The Faces of Healing: Tanja Champagne, RN

Healing is a shared rhythm, and every person at Attune plays a vital note. Each month, in The Faces of Healing series, we'll introduce the voices, stories, and spirits that bring our mission to life. These are the people guiding recovery, holding space, and showing up every day to walk alongside our clients. Because healing isn’t just about what we do—it’s about who we are.

What first pulled you toward working in the world of behavioral health?

I've always been drawn to people's stories, their resilience, their pain, their growth. Early on in my nursing career, I noticed that the moments that stuck with me the most weren't just medical, they were emotional. I realized that underneath almost every crisis was a behavioral health component that deserved more time, attention, and compassion.

How would you describe your approach to psychiatric mental health care?

Relational, trauma-informed, and strengths-based. I believe in meeting people exactly where they are, holding space without judgment, and helping them build insight and self-trust. I believe strongly that the best way to build confidence is by teaching everyday life skills, like how to schedule a doctors appointment, or refill prescriptions. I walk beside them as they learn to do their own work.

What’s a day in your clinical life look like?

No two days are the same! But usually, it involves a mix of individual appointments, care coordination, medication management, family support, and a lot of collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. The best parts are the unexpected moments, when a client stops in for help with a health care question or advocates for themselves.

In your opinion, what’s the most misunderstood part of your job - or of psychiatric care/behavioral
health in general?

That it's all about diagnoses and medications. While those can be important tools, behavioral health is deeply human work. It's about connection, trust, and healing over time, not quick fixes.

Do you have a particular mental health topic that you’re especially passionate about?

I'm especially passionate about the intersection of trauma and substance use. One myth I wish I could erase forever is the idea that people struggling with addiction are simply making bad choices. In reality, it's often survival-based behavior rooted in pain and unhealed trauma.

You can’t give from an empty cup. What keeps your tank full outside of work?

Nature, music, quiet mornings with coffee, and movement, whether it's hiking, playing my my kids, or just enjoying a day at home. I also try to practice what I preach: boundaries, stepping away from my phone, and being fully present with people I love.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned from a client that’s stuck with you - something that changed how you practice or how you see the world?

One lesson that's stuck with me came from a client who was with us for several years. His journey was full of ups and downs, progress, relapse, then progress again. What he taught me is that recovery isn't linear, and small steps forward still matter. His resilience reminded me to value persistence over perfection and to celebrate progress, no matter how slow. It's shifted the way I support clients, especially during the tough stretches

Any secret talents or fun guilty pleasures?

I have an embarrassing ability to remember 90s song lyrics and am a sucker for coffee, anytime of day. I can easily spend all day home with my family, gardening, baking or our latest DIY project. 

Finish this sentence: “I know I’m on the right path when...”

...even the hard days feel meaningful. When I'm tired but fulfilled.

If you could give one message to every person starting their mental health journey, what would it be?

You are not broken. You are human and healing is possible. It's not always linear, but you are worthy of the work and the care it takes to get there.