Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
With a background that spans intensive care nursing, work with veterans, and psychiatric care, Mireya Villalobos, PMHNP, brings a warm, judgment-free presence to her work. Her message to patients is simple: "I am here for you, with you, and will be rooting for you every step of the way."
Education and Background
Mireya earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Arizona State University in 2020 and began her career as an ICU nurse, working across specialties from trauma surgical to cardiovascular care. Seeing how deeply her patients' mental health affected their physical recovery drew her toward psychiatric care. She went on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing in psychiatric mental health from Duke University and is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. During her training, she worked with veterans at the VA, particularly those living with PTSD.
Her interest in mental health started long before nursing. Growing up in a big Mexican American family, she saw how much it can mean to have someone who listens and offers a little understanding, and she set out to be that person for others.
Care Philosophy
Mireya believes care is a team effort, and you're at the center of it. She listens to validate your concerns, not just acknowledge them, and uses what you share to inform her clinical decisions, because you know your body better than anyone else. She knows growth isn't always a straight line, and that what works for one person might not work for another. She grounds her care in evidence-based research and wants you to feel involved and comfortable asking questions.
Personal Interests
In her eight years in the Phoenix area, Mireya has come to love its diversity, from concerts at Chase Field to First Fridays and farmers markets. She enjoys reading, hiking, and baking, and is usually drawing, painting, or writing. Her dog, Benji, has been her sidekick for seven years, and Mexico City, Iceland, and New Zealand are among her favorite trips. Mireya has volunteered with the VA, organizing events for veterans, and cares deeply about reducing the stigma around asking for help.
What to Expect
In sessions with Mireya, patients can expect to feel heard and to know they're part of a team. She wants your first appointment to feel like a conversation about what brought you in, and also about you as a person: what matters to you and what you're hoping will change. Her hope is that you leave feeling a little more comfortable, a little more understood, and a little more optimistic about what's ahead.