Dr. Kristin Dawson grew up in Lexington, KY and attended the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine. Prior to medical school, she spent a year working in northern New Mexico. The time spent exploring the high desert, surrounding mountains and canyons nurtured her spiritual health and mindfulness practice. Dr. Dawson is a double-board certified physician specializing in general psychiatry and child & adolescent psychiatry. She is trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Processing Therapy and mindfulness practices. Dr. Dawson is a member of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners and has conducted research on ketamine and epigenetic aging. Dr. Dawson is also certified with the Multidisciplinary Association on Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.
Sam has always been interested in healthcare and fascinated by the human body. This combined with her desire to help and support others is what drew her into becoming a Registered Nurse. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2014 and began her career working at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center. During her years there she routinely functioned as Charge Nurse, was a Clinical Educator, and the recipient of the Daisy Award 4 times. While working in the hospital Sam witnessed inadequacies in our current healthcare system, specifically in regards to mental health care. Working with patients at Expedition Mental Health has renewed her passion for nursing and has led to advocacy work with local non-profits. Sam is a member of the Kentucky Nurses Association because they share her high moral standards and advocate on issues that affect nurses as well as the general public. She is a lifelong learner and is particularly interested in ongoing education about nursing and mental
Ben Askins has an eclectic background with degrees in Outdoor Education, Intercultural Studies, Physician Assistant Studies, and Divinity. He has nearly two decades of experience practicing and teaching wilderness, tactical, and expeditionary medicine in the military. In civilian life, he is a Psychiatric Physician Assistant with an evidence-focused and integrative approach to mental health that includes extensive experience providing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, medicine management, and spiritual direction. He is certified with the Multidisciplinary Association on Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Ben is a member of the Wilderness Medical Society, a National Outdoor Leadership school alum, a veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, and has completed postgraduate training in Neuropsychiatry and Genomics.
Expedition Mental Health specializes in treating mood, trauma, and anxiety. We offer personalized care that may include psychotherapy, medication, and ketamine infusions.
