What is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner?

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with an advanced practice graduate degree.   A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) can assess, diagnose, treat and prescribe medications to individuals with psychiatric or mental health problems.   Some PMHNPs earn doctoral degrees such as a DNP, EdD or PhD.  Thus there are "Dr." nurses, just as some psychologists, social workers, pharmacists and other professions are called doctor. In North Carolina a PMHNP must be nationally board certified in their specialty area and licensed by the state.  In North Carolina, if they are prescribing they will have a collaborating/supervising psychiatrist who serves as a resource for them. 

What is my background?

  • More than 30 years of experience as a nurse practitioner and more than 10 years as a PMHNP
  • Board certified (BC) as a PMHNP through the American Nurses Certification Corporation (ANCC)
  • Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP)

Training & Certification
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) training:   2-day training; 10-day intensive training; active participation in a weekly DBT consultation team, individual DBT and skills group
  • Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy  (EAP) training:  Level 1 certification through EAGALA (equine assisted growth and learning association)
  • ARCHES Arenas for Change
  • Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP)  through Unyte ILS
  • Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (PMAD):  Postpartum Support International (PSI) Certificate

Professional Degrees & Certificates
  • MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) Women's Health Nurse Practitioner:  SUNY Stonybrook
  • EDD (Doctor of Nursing Education):  Columbia University in the City of New York
  • Post Masters Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner:  University of South Florida
  • Post Masters Certificate: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


I have been a registered professional nurse for many years.  Originally trained in a 3-year diploma program at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC, I later earned a bachelors (Excelsior College) then a masters degree in 1988 (SUNY Stony Brook) as a women's health nurse practitioner (WHNP). I went on to earn a doctoral degree in nursing education (EdD) in 1993 from Columbia University in New York and then completed a two-year postdoctoral program in research through the Veteran's Administration.  I have a postmaster's certificate as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) and worked as a WHNP/FNP in primary care for many years.  My concern for the mental health and wellness of clients throughout my career and my belief in the mind/body connection led me back to school once more.  I earned a second post masters certificate as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill which included a focus on women's mood disorders.  I have since completed a DBT "Intensive,"  which is a 10 day training program through Behavioral Tech of Seattle in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). I am a member of a DBT consultation team, am part of the Triangle Area DBT (TADBiT) and volunteer as part of their leadership team. I have Advanced Certification through EAGALA (equine assisted growth and learning association) as a mental health professional provider for equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP).