Healing begins with compassion, the driving force behind Shandra Saulsberry, APRN, MSN, PMHNP-BC. The Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is on a mission to destigmatize mental health and make care accessible, one patient at a time.
Her telehealth practice, The Process Psychiatry and Wellness, serves teens through adults, treating a range of mental health concerns, including mood and anxiety disorders, depression, and ADHD.
“I’ve always been intrigued by psychiatry,” she explains, reflecting on how misconceptions in her community sparked her interest. “In Black communities, people often dismiss mental health struggles as someone being ‘crazy’ or ‘just going through a phase,’ and I wanted to explore what those labels really meant.”
Starting her work in geriatric care, Shandra saw firsthand the widespread but often overlooked mental health needs of elderly populations, like depression and loneliness, which can impact any age, race, gender, or demographic.
Equipped with this knowledge, Shandra approaches her patients — many of whom are reluctant about medication due to stigma — with tremendous care. “I strive to understand their perspectives and the reasons behind their feelings,” she says. “Then, I gently explain how medication might support their well-being and mental health journey.”
Patients come to Shandra through therapist referrals or independently, unsure about diagnoses or treatment. “I educate them about psychotropic medication,” she says, acknowledging that some may need temporary medication while others require trial and error to find the right fit.
In the last decade, Shandra has seen positive changes in access, such as virtual care for rural patients, sliding-scale pricing, and a growing conversation around mental health on social media.
Of the growing number of podcasts and Instagram accounts raising awareness of mental health, especially those featuring people of color, Shandra hopes everyone will feel safe and empowered to seek care, particularly in communities that face added barriers. “We often believe we have to carry these feelings alone,” she says.
“When talking with peers and family, I encourage a new perspective on therapy and boundaries,” she says, emphasizing that no one should feel pressured to share their diagnoses.
The mental health field is also becoming more diverse. “It’s not unusual for patients to say, ‘I chose you because you’re Black, and I felt more comfortable reaching out,’” Shandra observes. “People value providers they can relate to,” Shandra notes.
For those concerned about taking medication, Shandra offers GeneSight testing, a way for people to learn how their genetics may play into dosage amounts and responses to certain medications. The Process Psychiatry and Wellness is currently accepting new patients Monday through Thursday. “I chose the name The Process Psychiatry and Wellness for my practice because healing is a journey,” she shares. “It’s not about striving for perfection; it’s about trusting the process.”
901.602.2935 • Theprocesspsychiatry.com
IG: @theprocesspsychiatry
Facebook.com/TheProcessPsychiatryandWellness
By Shlomit Ovadia
