Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Bass.
Hi Julie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Thank you so much, I’m truly honored to share my story. My path into psychiatry has been shaped by both professional and deeply personal experiences. I completed my undergraduate nursing degree at Ohio University and my Master of Science in Nursing at The Ohio State University, where I specialized in psychiatric mental health. From the very beginning of my training, I felt deeply connected to this work. I have always been fascinated by the human mind, the impact of lived experiences on emotional health, and the courage it takes for people to share their stories. Psychiatry felt less like a specialty and more like a calling.
Throughout my career, I have worked in a wide range of settings including inpatient psychiatry, correctional facilities, academic medical centers, substance use treatment programs, and outpatient care. These experiences gave me a profound appreciation for the complexity of mental health but also highlighted the shortcomings of our system. I witnessed rushed appointments, impersonal interactions, and a reliance on medication as a quick fix rather than part of a thoughtful, comprehensive plan. I saw how many patients left their visits feeling dismissed, misunderstood, or reduced to a checklist of symptoms. Women especially, who were juggling career expectations, relationships, trauma histories, motherhood, and hormonal shifts, often felt unseen in traditional mental health care environments.
My passion for this field is also personal. Like many who enter mental health, I have had my own seasons of anxiety and burnout. I know what it feels like to reach out for help and receive something surface-level in return. Those experiences shaped the way I view care. People do not just need prescriptions; they need time, curiosity, compassion, and someone willing to explore why they feel the way they do. I became committed to being the kind of provider I wished I had, someone who truly listens, educates, and sees the whole human being in front of them.
By the time I became a psychiatric nurse practitioner in 2022, it was clear to me that I wanted to build something different. I envisioned a practice that honored people’s stories rather than rushed through them, a place where patients felt understood, valued, and supported as whole individuals. The traditional model did not allow for that, so I created my own. That vision became Lily Mental Health, a practice born from the belief that mental health care should be thoughtful, personalized, and deeply human. Creating this space has been one of the most meaningful decisions of my life, and it continues to reflect my passion for offering care that goes far beyond basic symptom management.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has not been easy, but every challenge has shaped the foundation of my practice and strengthened my commitment to providing meaningful care. One of the hardest seasons of my career was experiencing burnout. For years, I worked long hours in high-volume, insurance-driven environments. I cared deeply about my patients, but the system was not designed for genuine connection. It was structured around numbers, productivity, and rapid appointments, and over time the emotional exhaustion became overwhelming. I knew that if I wanted to offer the kind of care I believed in, something needed to change.
The transition into entrepreneurship came with its own set of challenges. I had to learn everything from compliance and business structure to branding and marketing. There were moments of doubt, exhaustion, and imposter syndrome, especially when leaving the security of a traditional W2 job. But over time, those challenges became part of my growth. They pushed me to trust myself, to get clear on my values, and to commit fully to the vision I had for a different kind of psychiatric practice.
One of the biggest challenges for me throughout my career has been witnessing just how overburdened and fragmented our mental health system has become. Too often, care feels rushed and impersonal, with both providers and patients feeling like they are being swept along by a system that prioritizes volume over connection. Early in my career, I remember feeling discouraged that there was so little time to truly listen to people. I wanted to help in a deeper, more thoughtful way, but traditional settings did not allow room for that kind of work.
What keeps me grounded through all of it is remembering why I started. I wanted to bring integrity, compassion, and genuine healing back to mental health care. Every time a patient tells me they feel seen, that they finally have hope again, or that their life feels lighter, it reaffirms that the difficult moments were worth it. The challenges have not only shaped my practice but have strengthened my belief in the resilience of the human spirit and the power of thoughtful, individualized care.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Lily Mental Health was created with one mission: to provide warm, personalized, integrative mental health care that helps people genuinely heal, not just survive. I offer both in-person appointments in Charleston and virtual care throughout South Carolina. I provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and medication management, but what truly defines my practice is the depth and intention behind each visit. Appointments are longer, more collaborative, and centered on understanding the full context of a person’s life. I take the time to explore patterns, history, lifestyle, stressors, and the roots of a patient’s symptoms so that treatment feels meaningful rather than rushed or transactional.
My approach blends evidence-based psychiatry with integrative and nutritional principles. While I prescribe medication when it is clinically appropriate and often essential, I believe true healing goes far beyond prescriptions. I work with patients to understand how their sleep, nutrition, nervous system, hormones, relationships, routines, and sense of meaning all affect their mental health. I incorporate nutritional psychiatry, supplement education, sleep optimization, nervous system regulation strategies, and, when desired, spiritual or faith-based support. I also utilize genetic testing when indicated to personalize treatment and guide more precise prescribing decisions.
Women’s and reproductive mental health is a major focus of my work. I am certified in perinatal mental health and have specialized training in reproductive and integrative psychiatry. I support patients through PMDD and menstrual-related mood changes, fertility and pregnancy mental health, postpartum anxiety, depression, and rage, and the emotional and hormonal transitions of perimenopause and menopause. Another important part of my practice is deprescribing and supporting medication reduction when medically appropriate. Many patients come to me after years of being placed on multiple medications that may no longer serve them. Thoughtfully simplifying these regimens can improve clarity, energy, and overall wellbeing, and it often helps patients feel more empowered in their care.
Lily Mental Health is intentionally designed as a boutique, out-of-network practice so that patients receive direct access, personalized support, and continuity of care with one trusted provider. The name holds deep personal meaning. It was inspired by my beloved dog, Lily, who was a source of comfort, stability, and unconditional love during some of the most difficult seasons of my life. Naming my practice after her felt like a way to carry forward the warmth, compassion, and calm that she represented. In everything I do, my goal is to treat the whole person, not just the symptom checklist, and to create a space where people feel truly seen and supported in their journey toward healing.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
One of the things I love most about Charleston is how naturally calming it feels to be surrounded by water. I’ve always felt most at peace near the ocean, so being just a short drive from the beach is such a gift. Whether it’s taking a morning walk by the water, catching a sunset over the marsh, or spending a lazy afternoon at Sullivan’s Island, I never take it for granted. I also love how Charleston seems to invite you to slow down, to stroll King Street on a sunny day or wander through a historic plantation. There’s something grounding about the blend of beauty, history, and southern charm that makes it such a special place to live and work.
As for my least favorite part — without a doubt, the traffic! It’s almost a rite of passage to plan an extra 20 minutes for wherever you’re going. But in true Charleston fashion, even the traffic comes with a view, palm trees, pastel homes, and that golden Lowcountry light that somehow makes everything feel a little softer. So while I might not love sitting still on the bridge, I’ve learned to roll the windows down, take a breath, and enjoy the scenery.
Pricing:
- 250.00 (60-90 minute Intake)
- 120.00 (30 minute Follow-up)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lilymentalhealth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lily_mental_health_pmhnp/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572286409276
