About
Colleen Lee, PMHNP-BC
Founder of The Trauma-Informed Patient
20+ Years In Health Care
12 Years Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Colleen Lee is the founder of The Trauma-Informed Patient. She has been in health care for 20 years, 12 as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She has worked in a variety of settings treating various mental healthdisorders and has taught at several universities.
She became particularly interested in medical trauma when she experienced a significant medical event in 2007, which resulted in over 9 surgeries, and she struggled with chronic pain.
She recognized that she was experiencing symptoms of traumatic stress (flashbacks, avoidance, anxiety, panic). Still, she found that her medical team never discussed this with her, and she wondered if what she was experiencing was normal.
Then, in 2016, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had extremely poor care, experienced medical gaslighting, and was dismissed by her oncology team despite having legitimate health concerns.
She eventually transferred her care to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, where she was told that the symptoms she was experiencing were very real and treatment was available.
Unfortunately, the breast cancer came back in 2022, and Colleen went through surgery and radiation again. However, her experience this time was less traumatizing due to receiving excellent care at MD Anderson.
She continues to work through the medical trauma she has experienced.
Colleen Lee is the founder of The Trauma-Informed Patient. She has been in health care for 20 years, 12 as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She has worked in a variety of settings treating various mental health disorders and has taught at several universities.
She became particularly interested in medical trauma when she experienced a significant medical event in 2007, which resulted in over 9 surgeries, and she struggled with chronic pain.
She recognized that she was experiencing symptoms of traumatic stress (flashbacks, avoidance, anxiety, panic). Still, she found that her medical team never discussed this with her, and she wondered if what she was experiencing was normal.
Then, in 2016, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had extremely poor care, experienced medical gaslighting, and was dismissed by her oncology team despite having legitimate health concerns.
She eventually transferred her care to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, where she was told that the symptoms she was experiencing were very real and treatment was available.
Unfortunately, the breast cancer came back in 2022, and Colleen went through surgery and radiation again. However, her experience this time was less traumatizing due to receiving excellent care at MD Anderson.
She continues to work through the medical trauma she has experienced.
Provider, Patient, Student, Teacher
Colleen has the unique distinction of being both a healthcare provider and a patient with chronic health problems and has experienced medical trauma.
She has completed the Medical Trauma Certificate Course at Xavier University, developed by Dr. Michelle Flaum, the author ofManaging the Psychological Impact of Medical Trauma.
This has helped Colleen expand her knowledge base about medical trauma from a patient’s perspective to a clinician’s.
She has always enjoyed teaching patients about their rights as a patient and trying to break down the often complex world of medicine so that it is easier for patients to understand.
Founder of The Trauma-Informed Patient
Colleen founded the Trauma-Informed Patient because she believes knowledge is power. She strongly believes that patients have the power to demand change in the medical system’s status quo, which may be good at saving our lives but leaves us to pick up the pieces left in the aftermath.
The Trauma-Informed Patient’s goal is to help you learn how the medical system works, how to advocate for yourself, and how to recognize medical trauma, understand its implications, and how it all ties into your health and well-being.
She strongly believes that patients have the power to demand change in the medical system’s status quo, which may be good at saving our lives but leaves us to pick up the pieces left in the aftermath.
She believes any medical care should be provided in a trauma-informed manner with shared decision-making where the patient feels physically and emotionally safe.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to educate the public about medical trauma, empower individuals to heal from their experiences and advocate for self-empowerment and autonomy in healthcare settings.
This includes understanding your rights as a patient, knowing how to navigate the medical system, how to communicate effectively with your medical team, how to advocate for what you need and how to heal from medical trauma.
“Neuroscience research shows that the only way we can change the way we feel is by becoming aware of our inner experience and learning to befriend what is going insideourselves.”
— Bessel A. van der Kolk