Exploring Life & Business with Bethany of BrainWise Psychotherapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany.

Hi Bethany, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I earned my graduate degree in social work with the intention of becoming a psychotherapist, but I’ve always been drawn to the medical side of the field. Early in my career, I worked on the medical social work team at Bronson Methodist Hospital, where I gained a deeper understanding of how closely mental and physical health are connected. That experience really shaped my passion for supporting individuals and families living with chronic or terminal illnesses.

Dementia, in particular, became an area of personal and professional interest for me, since it’s something that has touched my own family. When I eventually transitioned into private practice, I realized just how significant the need was for specialized mental health support for this population—and how few practices were focused on meeting that need.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been a really unique and rewarding journey since starting BrainWise Psychotherapy. Building a team in such a specialized area of mental health has taken a lot of time, intention, and effort—but I’m proud to say our team is now complete.

We’ve brought together a group of master’s-level therapists, including social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists. In addition, we have a neuropsychologist and a psychiatrist on our team, which allows us to provide truly comprehensive care and address the full spectrum of our clients’ needs.

That said, running a practice also comes with its challenges—especially when it comes to balancing strong ethical values with the realities of managing a business. One of the biggest difficulties we face is the increasing challenge of serving clients with Medicaid due to insurance limitations and broader systemic barriers. Despite those hurdles, we remain deeply committed to accessibility and continue to explore creative ways to make high-quality mental health care available to everyone who needs it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a private psychotherapy practice located in Kalamazoo, MI. We are a multidisciplinary team composed of master level therapists, a neuropsychologist and a psychiatrist. Our main goal is provide quality mental health care to adults in the community. One of our niche clinical interests is helping individuals and families who contend with chronic illness, caregiver stress, aging. At BrainWise, we pride ourselves on our compassion, clinical expertise, and dedication to serving populations that are often underserved or misunderstood. We strive to make mental health care accessible and inclusive, even as we navigate the growing challenges of insurance and systemic barriers. We are also a woman owned and operated business, we take great pride in fostering a culture of empathy, empowerment, and collaboration—both within our team and in the way we serve our clients.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think we’re going to continue seeing more people reaching out for mental health support, which is really encouraging in terms of awareness and reducing stigma. But at the same time, access remains a huge challenge—especially in rural and underserved communities. There simply aren’t enough providers to meet the growing demand.

For a practice like ours that specializes in more complex populations, such as individuals living with chronic medical or neurological conditions, that reality creates both opportunity and responsibility. It pushes us to think strategically about how we use our resources, how we collaborate with other professionals, and how we can expand access without compromising the quality or depth of care we’re known for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brainwisepsychotherapy.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-vinatieri-lmsw-cdp-npt-c-0487b167?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app