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Mental Health& PKD: Expert Answers to Community Questions with Cristen Wathen, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC.
22 May 2026
We sat down with Cristen Wathen, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC., to voice real questions from the community about mental health and life with PKD.
Dr. Wathen is a counselor educator, tenured associate professor at Palo Alto University, whose work is deeply shaped by her lived experience with chronic illness. As both a kidney and liver transplant recipient, she offers a unique perspective on the realities of navigating PKD.
In this conversation, she explores managing anxiety and uncertainty, shares guidance on seeking mental health support, and communicating needs with others.
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