About Holly Sleva, PMHNP
Holly Sleva is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner who brings a deeply personal understanding of mental healthcare. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Holly relocated to Arizona in 2023, drawn by a passion for the outdoors and the opportunity to help patients reclaim balance in their lives.
Education and Background
Holly earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati before completing an accelerated graduate entry program at Ohio State University, where she obtained both her RN and Nurse Practitioner credentials in just three years. This unique pathway reflects her commitment to becoming a provider who could make a meaningful difference in mental health treatment.
Holly’s diverse background in mental health spans multiple settings and populations. She has worked in pediatric psychiatry, autism behavioral therapy, and inpatient care with seriously mentally ill populations. Most recently, Holly has focused on outpatient psychiatric care, where she can see patients more frequently and track meaningful progress over time.
Mental health advocacy runs in Holly’s family. Her mother is a psychiatrist, one brother is a
psychiatrist, and another brother works as a therapist. Like her siblings, Holly has witnessed firsthand how mental illness affects individuals and families, inspiring her to become an advocate for those who often feel they don’t have a voice in the healthcare system.
Holly’s connection to TMS therapy is particularly meaningful. Seven years ago, her brother underwent TMS treatment after multiple medication trials, and she witnessed the transformative impact it had on his life. That experience inspired her to vow that when she completed her training, she would work somewhere that offered TMS so she could help change other people’s lives the way she saw her brother’s life change.
Care Philosophy
Holly describes her approach as patient-centered and holistic. “I am here to advocate fory ou, and you are your biggest advocate,” she tells her patients. “If you don’t agree with something, don’t feel like you can’t tell me. Your voice matters.”
She takes a non-judgmental approach, treating everyone as if she were talking to a friend or family member seeking professional advice. Holly believes in creating a safe, comfortable space where patients feel heard, not rushed through a ten-minute appointment.
Before diving into clinical details, Holly gets to know each person by asking about their lives, families, hobbies, and interests. She asks every patient at every session: “What’s something you’re looking forward to?” She believes it’s essential to always have something positive on the horizon, and this personal touch helps patients feel truly remembered and valued.
Holly’s treatment philosophy aligns with a principle she learned from a colleague: “There are more tools than just a hammer in the toolbox. You can’t fix a home with just one tool.” Whether it’s TMS, medications, therapy, sleep, exercise, or nutrition, Holly considers all aspects of wellness when developing a treatment plan.
Personal Interests
Holly shares her life with her husband of nearly three years, whom she’s known since high school and describes as her best friend. Together for almost ten years, they’re passionate about outdoor adventures, including hiking, camping, kayaking, paddleboarding, off roading, and fishing. They make frequent trips to Sedona and Arizona’s national forests, andrecently explored Petrified Forest National Park.
Holly and her husband also share a love of photography. She works with film while he shoots digital. They have two golden doodles who are very much part of the family. Travel and outdoor exploration remain their greatest shared passion.
What to Expect
Patients consistently share that while they typically feel scared and embarrassed walking into a doctor’s office to discuss mental health, Holly creates “a very comfortable space.” Her approach empowers patients to be active participants in their care, ensuring they never feel like treatment is being dictated to them.
Holly’s personal connection to mental health treatment, combined with her extensive clinical experience and genuinely collaborative approach, makes her an exceptional partner in helping patients reclaim their lives.
