Caden is a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Alleviant’s Fort Smith location. He holds an associate’s degree in science from Butler Community College, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wichita State University and a master’s in nursing from Walden University.

Caden entered the heath care field as a teenager and migrated through several areas before landing in mental health. He worked as a surgery tech and then as a certified registered nurse anesthetist. It was there that mentors noticed he was good a defusing situations with unhappy patients and pushed him to look at a career in mental health.

“I find the work really meaningful,” Caden said. “It was a great change. This is where I belong. Building rapport with patients is fundamental for a solid therapeutic relationship. Patients need to feel comfortable in order to discuss certain things.”

Caden focuses on helping patients get their lives in order by adding structure and avoiding chaos. He shares Alleviant’s philosophy that diet, sleep, physical exercise, and integrated approaches are the basis for improving one’s mental health.

When a patient has a positive outcome, he said, “It refortifies my sense of meaning in life.”

Caden sees patients of all ages, but particularly enjoys working with 18-33 year olds.

“I like working with young adults who are navigating college, starting their career and family, and all of the things that go along with entering adulthood,” he said.

Originally from Peabody, Kansas, Caden decided to move to northwest Arkansas after years of family vacations at Beaver Lake.

Outside of work, Caden enjoys working out, spending time outdoors, F1 racing, and spending time with family.