the foundation of effective mental health care lies in a collaborative relationship between provider and client. She offers compassionate, inclusive care to individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, women, adults, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Kirsten’s clinical interests include working with individuals experiencing mood disorders (such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder), ADHD, autism, anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder), and sleep-related issues. Her therapeutic style integrates a humanistic approach with evidence-based principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and she provides psychotherapy within her sessions with clients. In 2019, Kirsten completed a six-month intensive training program focused on treating military veterans with PTSD and their families—experience she now draws upon when working with those affected by significant trauma in their childhood and early life.
Our nurse practitioners practice with a holistic philosophy, prioritizing the use of not only medication but also encouraging clients to explore complementary treatments. They support the development of executive functioning skills, healthy lifestyle practices like proper nutrition and exercise, and the integration of talk therapy, acupuncture, and energy healing into comprehensive mental wellness plans.
MEET PAIGE SCHAEPER
MSN, PMHNP-BC (she/her)
Paige is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) who is passionate about providing compassionate, inclusive care for children, adolescents, and adults at every stage of life. She earned her undergraduate degree from Baylor University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University, where she focused on addressing the unique mental health needs of rural communities and underserved populations.
With more than a decade of experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings across multiple states, Paige brings a well-rounded perspective to psychiatric care. She has experience treating depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, panic disorder, trauma and PTSD, ADHD, OCD, sleep concerns, and perinatal and postpartum mental health.
Paige believes that effective mental health care looks different for every person. She combines evidence-based medicine with a holistic approach, drawing from both Western and Eastern practices to support overall well-being. As a member of her local Postpartum Health Alliance chapter and a mom herself, she understands firsthand how important compassionate support can be during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Paige values building genuine, collaborative relationships with her clients. Together, they create personalized treatment plans that may include medication management, trauma-informed care, therapeutic strategies, and practical lifestyle changes tailored to each individual's or family's goals. She also enjoys partnering with therapists, teachers, primary care providers, and other members of a client's support system to create a coordinated approach that encourages healing, resilience, and lasting growth. Above all, Paige strives to create a space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take meaningful steps toward better mental health.
MEET ABBY STALLSWORTH
DNP, PMHNP-BC (She/her)
Abby is a board certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who believes that truly being seen and understood can change the course of a person’s life. After 16 years in nursing, including emergency medicine and military service, Abby learned some of the deepest suffering is the kind no one else can see. This realization and passion for mental health led her to pursue psychiatry. Abby’s approach extends beyond treating symptoms. She strives to understand the whole person and is willing to sit with clients through the complicated, painful, and deeply human parts of their lives. As a collaborative practitioner, she draws upon each person’s individual strengths, experiences, and goals to develop a patient-centered plan.
Abby earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from University of San Diego, where her training strengthened her commitment to thoughtful and evidence-based care. Her clinical interests include mood disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, ADHD, autism, women’s heath, and identity issues. Her commitment to LGBTQ+ affirming care is both professional and personal. She is certified to see patients of all ages. Through compassion and genuine human connection, Abby works alongside each client to find hope, healing, and a meaningful way forward.
