Dr. Elizabeth Francis
DNP, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Tired of feeling stuck or overwhelmed by your mood? Frustrated with the limitations of one-size-fits-all mental health care? At our practice, you’ll receive personalized, evidence-based treatment that supports your mind, body, and lifestyle.
A new kind of psychiatry— integrative, collaborative, and tailored to you.
About Elizabeth
Education & Experience
Duke University DNP & PMHNP Graduate
Published in Peer-Reviewed Journals
Duke Graduate Program Professor
APNA Board Member
Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Certified in Keto for Mental Health by Dr. Georgia Ede (Harvard Psychiatrist)
“In my early professional years I was asking the question: How can I treat, or cure, or change this person? Now I would phrase the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his own personal growth? -Carl R. Rogers
Areas of Expertise
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
ADHD
OCD
PTSD and C-PTSD
Eating Disorders
Substance Use Disorders
Schizophrenia
Anxiety Disorders
I earned both my Master’s degree, with a specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Doctorate in Nursing (DNP) from Duke University. Duke has been ranked the #1 PMHNP program in the nation for 5 consecutive years. I currently work at an outpatient practice, providing mental health care for individuals 5 and up, addressing a wide range of psychiatric conditions.
I also work on a contract basis with a detox, residential, and intensive outpatient program (IOP) specializing in substance use disorder treatment. I am an adjunct professor in Duke’s graduate nursing program, an APNA board member in the Kansas state chapter, and have published in multiple peer-reviewed medical and nursing journals.
A personal research interest of mine focuses on understanding how integrating metabolic treatments, such as the ketogenic diet, may modulate underlying neurobiological processes and treat mental health disorders. I am passionate about integrating therapy into appointments, policy improvement in healthcare, and the genetic, metabolic, and environmental influences that contribute to the development and progression of psychiatric illnesses.
Services
Comprehensive psychiatric care for individuals and families ages 5 and older
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Comprehensive Psychiatric Care
Research-based mental health care that combines thorough assessment and diagnosis with individualized treatment, including medications when needed, evidence-based supplement regimens, genetic testing when indicated, alongside lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, sleep hygiene, supplements, and fostering social connection.
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Medication Management
Thoughtful, evidence-based prescribing, recognizing that medications are sometimes warranted. Treatment includes regular monitoring and adjustment.
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Integrated Psychotherapy
Combining evidence-based therapies (CBT, psychodynamic, motivational interviewing) with medication management for comprehensive care.
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Holistic & Inclusive Approach
LGBTQ+ affirming care with attention to the whole person - considering lifestyle, nutrition, and metabolic health alongside traditional psychiatric treatment.
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Hyperbolic Tapering
Hyperbolic tapering is a gradual, non-linear approach to reducing psychiatric medications when it’s appropriate and desired. Not everyone will want—or need—to come off their medication, but for people who choose to explore a reduction with their clinician, including those who have tried tapering before and struggled, this method uses increasingly smaller dose changes to help the body adjust more smoothly. The goal is to support a safer, more comfortable process under professional guidance.
Pricing
Initial Consultation
60-90 minutes
$297
Follow-Up Appointments
20-30 minutes
$147
To ensure the highest quality of personalized care, insurance is not accepted. This allows for flexible, patient-centered treatment without external restrictions. Rates are designed to remain cometitive and are often similar to insurance copays for longer appointments- particularly for patients with high-deductible plans.
Available to residents of Arizona and Iowa
Metabolic Psychiatry & Ketogenic Programs
Your Brain Deserves the Best Fuel
Research shows ketogenic diets can positively impact mood, cognition, and overall well-being. Now offered as part of holistic mental health care at Beruna Momentum Psychiatry.
Guided by a board-certified PMHNP
Tailored guidance and progress monitoring
Thorough tracking of your metabolism, nutrient levels, and inflammation markers.
The Science Behind Keto and Mental Health
At Beruna Momentum Psychiatry, we're committed to whole-person, evidence-based care. Recent research — including groundbreaking work by Dr. Chris Palmer and Dr. Georgia Ede from Harvard — suggests that mental health conditions may have metabolic roots.
Dr. Palmer's Brain Energy theory (and many other experts) proposes that disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia can involve metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction in brain cells. The ketogenic diet, originally developed for epilepsy, may help by:
Improving brain energy metabolism
Supporting neuroplasticity and mood stability
Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress
Balancing GABA and glutamate
Certified in the keto diet for mental health by Dr. Georgia Ede, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, I integrate nutritional guidance to support both mental and metabolic health. This is done on a case by case basis.
Clinical Evidence
The ketogenic diet's mood-stabilizing and neuroprotective effects show encouraging potential as a treatment option for mental health conditions.
