Grace Screeney, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C

Starting in 2014 as a Registered Nurse in cardiology and then working as Family Nurse Practitioner in 2019 specializing in substance use disorder treatment, I realized that most of the people I worked with to improve their various health conditions really needed more than just medication. I began to realize that in order to be physically well, people needed to feel a sense of mental wellness first. The more time I spent talking with people, the more it became apparent that this was the biggest piece of what they needed. I learned that people need a safe space to talk, and for someone to really listen. This led me down a path of research, inner work, and ultimately the discovery that I needed more education in order to provide the best care for patients. During the process of becoming double board-certified as a PMHNP (psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner), I learned more about the many mental health conditions and symptoms that had contributed so much to my patients’ physical health conditions over the years. Over the years of my professional and educational career, my hypothesis - that mental health MUST be prioritized in order to have good physical health - has been cemented. My passion is educating and encouraging patients to become self-empowered, and I believe that every person has a purpose and deserves a supportive community to help them grow and thrive.