Bridging the Gap in Mental Health Care: Q&A with Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Brooke Scholler of Compass Health Center Wisconsin
As Compass Health Center continues to expand access to specialized mental health care across Wisconsin, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Brooke Scholler shares what makes Compass’s Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs so impactful for patients and families. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in psychiatry, Brooke discusses how a collaborative, patient-centered model allows individuals to access care quickly, receive personalized medication management, and experience meaningful progress supported by a multidisciplinary team. From her perspective on Wisconsin’s growing mental health needs to the rewarding nature of PHP and IOP care, Brooke highlights how Compass is helping bridge critical gaps in access while providing hope and stability for those ready to begin treatment.
This interview has been lightly edited for grammar and flow. The speaker’s original meaning and intent have not been changed.
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Q&A
Britt Teasdale (BT): Thank you so much for meeting with me today, Brooke. I’d love to get to know you a little better and hear about your professional path and what led you into the psychiatry field.
Brooke Scholler (BS): I always knew I wanted to be part of a caregiving profession. This made nursing a natural fit. I knew early on in nursing school that I wanted to be a psychiatric nurse, which is somewhat uncommon. I found in psychiatric nursing a field where I could care for and connect with others while satisfying my ever-present curiosity of people’s behavior. I’m still here 20 plus years later.
BT: What keeps you in the field?
BS: The people—both our patients and our team members. The PHP and IOP space provides a unique opportunity to really get to know our patients who are likely coming to Compass in crisis. Over the next few months, you get to watch them make significant growth. This is incredibly rewarding. And being able to do the work with a team of dedicated, like-minded professionals makes it even better.
BT: Have you always worked in the PHP and IOP space?
BS: I’ve been lucky enough to work in all levels of psychiatric care including inpatient, residential, and outpatient. Those experiences just reaffirmed that PHP and IOP are the best. I‘ve spent about 10 years specifically working in PHP and IOP.
BT: What prompted you to make that shift into PHP and IOP?
BS: Before shifting to PHP and IOP, I was working as an intake nurse which was a more individualized role. I was ready to be somewhere I could be part of a team and more present in a patient’s care.
BT: What motivated you to join Compass specifically, and at our new center in Brookfield, Wisconsin?
BS: I loved that Compass has made PHP and IOP services their specialty. After reading their mission, I found how closely our values aligned – specifically for providing patient-centered care with a collaborative team approach. In this last year here at Compass, I’ve seen the organization live up to that mission day in and day out.
BT: Can you share an example of how Compass lives out those values?
BS: One way Compass does this is by providing every patient with a team of specialized staff to care for their individual, family, and group therapy needs in addition to nursing and psychiatry support. This sets Compass apart. As does their emphasis on collaboration and communication between disciplines, which influences every patient interaction and leads to better outcomes.
BT: Can you describe your work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner within Compass’s PHP and IOP programs?
BS: As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I complete an initial psychiatric evaluation with a patient soon after their admission. From there we meet one to three times a week spending the early visits getting to know each other and making a plan for their treatment. Although, medication management is specific to the psychiatry team, we also provide education, psychotherapy, and any other support the patients or team members need.
BT: For those unfamiliar, can you explain how psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychiatrists function interchangeably within Compass’s programs?
BS: I often tell patients that I essentially take the place of a psychiatrist. At Compass, psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychiatrists are used interchangeably. We both provide the same leadership within the team and deliver the same high-quality, individualized care.
BT: From your perspective, what are some of the biggest mental health challenges facing Wisconsin right now?
BS: Access to care is a major challenge. Since the pandemic, we’ve seen more people needing and seeking help, but there are not enough providers or programs to meet that need. Many people end up waiting weeks or months for care. When that happens, symptoms worsen and crises can escalate. By the time they do get treatment, they’re often in a much deeper place of struggle.
BT: How does Compass help address that strain across Wisconsin?
BS: Compass is really dedicated to closing the access gap. We do everything we can to make sure that when someone calls in need, we can get them in as quickly as possible. Here in Wisconsin, we’re now offering another PHP option for both adults and children, and that’s making a real difference. The need still outweighs access, but Compass is providing a valuable new resource for this community.
BT: Part of that access is the ability for patients to see a provider quickly, right?
BS: Exactly. In PHP or IOP, patients see a provider—psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner—within 24 to 48 hours of starting the program. That’s very different from the outpatient setting, where people might wait months for an appointment. We complete a thorough assessment early on to understand what’s happening, review their medication history, and start developing a treatment plan right away. That early intervention can make a big difference in symptom management and long-term success.
BT: What about medication management—how does that work in PHP and IOP? Is medication required?
BS: It’s not mandatory. There are a lot of misconceptions about that. Our job is to provide patients with information so they can make an informed decision. Medication can be very helpful, but treatment is always voluntary. My role is to talk through the risks and benefits so patients can decide what feels right for them.
BT: Looking ahead, what excites you most about Compass’s growth in Wisconsin?
BS: I’m thrilled that we’re offering another PHP and IOP option for the area. Having seen Compass’s commitment to patient-centered care and the outcomes that follow, I think we’re going to make a lasting impact on mental health in this community.
BT: What would you tell other psychiatric nurse practitioners who are considering moving into the PHP and IOP field or joining Compass?
BS: I’d tell them how rewarding the work is here. You get to spend meaningful time with patients and witness their growth. And you’re never doing it alone; you have a full team of skilled clinicians working alongside you with the same goal. It’s one of the most fulfilling roles I’ve ever had.
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Bios
Brooke Scholler, MSN, APN, PMHNP-BC, RN is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with extensive experience in mental health care and a specialty in addiction medicine. She has worked across outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings, spending most of her 20 years in clinical practice at the PHP and IOP levels of care. As a member of the psychiatry team at Compass Health Center, she strives to put into practice her passion for high-quality patient-centered collaborative care.
Britt Teasdale is a writer, photographer, and creative strategist. As Associate Director of Brand and Content at Compass Health Center, she has spent nearly a decade shaping narratives that translate complex clinical ideas into stories that resonate, reduce stigma, and help families access care. She holds a degree in Broadcast and Investigative Journalism, MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing, and began her career as a reporter. She is also co-host of Compass’s forthcoming podcast, You Only Know What You Know.
