Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Geradine Gabriel . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Dr. Geradine, really appreciate your meeting with us today to talk about some particularly personal topics. It means a lot because so many in the community are going through circumstances where your insights and experience and lessons might help, so thank you so much in advance for sharing. The first question we have is about divorce and how you overcame divorce and didn’t allow the trauma of divorce to derail your vision for your life and career.
The Unraveling That Taught Me How to Rise
There is a moment in life when the future you’ve clung to—the one that felt as real as your own heartbeat—dissolves without warning. No amount of bargaining, no desperate grip, can hold it together.
For me, that moment was my divorce.
I thought I had it all.
The fairytale wedding, the kind people sigh over in photos.
The dream of a home humming with children’s voices, a family business built side by side with the person I loved.
And then, suddenly, it was gone. Not just lost, but erased. As if the life I’d painted so carefully had been washed away with one brutal stroke.
I was a planner. A woman who mapped her life in meticulous detail. Marriage was the pinnacle I’d been taught to strive for since childhood. So what happens when the pinnacle collapses beneath you?
Then came the weight of expectation, heavy and silent.
Divorce was not just a word in my world. It was a stain, a mark of failure.
My siblings were all married, settled, their lives unfolding as they should. Meanwhile, I stood amid the rubble of what was supposed to be my forever, swallowing the bitter taste of shame.
Why did mine fail?
What will they think of me now?
Will I ever be enough again?
But the deepest ache wasn’t the judgment. It was my daughter.
I had imagined her life so clearly: two parents, a home filled with warmth, a childhood stitched with love. Now, that vision was just a ghost, and I was left mourning a future that would never be.
Then Came the Unraveling
In the hollow silence after the storm, I realized something that struck me like lightning:
I had never been ready for marriage.
I had gone from a sheltered girl to a wife without ever passing through myself.
I didn’t know independence—only obedience.
I didn’t know self-worth—only the hunger for approval.
I didn’t know love—only performance.
And so, my divorce became my greatest teacher.
The Turning Point: Radical Accountability
It would have been easy to drown in blame. To replay every hurt, every betrayal, every moment they fell short.
But blame is a cage, and I refused to live inside it.
So I did the bravest thing I’ve ever done.
I faced myself.
I took responsibility—not for everything, but for my part.
For ignoring the quiet warnings in my gut.
For loving the idea of love more than the reality of the person in front of me.
For believing that commitment could outweigh compatibility.
That reckoning didn’t destroy me.
It set me free.
Because here’s the truth no one tells you:
Healing doesn’t live in the past. It lives in the moment you decide to reclaim your story.
How I Rebuilt (And How You Can Too)
I didn’t do it alone.
Therapy became my sanctuary. A place where I could fall apart without apology, where my rage and grief were met not with judgment, but with steady hands guiding me back to myself. My therapists didn’t just listen—they taught me how to speak again.
“Notice when you shrink. Now choose to stand anyway.”
“That guilt you’re carrying? It was never yours to hold.”
Slowly, I learned a new language. My own.
So if you’re standing in the wreckage of what was, here’s what I’ll tell you:
1. Let yourself grieve. Not in whispers, but in screams. Write the letters you’ll never send. Cry until your ribs ache. The pain must move through you, not fester inside you.
2. Rewrite your story. Blame keeps you anchored to the past. Accountability is the wind in your sails.
3. Find your people. Therapy, a support group, one fiercely loyal friend—healing happens in the space between “me too” and “I’m here.”
4. Release the ghost. Honor the dream, but bury it. Make room for something real.
5. Redefine yourself. You are not what broke you. You are what refused to stay broken.
Divorce didn’t shatter me.
It forged me.
Today, I am whole—not because life went as planned, but because I chose to rise from the ruins with a strength I didn’t know I had.
You will too.
Because healing isn’t about erasing the past.
