When human beings experience mental illness trauma or severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to unravel. Julene Smith's great passion is to provide holistic care for people who suffer with mental illness. Julene helps clients, including children, adolescents, adults and families, to find healthy perceptions of themselves and strengthen their relationships so they can know themselves as peaceful, complete, whole and safe.

 

This is accomplished through completing a patient centered assessment, creating a realistic plan of care with realistic measurable goals and interventions, which was co-created with patient/family. Julene's educational background includes the following: a BSN in Nursing from Valdosta State University in 1995, MSN in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Educator, from Albany State University in 2006 and PMHNP-BC from Valdosta State University in 2015. Past work experience includes ten years as staff nurse at SWSH, seven years at Northside psychiatric hospital (3 years as DON), two years supervising HIV/AIDS clinic, and two years of medical surgical nursing at Grady General Hospital.

 

Presently, Julene teaches full time at Valdosta State University, while working part time as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Vandemark Psychiatric and Counseling Services and Greenleaf Center.  In addition, she is the owner and operator of Life Way Training Institute in Cairo, Georgia.