Dr. Kate

Areas of Clinical Expertise:

Lifestyle Medicine:

Focusing on how daily habits, environment, and stress impact brain health and self-cohesion.

Internal System Regulation:

Strengthening the internal path toward equilibrium and emotional balance.

LGBTQIA+ Identity & Lived Experience:

Providing a therapeutic perspective rooted in the gender-diverse community and inclusive care.

Skills-Based Group Therapy:

Leading STEPPS groups to build community and offer tangible tools for relational healing.

Trauma-Informed Advocacy:

Solutions-focused care backed by leadership in healthcare policy and legislative advocacy

Dr. Katharine (Kate) Pace, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Doctor of Nursing Practice & Psychiatric Advanced Practicing Nurse

Advocacy as a Form of Care

Dr. Pace views the nursing profession not just as a clinical practice, but as a vehicle for social justice and systemic change. As the Director of Public Policy for the Iowa Nurses Association, she has led statewide efforts to expand access to mental health care and strengthen the healthcare workforce. Her work in the legislative halls mirrors her work in the clinic: a strategic, solutions-focused effort to dismantle the barriers that prevent individuals from achieving holistic wellness.

A Solution-Focused Alliance

Her clinical foundation is built on over a decade of experience across emergency departments and inpatient settings, providing her with a nuanced understanding of crisis and resilience. Now specializing in psychiatric-mental health, she earned her Doctorate from the University of Iowa with a focus on evidence-based, trauma-informed care. She is dedicated to helping individuals find balance and connection through inclusive, affirming care.

Inclusive and Affirming Resilience

A proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Dr. Pace is committed to ensuring every person feels valued and supported in their mental health journey. She explicitly rejects the traditional dichotomy of provider and patient, choosing instead to walk beside her clients as they navigate their paths toward growth. Her practice is an invitation to heal within a space that honors respect, identity, and the power of the human spirit.