Dr. Dickson specializes in the treatment of adolescents and adults with psychiatric and co-occurring substance use disorders and is certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Addiction Registered Nurse-Advanced Practice (CARN-AP). He has received extensive training in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy from the Polaris Insight Institute in San Francisco, California. He takes a holistic approach to patient care, acknowledging the interaction between physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of patient care and well-being.
Dr. Dickson is a faculty member at Walden University in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program. He believes teaching is a part of his daily life, and, as an academic clinician, he takes very seriously the responsibility and privilege of educating patients, students, colleagues, and himself. Given the ongoing advances and innovations in nursing, he is committed to teaching and learning as lifelong processes.
As the visionary founder of Dickson Psychiatric Services + Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, Dr. Dickson stands at the forefront of psychiatric nursing innovation, specializing in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for adults with psychiatric and co-occurring substance use disorders. His pioneering work has provided new opportunities for healing for individuals who struggle with treatment-resistant mental illness. He uses the principles of harm reduction as a guiding principle in his nursing practice as a way of increasing access to care and decreasing inequities in clients with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.
His research and clinical practice interest areas include the role of professional nursing practice in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, addiction, eliminating health inequities among historically marginalized communities, and LGBTQ+ mental health.
Dr. Dickson currently serves as the President of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, has published work, and has spoken nationally to contribute to the growth and awareness of healthcare disparities and to improve the health of diverse, vulnerable populations in rural and underserved communities and advanced practice psychiatric nursing care.
The most fulfilling part of his work is the relationships he builds with his clients, colleagues, and students. Through his work, he can help his patients with their most personal struggles, and they trust him to be their partner in their journey toward self-discovery. He is genuinely grateful for this great honor and will never take it for granted. His clients, students, and colleagues constantly teach him something new, allowing him to grow professionally and personally.