It is my pleasure to introduce Kelly Carlson, guest editor of this special issue on mental wellness, recovery, and holism. Dr. Carlson has more than 25 years of clinical experience in psychiatric-mental health nursing, both in primary care and acute care settings, and she has also held faculty positions. Presently, she is a nursing professional development specialist and research associate at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.
Dr. Carlson's first nursing credential was a diploma received from Newton-Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing, and she received her BSN, MSN, and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Kelly was an integral member of my research team during her PhD studies, and I have followed her subsequent career trajectory with pride. She has published papers in prestigious journals such as Advances in Nursing Science, Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, Sage On-Line, and Journal of Holistic Nursing. Papers and posters have been presented by Dr. Carlson at conferences of the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the Southern Nursing Research Society.
Dr. Carlson has been active in professional organizations in nursing, having served as board member and chapter president of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. I especially appreciate all of Dr. Carlson's contributions to this journal. She has been a reviewer for Issues in Mental Health Nursing since 2009 and became the Book Review Editor in 2013. She volunteered to serve as guest editor for the special issue that you are about to read, based on her deep interest in mental wellness, recovery, and holism. A current focus is the therapeutic gardening project at McLean Hospital, which benefits both the staff (educating them about grounding techniques) and the patients (helping them detach from emotional pain through tending the plants). Threaded throughout Dr. Carlson's career trajectory as a practitioner and scholar are concerns for individuals who are vulnerable, abused, and marginalized, with special attention to prevention of seclusion/restraint and development of more enlightened and humane public health policies.