Viking Psychiatry: Sean Goddard's Revolutionary Approach to Mental Health

NATIONWIDE - NOVEMBER 2025 - (USAnews.com) It was well past midnight when Sean Goddard, a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Fort Wayne, Indiana, found himself staring at treatment-resistant patient files, his mind racing. He knew that traditional methods weren't cutting it anymore. There had to be a better way to reach people who had tried everything else, only to find themselves stuck, hopeless, and unheard. That restless night, Goddard made a decision that would change his life, and the lives of countless others. He would challenge the very foundations of psychiatric care and create something entirely new.

What emerged from that pivotal moment was Viking Psychiatry, a practice dedicated not just to treating mental illness, but to transforming the way mental health care is delivered. A place where cutting-edge treatments, human connection, and personal resilience would come together to redefine what it means to heal.

From Personal Journey to Professional Mission

Sean Goddard’s mission to revolutionize mental health care is deeply personal. Growing up as an adoptee, Goddard's own experiences with the search for belonging shaped his approach to care. "Mental health is personal for me," he says, reflecting on his adoption journey. "I know what it feels like to fight for a sense of belonging, to search for meaning, and to discover that healing comes in many forms." This deep-seated understanding of emotional pain and resilience became the cornerstone of Viking Psychiatry’s compassionate approach to mental health care.

As an adoptee, Goddard learned that healing isn't just about prescriptions and protocols. It’s about understanding the person behind the diagnosis and offering something far more profound than traditional psychiatric practices. This philosophy pushed him to go beyond the basic requirements of his training. While most providers in his field focused solely on medication management, Goddard sought out specialized training in cutting-edge therapies that few in his field were brave enough to pursue.

Through extensive training, Goddard became a Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider, learning treatments involving psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA, and 5-MeO-DMT. This positioned him at the forefront of a new wave in psychiatry, one that offered patients alternative treatments when conventional approaches had failed.

However, the journey was not without its hurdles. Northeast Indiana’s mental health landscape was hesitant and conservative, with many in the community skeptical about these advanced therapies. Insurance companies were reluctant to cover these new treatments, and some colleagues questioned their validity. But Goddard's belief in the power of these therapies kept him focused. "Patients weren't failing treatments," he said, "treatments were failing patients." This realization spurred him to continue pushing forward, despite the obstacles.

The Breakthrough That Changed Everything

The turning point came when Viking Psychiatry began offering a full spectrum of advanced treatments. The clinic became one of the few in Northeast Indiana to offer Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Spravato, and a variety of ketamine therapies, including intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and oral forms. Additionally, Goddard pioneered Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), an integrative treatment approach that combined the healing effects of ketamine with therapeutic support.

Suddenly, patients who had exhausted every other option for relief found hope. People with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety began seeing tangible improvements, and Viking Psychiatry quickly became a beacon of hope for those in need of something more. Goddard's approach was proving that innovation could not only save lives, but also restore people to a sense of wholeness.

But advanced treatments weren’t enough on their own. Goddard understood that healing also requires compassion. That’s why Viking Psychiatry introduced therapy dogs, Bjorn and Loki, to the practice. These gentle, loving dogs serve as emotional anchors, offering clients unconditional warmth and comfort the moment they walk through the door. The result? A practice that feels like home, a place where patients are not just numbers, but real people, valued for who they are.

Beyond the Clinic: A Message of Belonging

Sean Goddard’s commitment to creating a sense of belonging extends far beyond his clinical practice. In 2020, he authored Blushbottoms: The Belonging Bear, a children’s book inspired by his own adoption story. The book is aimed at children in foster care and adoption, helping them understand that family and belonging come in all shapes and sizes.

Goddard’s impact has reached far beyond his patients. As an expert in neuroplasticity and ketamine therapies, he has become a sought-after national speaker and educator, bringing his evidence-based approach to audiences across the country. His unique blend of clinical expertise and human-centered care has earned him national recognition, solidifying Viking Psychiatry as a trusted authority in modern mental health care.

Proving Innovation Works

The rapid growth of Viking Psychiatry is a testament to the success of Goddard’s approach. What started as a single-provider practice in Fort Wayne has grown into a multi-location operation with clinics in both Fort Wayne and Warsaw. The comprehensive care model, combining the latest in TMS, ketamine therapies, and traditional psychiatric care, has yielded results that traditional approaches simply could not match.

The clinic’s success is not just based on innovative treatments, but also on education and community outreach. Goddard’s regular appearances on TV segments like Mental Health Matters have helped bring his message of hope and healing to a broader audience. Through these appearances, Goddard has raised awareness about mental health, education about cutting-edge treatments, and the importance of compassionate care.

Building the Future of Mental Health Care

Today, Viking Psychiatry stands as a testament to what’s possible when clinical innovation meets genuine human connection. What began as a vision born from personal frustration with traditional psychiatric care has evolved into a thriving practice that continues to push the boundaries of mental health treatment. Goddard’s innovative approach has become a model for other practices to emulate, and the future of Viking Psychiatry looks bright.

If you’re tired of feeling like just another patient in a system that treats mental health as a set of symptoms, Viking Psychiatry offers an alternative. With treatments that are as innovative as they are compassionate, Viking Psychiatry is showing that mental health care can be both cutting-edge and deeply human.

About Viking Psychiatry

Viking Psychiatry is an independent mental health practice in Northeast Indiana, founded by Sean Thomas Goddard, MSN, APRN, NP-C, AGPCNP-BC. The practice offers a full spectrum of mental health services, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Spravato, various forms of ketamine therapies, and traditional psychiatric care. Viking Psychiatry serves the Fort Wayne and Warsaw communities with a mission to combine clinical excellence with compassionate care. Learn more at Viking Psychiatry.