Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Watson.
Hi Tiffany, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Tiffany Watson, and I am a dual-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. My journey into healthcare began long before my degrees—I’ve always loved caring for others. I started my career as a registered nurse and spent many years working in surgical nursing, building a strong clinical foundation. Over time, I felt called to expand my knowledge and decided to return to school to become a nurse practitioner.
I received my Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Cincinnati. While conducting home-based primary care assessments, I noticed that many of my patients were struggling with untreated mental health disorders. Their need for compassionate, knowledgeable psychiatric care weighed heavily on me. That realization pushed me to return to school once again to obtain my post-master’s certification in psychiatry from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
After working in various healthcare settings, I began to see that psychiatric assessments were often rushed, and providers didn’t always have the time to truly understand a patient’s story. I knew that the only way to practice with the level of autonomy, compassion, and thoroughness that my patients deserved was to create my own space. So in 2021, I opened my private practice, Cultivating Mind.
I launched my practice during the height of COVID-19, so I began by providing telehealth services. In 2024, I expanded into a brick-and-mortar office in Sharonville, Ohio, right across from Princeton High School. Today, I offer both telehealth and in-person care, including medication management, therapy across the lifespan, and soon Spravato treatment for patients with treatment-resistant depression. I’m excited to offer this because I truly believe it will be a life-changing option for many individuals who have struggled for years.
My approach to mental health care has always been rooted in education, compassion, and empowerment. I believe mental health conditions should be treated with the same respect as any chronic medical condition—just as we treat diabetes or high blood pressure. When patients understand the genetic, biological, and situational factors involved, they see their diagnosis differently and feel more engaged in their treatment plan. I always want my patients to know they have choices, that they are active participants in their care, and that they are not alone.
My own journey has shaped the way I show up for others. I was born and raised in Cincinnati, in an impoverished neighborhood called Cummingsville. I grew up in poverty, and I became the first person in my family to graduate from college—then the first to earn a bachelor’s, a master’s, and eventually a post-master’s degree. I didn’t fully appreciate what I had accomplished until a student once interviewed me and asked me to share my story out loud. It gave me a moment to reflect on how far I’ve come.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple goal: to help people become the best version of themselves. If I can help even one person feel understood, supported, and empowered to seek treatment, then I’ve made a meaningful impact. That’s why I do this work.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to where I am today has definitely not been smooth. My journey has included both personal and professional challenges that have shaped the way I care for others. Over the last twelve years, I’ve experienced tremendous personal loss, including the passing of my son and two grandchildren. Those losses brought deep grief, sadness, and moments where moving forward felt incredibly difficult. Because of that, I truly understand what my patients feel when they walk into my office carrying grief, depression, and emotional pain.
Professionally, navigating this field as a minority female has also come with obstacles. When I decided to open my own psychiatric practice, not everyone believed in my abilities, and some even tried to discourage me. I quickly realized that many people in this industry guard their knowledge, and it can be difficult to find mentors willing to guide you without expecting excessive compensation. I had to create my own path—researching, learning, and figuring things out on my own, from insurance requirements to DEA regulations to the business structure needed to operate legally and ethically.
As a small business owner, obtaining funding has also been challenging. Understanding the financial side of entrepreneurship—loans, revenue cycles, expenses, and long-term planning—was a steep learning curve. Another ongoing challenge has been finding staff with strong work ethic and genuine passion for helping patients. Finding dedicated therapists and psychiatric providers who truly care about mental health is not as easy as people think.
Even with these obstacles, I’ve always managed to find my way through. The struggles have never lasted forever, and each setback has taught me something that ultimately made me stronger and improved how I serve my patients.
We’ve been impressed with Cultivating Mind LLC., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Cultivating Mind, is a mental health practice I built with the intention of giving people a safe, compassionate place to tell their story and receive care that truly meets their needs. I founded the practice in 2021 because I wanted to provide thorough, patient-centered psychiatric care without the rushed, impersonal feel that many people experience in the healthcare system. What began as a fully telehealth practice during COVID has now grown into both a virtual and brick-and-mortar mental health clinic located in Sharonville, Ohio.
