Dr. Elizabeth Francis
DNP, PMHNP-BC
Professor, Peer-Reviewed Author, 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
Professor at Duke University & Rockhurst University
Board Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Certified in Keto for Mental Health by Dr. Georgia Ede (Harvard Psychiatrist)
Chief Curriculum Officer in the Psych NP Fellowship Program
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 am an adjunct professor at both Duke and Rockhurst University’s graduate nursing programs, an APNA board member in the Kansas state chapter, and have published in multiple peer-reviewed medical and nursing journals. In addition, I serve as the Chief Curriculum Officer and lecturer in the Psych NP Fellowship Program.
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 psychotherapy 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 (Out of Pocket Rates)
Initial Consultation
60 minutes
$297
Follow-Up Appointments
20-30 minutes
$147
Available to residents of Kansas, 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.
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You rebuild a peaceful, trusting relationship with food, your body, and yourself. The constant thoughts about eating, weight, or control no longer dominate your day. Meals feel less stressful, your energy returns, and you begin to reconnect with the people, passions, and moments that matter most. With compassionate, evidence-based care, recovery becomes possible.
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You begin to feel safer in your own mind and body. The memories that once felt overwhelming start to lose their intensity, and they no longer control your present. Sleep becomes more restful, triggers feel more manageable, and a sense of calm gradually returns to your daily life. You reconnect with a feeling of stability, presence, and confidence in navigating the world.
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.
✅ 50+ engaging video lectures (with over 73 medications, supplements, and bonus lessons)
✅ Clear PowerPoint breakdowns for easy reference
✅ 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!
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🧠 Pediatric Psych Essentials
Get confident in pediatric mental health with live 1-hour lectures on the conditions you see every day. Perfect for clinicians, students, and anyone ready to level up!
🎯 What You’ll Learn
⚡ ADHD: Spot it, assess it, manage it
😰 Anxiety & Depression: Recognize & treat effectively
🍃 Substance Use: Early detection & management
🧩 Autism: Assessment strategies & support tips
💊 Medications: Safe prescribing & key tips
✅ Integrative Treatments (supplements, lifestyle interventions, labs)
🚀 Why Take It Now
Pediatric mental health cases are rising fast
Early action = better outcomes for kids
Gain confidence in tricky diagnoses & treatments
Apply practical tips immediately in real-world practice
💡 How It Will Change Your Life
Less guesswork, more confidence in assessments ✅
Safer, smarter medication decisions 💊
Better communication with families & teams 🗣️
Handle complex cases without stress 💪
⏰ Five Live 1-Hour Lectures Covering:
ADHD | Anxiety & Depression | Substance Use | Autism | Integrative/Holistic