Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner — Arizona
See a psychiatric nurse practitioner in Arizona, by video or in Phoenix
Your psychiatric nurse practitioner at Better Place Now is Dr. Justin Schwarting, DNP, PMHNP-BC, board-certified in psychiatric-mental health. He evaluates, diagnoses and prescribes for children 6 and up, teens and adults, by secure video anywhere in Arizona or in the Phoenix area by arrangement. The first visit is a full 60 minutes. Plans include AHCCCS (Banner-University Family Care and AIHP), Traditional Medicare and TRICARE; self-pay is $220.
- Your provider
- PMHNP-BCBoard-certified, DNP
- Prescribing
- YesArizona is a full practice state
- First visit
- 60 minutesA full hour
- Setting
- Video statewidePhoenix in person by arrangement
What a psychiatric nurse practitioner does
A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice nurse with a master's or doctoral degree and national certification in mental health care across the lifespan (ANCC (opens in a new tab)). Nurse practitioners diagnose, order tests, prescribe and counsel (AANP (opens in a new tab)).
AANP lists Arizona as a full practice state (AANP, Arizona (opens in a new tab)): nurse practitioners evaluate, diagnose, order and interpret tests, and prescribe, under the state board of nursing (AANP (opens in a new tab)).
- A full psychiatric evaluation of symptoms, history, sleep, health and current medications (what it covers).
- A diagnosis, when the picture is clear, explained in plain language.
- Medication decisions made together, starting with the smallest change likely to help, and ongoing medication management.
- Lab orders and coordination with your therapist or primary-care clinician, when you want that.
Not a psychiatrist, and not a therapist
A psychiatrist is a physician; a PMHNP is a nurse practitioner, and both can prescribe in Arizona. Talk therapy is provided by therapists, and many people use a prescriber and a therapist together. The Journal compares the roles in psychiatric nurse practitioner vs. psychiatrist.
Who you will see: Dr. Justin Schwarting, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Any Arizona nurse practitioner's license can be checked through the Arizona State Board of Nursing's license verification (opens in a new tab), which publishes advanced practice nursing records through Nursys.
- Board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC), with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Arizona.
- Working in behavioral health since 2005, including six years in inpatient psychiatry and more than six years in outpatient care.
- More than 25,000 patient visits as a prescriber, with children, teens, adults and older adults.
- More about his training and approach in his biography.
What a visit can help with
- ADHD evaluation and ADHD treatment, for children 6 and up, teens and adults.
- Anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder and PTSD and trauma.
- Children and teens, with a parent or guardian part of every visit.
- A second opinion on a diagnosis or a medication plan.
A psychiatric nurse practitioner near you, anywhere in Arizona
Visits are by secure video anywhere in Arizona, or in person in the Phoenix area by arrangement. You must be physically located in Arizona at the time of a video visit.
Patients in Tucson and Southern Arizona are seen by video; see care in Tucson. In Flagstaff, Prescott and Northern Arizona, see care in Flagstaff; in Yuma and rural or tribal communities, video visits replace a long drive, and members of the American Indian Health Program pay $0 (AHCCCS care).
How to book
No referral is needed. If your insurance requires a specialist referral, the team will tell you while verifying benefits.
Step 1: Call, text or email
Or request online. Scheduling asks only what is needed to book: no health details.
Step 2: Coverage checked
The team verifies insurance and confirms the expected cost before the visit, usually within one business day.
Step 3: A full-hour first visit
By secure video anywhere in Arizona, or in person in the Phoenix area by arrangement.
Not an emergency service
If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988, call 911, or call the Arizona crisis line at 1-844-534-4673.
How much does a visit cost?
Most patients use insurance and pay their normal copay or coinsurance. Benefits and expected patient responsibility are discussed before the first appointment.
- First evaluation (60 minutes)
- $220
- Follow-up visit (30 minutes)
- $120
Currently listed rates. Expected cost is confirmed before your first visit.
- Traditional Medicare
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare
- UMR
- VA Community Care Network
- TriWest / TRICARE
- Cigna / Evernorth
- MultiPlan
- Banner Health Plans
- AHCCCS
- Banner-University Family Care (AHCCCS)
- American Indian Health Program (AHCCCS)
A plan name on this list is not a coverage guarantee. Participation and what you owe depend on your specific plan, so benefits are verified before scheduling is confirmed. Plan list last checked October 23, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Arizona is a full practice state, so nurse practitioners can evaluate, diagnose and prescribe under the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Whether a medication is right for you is decided after an evaluation, never in advance.
No. A psychiatrist is a physician; a psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice nurse with graduate training and board certification in mental health. Both assess, diagnose and prescribe in Arizona. Dr. Schwarting is a nurse practitioner, not a physician.
Yes. ADHD is diagnosed through a clinical evaluation, and nurse practitioners in Arizona diagnose and treat it. At Better Place Now the evaluation is a full 60 minutes with rating scales and a detailed history.
If you are anywhere in Arizona, yes: visits are by secure video from home, as long as you are physically in Arizona during the visit. In-person visits are available in the Phoenix area by arrangement.
Yes. Plans on the practice's list include AHCCCS (Banner-University Family Care and the American Indian Health Program), Traditional Medicare, TRICARE, VA Community Care, BCBS of Arizona, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Cigna. Self-pay is $220 for the first visit and $120 for a follow-up.
No. You can reach out directly by text, call or email. If your insurance requires a specialist referral, the team will let you know while verifying your benefits.
Related pages
- Psychiatric NP vs. psychiatristHow the training and roles differ
- About Dr. SchwartingTraining, experience and approach
- Psychiatric evaluationWhat the first full hour covers
Sources
- Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) certification (opens in a new tab), American Nurses Credentialing Center
- What's a nurse practitioner (NP)? (opens in a new tab), American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- Arizona: state practice environment (opens in a new tab), American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- State practice environment (full practice definition) (opens in a new tab), American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2026)
- License verification (opens in a new tab), Arizona State Board of Nursing (2026)
Practice details on this page were last checked October 23, 2026. General information, not medical advice. See the editorial policy.
Meet your psychiatric nurse practitioner.
A full 60-minute first visit by secure video anywhere in Arizona, or in person in the Phoenix area by arrangement. Call, text or email to schedule; no health details are needed.
No health details are needed to schedule. Scheduling calls, texts, and email are not monitored for emergencies: call or text 988, or call 911.