Life at LifeWorks NW

Meet Gerald Peake, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Mar 27, 2025

Kelly Adams

Gerald Peake, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, advocates for animals and humans alike.

Meet Gerald Peake, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, caregiver of both animals and humans. Recently recognized for his 20 years of service to LifeWorks NW, Gerald provides outpatient care for clients at our Rockwood site.

The Vegan Knights

Gerald's love of animals was part of the inspiration for “The Vegan Knights,” a club of motorcycle enthusiasts who are also animal rights advocates. Gerald is one of the founders of the organization. They give money and time in the form of service projects to sanctuaries and other charities.

“That is very nourishing for my soul,” says Gerald. “It feels good to go to a sanctuary and make the environment more comfortable for the animals.” The group also has provided security for communities that are often targets of hate crimes.

“We’re kind of more of a voice; there’s a lot of hate out there,” Gerald explains.

The here and now

For those LifeWorks NW serves, Gerald is both a voice and an effective listener.  He determines the diagnosis, writes prescriptions, manages medication, and offers brief, supportive therapy.

“We focus on the here and now,” says Gerald. “What can we do right now, to change the right now.” That can be challenging, as Gerald sees people experiencing a lot of distress.  “They are just trying to survive,” he says.

There are several factors, such as community stressors, limited mental health services, decreased funding, and staffing battles. “Most people are struggling financially,” adds Gerald.

Those struggles seem to peak when the seasons change. “We are very complex organisms,” Gerald says. That complexity is what first drew him to his chosen specialty. “I just like the brain, and I like human behavior.”

A supportive workplace

Gerald joined LifeWorks NW as he was finishing his practicum. “I found LifeWorks NW to be consistent and stable,” he says. “There is so much support available. People in leadership listen and are attentive.”

Gerald says that support is what makes it possible to “see people being able to live a life that’s worth living and helping them achieve that.”

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