Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Willbanks.
Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I became a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in 2011. I worked in community mental health before transitioning to private practice in 2015. In 2022 I began to experience burnout from the fast-paced nature of the office I was working in and began feeling like I was not helping people in the way I wanted. When the psychiatrist I was working for decided to sell his practice to a private equity group, I decided it was time to listen to my family and peers and look into opening my own office.
While there are many mental health practices in our area, I recognized a significant gap: many do not accept insurance, and others limit patient visits to 15–20 minutes. I saw a growing need for affordable, accessible mental healthcare where patients feel heard and supported—not rushed. My mission became clear: to provide high-quality, patient-centered care that is both affordable and comprehensive.
From the start (in 2023), our practice has focused on offering longer appointment times that allow for meaningful health education, supportive therapy, and medication management—an approach that was uncommon in our area at the time. Through word-of-mouth referrals and strong collaborations with local counselors, our practice has grown rapidly. In just two years, we have expanded from a single provider to a team of four Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, continuing to build on the vision of compassionate and accessible mental healthcare.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would say overall, it has been fairly smooth. At times it has been challenging to manage administrative duties while seeing patients full-time but hiring an office manager has helped greatly. I feel that navigating insurance is an ongoing struggle in healthcare (which is why so many offices do not accept insurance) and that has been no different in our office. We have also come to realize there is another office in the area with a similar name (Serenity Mental Health Center) which has led to confusion when patients are referred to us or are trying to find our office.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are Nurse Practitioners who are specially trained in Psychiatry/mental health. Nurse Practitioners are trained to have a holistic approach. We provide medication management and supportive therapy for various mental health conditions: Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, post-partum depression and anxiety, attention-deficit disorders, psychotic disorders.
Patients often tell us no one has listened to them as we do or asked the questions we do. We pride ourselves in patients feeling heard. I want every patient to be empowered for their own health journey with us a part of their team.
Many of the psychiatry offices nowadays are owned by private equity groups or large corporations but we are not. I am the sole owner, so we do not have someone pushing numbers or billing requirements on us. We are able focus on healthcare the way we would want ourselves and our family members to be treated.
I am most proud of the fact we have a positive reputation amongst our peers and with our patients. Most of our referrals are word of mouth. I am also extremely proud that I have been able to build a team of people who truly care about the people we are serving.
What were you like growing up?
I have always been shy until I get to know someone, which sometimes comes off as being snobby. I think my family will laugh at that, but it’s because I know them so I’m the exact opposite and very talkative. I played softball and basketball thru high school.
Pricing:
- Visit costs with insurance will be determined by your plan
- Initial visit without insurance $300
- Follow up visit without insurance $150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.serenitypsychntx.com
- Other: Office phone 817-646-9699
Image Credits
Emily King Photography
