Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Peace Banks, DNP.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I stood on the stage to receive my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) hood, the weight of the velvet felt like the culmination of a thousand different lives. My journey was not a straight line; it was a map of survival, spanning continents and defying the gravity of circumstance.
Arriving in North Carolina from West Africa as a preteen, I was thrust into a world that felt both vast and restrictive. Shifted between different households, I learned early that “home” was not a place you found, but something you built with grit. By my early college years, I was a young mother, balancing the relentless demands of nursing school with multiple jobs. Every dollar earned was split: half to keep my son fed, and the other half sent across the Atlantic to support family back home.
The breaking point came when personal and domestic instabilities threatened to derail my future. Recognizing that I could not bloom in toxic soil, I made the harrowing choice to pack my life and my two young sons moved toward a fresh start in Texas.
In Texas, the “hustle” evolved into a mission. I joined the military, adding the uniform of a soldier to my identity as a healer. My life became a masterclass in high-stakes juggling. I managed military mobilizations and rigorous deployments while simultaneously pursuing my advanced degrees. On the nights I wasn’t in a clinic or on duty, I was hunched over textbooks, fueled by the dream of becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
My perseverance was not just for my own advancement. Despite the crushing schedule, I dedicated myself to community service, founding and leading women-in-need groups both locally and abroad. I used my own history of instability to provide a blueprint for other women to find their strength.
Today, as a DNP-prepared PMHNP and a successful business owner, my practice is rooted in the empathy of someone who has seen the dark and chose to be the light. My story is a testament that the scars of migration, young parenthood, and domestic struggle are not disqualifiers—they are the very things that forge a leader.
To explore the path of advanced nursing or learn about veteran-owned business resources, you can visit the American Association of Nurse Practitioners or the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Veteran-Owned Business guide.
My life proves that a dreaming of a better future, paired with the adaptability of a survivor, leads to a career not just of success, but of profound purpose.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it is not smooth. Navigating the start during the covid-19 shutdown, when many needed organizations were not fully working, made some steps feel impossible. Learning business management and local and federal laws/regulations was a learning challenge. knowing when to incorporate extra expertise help. such as the clerical team, bookkeeping to stay compliant is key and making sure one is balancing the books and it is worth it to work almost daily in different time zones
We’ve been impressed with PEACEHAVEN BEHAVIORAL CENTER LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mental health services. Making psychiatric care accessible to many via telehealth technology, in the privacy of your own home or space without the stress of searching for transportation or driving in traffic. I help people navigate the internal struggle of “What is going on?” and “What’s wrong with me?” Most of the time, I can put a name (diagnosis) to it. Come up with a plan to deal with “it” (prescribe and treat) with mental health medications or psychotherapy. I am passionate with intention about women and mindful about minorities because they carry an extra level of societal/cultural and environmental burden (unfair treatment & expectations). I am Dr. Peace. I have my doctorate and specialize in psychiatric mental health (PMHNP). I am proud that I represent what it looks like to inspire others. someone who integrates seamlessly from the military, corporate organizations, and the private sector. Readers can emulate and get inspired, seeking someone that could represent their journey in life and be compassionate while walking alongside them, living with empowerment, educating them in their recovery and individualized stability.
What were you like growing up?
I was a shy, timid bookworm. as a firstborn, self-starter, and natural leader who was nurturing to my six siblings. I was quiet, but when I spoke, it was direct and engaging. I wanted to be a singer; Whitney Houston was my idol. We sang in the children’s church choir. Because of my height, I was frequently asked to model or be the face of the children’s productions growing. My parents wanted me to be a physician and focusing on the creative/arts was not an option.
Pricing:
- website shows cost for self pay without insurance clients
Contact Info:
- Website: https://phbcenter.com
- Instagram: PeaceHaven Behavioral Center
- Facebook: PeaceHaven Behavioral Center
Image Credits
Website banner created by Bartly Banks