What I Do & What I Specialize In
At Cultivating Mind, I provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, therapy services, and mental-health support across the lifespan—from children to older adults.
I specialize in:
Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder)
Anxiety disorders
ADHD and executive-function issues
Trauma-related disorders
Pediatric and adolescent psychiatry
Medication-resistant depression
Genetic-based medication selection (pharmacogenomics)
I am also in the process of offering Spravato (esketamine) for treatment-resistant depression, which will soon be available in my office to help patients who have not found relief through traditional medications.
What I’m Known For
I’m known for providing thorough assessments, truly taking the time to understand my patients’ history, symptoms, and goals. My patients often tell me that I listen deeply, explain things in a way they’ve never heard before, and help them feel empowered in their own care. I take a very educational, collaborative approach—making sure every patient understands their diagnosis, why they may be experiencing certain symptoms, and what their treatment options are.
I’m also known for blending primary-care knowledge with psychiatric expertise, which allows me to look at the whole person—not just their mental health symptoms.
What Sets Me Apart
What sets me apart is my belief that mental healthcare should never feel rushed or transactional. I allow patients the time and space to be heard, and I work hard to remove the stigma around mental illness. I explain the biological, genetic, and environmental components so patients can understand their diagnosis the same way they would understand something like hypertension or diabetes.
Another thing that differentiates Cultivating Mind is the personalized, compassionate environment I’ve created. I don’t just prescribe medication—I build relationships. Patients know I care about their lives, their functioning, their families, their jobs, and their goals. I make sure they know they are active participants in their treatment plan, not passive recipients.
What I’m Most Proud Of
Brand-wise, I am proud that Cultivating Mind represents hope, healing, and education. My brand is built on compassion, empowerment, and the belief that everyone deserves high-quality mental healthcare delivered with respect.
I’m proud that:
I built this practice from the ground up starting in poverty and becoming the first in my family to earn multiple degrees.
My practice has grown steadily through word-of-mouth because patients trust me.
I’ve created a space where people feel understood and not judged.
I offer services that truly change lives—especially for those who have struggled for years without answers.
What I Want Readers to Know
I want readers to know that Cultivating Mind is a place where your story matters. Mental health issues are not a personal failure—they are medical conditions that can be treated and managed with the right support. My goal is to meet patients where they are, provide evidence-based care, and help them become the best version of themselves.
Whether someone needs a full psychiatric evaluation, ongoing medication management, therapy, or advanced treatment for medication-resistant depression, my practice is here to support them.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m always looking for evidence-based and entrepreneurial resources that help me grow both as a provider and as a business owner. Two of the resources I rely on the most are “The Carlat Psychiatry Report “and “The Elite Nurse Practitioner”.
The Carlat Report is one of my go-to evidence-based psychiatry resources. I regularly listen to their podcasts and read their clinical summaries because they break down complex psychiatric topics in a practical, easy-to-apply way. Their content helps me stay current with new research, treatment updates, and clinical best practices so I can bring the highest level of care to my patients.
I also enjoy the Elite Nurse Practitioner podcast. It offers invaluable guidance for nurse practitioners interested in entrepreneurship, autonomy, and thinking outside the traditional NP role. His discussions about owning a practice, building multiple service lines, and planning financially for retirement as a business owner are extremely inspiring. As someone who runs her own psychiatric practice, his insights reinforce that NPs can create innovative models of care, expand into niches like weight loss or hormone health, and build financially independent futures.
These resources help me stay grounded, motivated, and continuously learning—both for the sake of my patients and for the success of my practice.
Pricing:
- To assessments are $300 as a cash paying patient
- Follow up assessments are $150 as a cash paying patient
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cultivatingmind.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultivatingmind_llc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cultivatingmind.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-watson-a12655220/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TiffanyWatsonPMHNP