It’s about finally coming home—to yourself.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a double board-certified psychiatric and family nurse practitioner, but beyond the credentials, I’m a healer, teacher, mentor, and advocate for mental wellness—especially within Black and Brown communities. I am the founder of Psyche Wellness Group, a virtual psychiatric practice offering compassionate, culturally competent care in multiple states including New Jersey, New York, Florida, Washington, Massachusetts, and Maryland. We provide remote psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and supportive therapy services tailored to each person’s unique journey. One of the most special aspects of our practice is how deeply we value treating the whole person—not just the symptoms. We incorporate evidence-based medicine, lifestyle coaching, supplements, and where appropriate, holistic tools to help our clients feel mentally and emotionally well.
But that’s just one part of my mission.
I’m also the creator of I Elevate Minds, a premium preceptorship program for future psychiatric nurse practitioners. This program was born from a deep recognition that too many students graduate feeling unprepared and unsupported. I decided to create the kind of clinical experience I wish existed when I was training—where students not only learn diagnostic and medication management skills, but also build confidence, clinical intuition, and cultural sensitivity. We now have a growing network of students who’ve completed rotations with us, and many return to practice alongside me or seek continued mentorship. Watching students grow into powerful, thoughtful psychiatric providers is incredibly fulfilling.
What excites me the most is the ripple effect. Every client we help, every student we train, and every truth we speak into the world is contributing to long-lasting generational impact. Mental health is not just clinical for me—it’s spiritual. It’s cultural. It’s communal.
Right now, we’re expanding in exciting ways. We recently brought on new providers to meet demand and continue growing our reach. We’re also launching a post-graduation bridge program under I Elevate Minds, designed for newly licensed psychiatric providers who feel unsure or overwhelmed. This program will help them sharpen their evaluation skills, grow confident in their diagnoses and treatment plans, and ultimately feel ready to lead in the field of mental health.
In everything I do, whether it’s through therapy, medication, mentorship, speaking, or writing, I’m deeply committed to helping people feel seen, heard, and empowered. I want people to know that healing is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, self-awareness, and strategic vision.
1. Resilience
There were moments—personally and professionally—when I felt like everything was falling apart. From navigating divorce to launching my own practice, resilience is what kept me grounded when things got hard. But resilience isn’t just about “toughing it out.” It’s about having the ability to pause, pivot, and push through with grace. For those early in their journey, I encourage you to embrace failure as a teacher. Resilience grows when you stop avoiding discomfort and start learning from it.
2. Self-awareness
Self-awareness changed the game for me. It taught me how to check in with myself, how to own my triggers, how to lead with integrity, and how to course-correct when I was out of alignment. I became a better leader, practitioner, and woman when I stopped avoiding my reflection. For anyone just starting, get into the habit of honest self-reflection. Journal. Sit in silence. Go to therapy. Ask people you trust what they see in you—both the strengths and the blind spots. Growth begins when you get real with yourself.
3. Strategic vision
I’ve always had big dreams, but I learned that dreaming without direction leads to burnout. What helped me was developing the skill of thinking long-term, breaking down goals into small wins, and staying focused even when the path wasn’t linear. Strategy isn’t about having every answer—it’s about knowing your “why” and moving with intention. For those just starting, give yourself permission to pivot, but always have a North Star. Keep asking: “What am I building, and why does it matter?”
My advice? Stay grounded in your purpose, invest in your healing, and don’t rush the journey. The most powerful version of you is being built in real time—through every choice, challenge, and chapter.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I completely disconnect. I disconnect from social media, I disconnect from people, and I focus entirely on nurturing myself.
Sometimes that means booking a spa day, getting a massage, or planning a trip—anything that allows me to step away and reset. I’ve learned that I can’t function at my highest level when I’m emotionally drained or mentally scattered. So instead of pushing through or pretending I’m okay, I give myself permission to pause.
I take as much time as I need to get myself together before re-engaging with the world. It’s not avoidance—it’s intentional self-preservation. And honestly, that’s one of the biggest keys to my personal and professional success: honoring when I need to rest so I can return stronger, clearer, and more aligned.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.psychewellnessgroup.com
- Instagram: @drg_ielevateminds
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-geraldine-gabriel-dnp-802825231/
