Cristal Sampson, RN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is the founder of Spirit Clinic, an outpatient psychiatric practice supporting patients in New York and Connecticut. Her work is grounded in collaborative, patient-centered care and deep listening. Cristal is especially committed to engaging people who feel hesitant or resistant to psychiatric care. Her focus on open dialogue and patient education opens doors to mental health support for people with complex trauma histories and negative experiences in the mental healthcare system. Cristal’s clinical interests also include supporting new mothers, people navigating the effects of intergenerational trauma, and members of LGBT, queer, and sex-positive communities. Cristal’s clinical background spans urban teaching hospitals, residential psychiatric programs, community mental health centers, and rural practice settings. She currently acts as a Clinical Preceptor at Yale School of Nursing, where she mentors graduate nurse practitioner students in psychiatric assessment, medication management, and evidence-based clinical decision-making. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Yale University and a BA in Neuroscience and Psychology from Queens College, CUNY.