Sha’ni Mays
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC.
Walden University
Master of Science in Nursing
University of Texas at Tyler
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Stephen F. Austin State University
Bachelor of Science
Sha’ni Mays is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who came to psychiatry after 18 years as a registered nurse at Parkland Health in Dallas, where her work spanned critical care, cardiac procedures, and forensic nursing. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University. Her nursing career began with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Tyler, which followed her undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.
“I want every patient to feel safe, heard, and free of judgment when we meet. My care blends supportive psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing, with evidence-based medication management when it’s the right fit. Together we’ll build a plan around your goals and the life you want to live, so you leave each visit feeling supported and better equipped to move forward. I look forward to partnering with you on your mental health journey.”
Sha’ni spent six years in Parkland’s Cardio-Pulmonary Intensive Care Unit, serving on the hospital’s in-house Code Blue team, before moving to its cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology lab. In 2020 she joined Parkland’s Forensic Examiner Team as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, caring for adolescents and adults after sexual assault, domestic violence, and other violent crimes. Seeing how deeply trauma and chronic stress affect people and their families led her to pursue advanced practice in psychiatry. Most recently, she worked as an advanced practice provider at Mind Body Optimization in Fort Worth, where she conducted comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and managed medications for patients with mood, anxiety, and co-occurring substance use concerns.
Her forensic background gives Sha’ni a grounded, trauma-informed perspective, which she pairs with a strong foundation in psychopharmacology. She belongs to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and the Emergency Nurses Association.
Sha’ni treats a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, and sleep issues. Collaboration sits at the center of her work, and she partners with each patient to set meaningful goals and build resilience over time.
Away from work, time with family and friends keeps Sha’ni grounded. Travel is one of her great loves because it opens her up to new places and cultures, and her faith remains a steady source of strength and purpose in her life.