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Anxiety disorders
Anorexia nervosa
Major depression
OCD
Available Programs
What Success Looks Like
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You wake up feeling truly refreshed, energized, and ready to embrace the day. Motivation flows effortlessly, and your work or studies feel purposeful and rewarding. Joy and steady energy accompany you throughout the day, while friends and family notice how present and engaged you are. Sleep comes easily at night, and life once again feels rich, meaningful, and deeply fulfilling.
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You move through each day with confidence and calm. Your mind is clear and peaceful, and sleep comes easily, free from racing thoughts. Interactions with others feel effortless, while your body remains relaxed, energized, and at ease. The constant worry and tension that once held you back are replaced by a sense of balance, clarity, and inner calm.
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You move through each day with focus and clarity. Tasks feel manageable, and your mind stays organized and energized. Distractions no longer pull you off course, and completing work or personal projects feels achievable and even satisfying. Interactions with others are smoother, and your body and mind maintain steady energy without the overwhelm or restlessness that once held you back. Attention, motivation, and balance come naturally, helping you navigate each day with ease and confidence.
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You experience emotional stability and balance throughout your days. Mood swings no longer disrupt your focus or relationships, and energy levels feel steady and manageable. You engage with work, hobbies, and loved ones with consistency and purpose. Sleep comes regularly, and you feel grounded, resilient, and in control of your life. The intense highs and lows that once dominated your days are replaced by calm, clarity, and a renewed sense of well-being.
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You regain control over your thoughts and actions. The repetitive worries and rituals that once consumed your day begin to lose their hold. You feel calm, capable, and free to focus on what truly matters. With compassionate, evidence-based care at Beruna Momentum Psychiatry, life becomes lighter, steadier, and deeply more fulfilling.
Let’s Transform your path forward
At Beruna Momentum Psychiatry, healing isn’t just about managing symptoms — it’s about restoring your energy, motivation, and sense of purpose. Together, we’ll take a comprehensive, personalized approach to help you achieve lasting mental wellness.
Here’s how we’ll work together:
Accurate Diagnosis: We’ll take the time to truly understand your symptoms and identify the root causes of what you’re experiencing.
Comprehensive Lab Work: We’ll review the key nutritional, metabolic, inflammatory, and hormonal factors that may influence your mental health.
Genetic Testing: We use advanced testing, when clinically indicated, to determine which medications may have less side effects for you and your unique biology.
Personalized Supplement Plan: When indicated, we will find the precise, evidence-based supplement regimen that supports your stability, clarity, and energy.
Lifestyle Interventions: We’ll integrate evidence-based strategies—nutrition, exercise, restorative sleep, and mindset— to strengthen both your body and mind.
Testimonials
Real stories. Real transformation.
For PMHNP Students
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This handbook is a must-have for any mental health prescriber.
The handbook is a spiral-bound neuropsychopharmacology resource for psych NPs, PAs, and psychiatrists, covering key psych meds with FDA indications, mechanisms of action, side effects, dosing, and comparison charts. Designed for quick reference and evidence-based prescribing. -
🚀 Master Psych Meds Like a Pro — What Every PMHNP Wishes They Knew Year 1
This course was built for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners who want to feel confident, sharp, and ahead of the curve in psychopharmacology. Get the latest research distilled into videos ranging from 6-60 minutes each.
âś… 50+ engaging video lectures (with over 73 medications, supplements, and bonus lessons)
âś… Clear PowerPoint breakdowns for easy reference
âś… Deep dives into mechanisms of action, FDA-approved + off-label uses, and the newest research shaping psychiatric practice
✅ Real-world prescribing strategies you can use immediately with patients🚨 BONUS: Videos on hyperbolic tapers, med interactions that matter, ketamine, CBD for anxiety, and more!
Most programs barely scratch the surface — this course takes you further. Whether you’re new in practice or leveling up your expertise, you’ll walk away with clinical pearls you won’t get anywhere else.
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🚀 PMHNP Student Clinical Success Package: 3 Month
Fast-track your clinical confidence & psychopharmacology mastery!
🚀 Weekly 60 minute 1:1 Expert Mentorship – Personalized guidance from a nationally recognized, board-certified PMHNP, published author, and Duke-educated professor.
🩺 Real Patient Experience – See patients pro bono (up to 5 hours/month) and build clinical confidence.
📚 Lifetime Psych Med Mastery course access – Master psychopharmacology with a self-paced course you can reference forever.
⏱️ 3-Month Intensive – Fast-track your skills and knowledge
✅ Compact RN License Required – Ensure eligibility for this exclusive opportunity.
Limited spots – start your 3-month journey to clinical mastery today!