Sarah Buttles is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner dedicated to compassionate, patient-centered care. Originally from Maryland, Sarah relocated to Gilbert, Arizona in 2019 to pursue her doctorate, and has since made the Southwest her permanent home.

Education and Background

Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Maryland College Park before working as a contractor for the U.S. Army conducting traumatic brain injury research. This experience exposed her to groundbreaking work in military mental health and PTSD treatment, sparking a passion that would shape her career path. She returned to the University of Maryland to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, then earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice with a focus on psychiatric mental health from the University of Arizona.

Sarah’s journey into mental health was deeply influenced by her experiences growing up in a high-pressure, high-achievement environment where she witnessed the devastating impact of untreated mental illness. Her high school’s response to student mental health crises included comprehensive prevention initiatives that showed her the life-changing importance of early intervention and support. Raised by parents who prioritized emotional wellness and open communication about mental health, Sarah learned early that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Her path has been shaped by personal challenges as well. In eighth grade, Sarah developed severe migraines that were initially misdiagnosed, forcing her to leave school temporarily. She has faced profound loss in her own life, including losing her father just before nursing school graduation. These experiences, along with navigating chronic illness and cross country relocation, have shaped her understanding of the resilience and compassionate support patients need during life’s most difficult moments.

Care Philosophy

Sarah’s approach is grounded in getting to know patients as whole people, not just a list of symptoms. She takes time to explore what’s happening at home, what her patients’ goals are, and what they’re comfortable with, because she believes no one will follow through with a treatment plan they don’t truly embrace.

Education is central to Sarah’s practice. She ensures patients understand not just what she’s prescribing, but why, and what it does. “We do this all day, every single day, and to us it’s common sense,” she explains. “But to patients, it’s not.” She never wants someone to leave her office having received a prescription without fully understanding their treatment.

Sarah’s guiding principle is “do no harm.” She approaches each patient with careful consideration, never rushing to prescribe or recommend treatments without a complete picture. She remains open-minded about symptoms that fall outside her specialty, encouraging patients to follow up with primary care when needed rather than attributing everything to anxiety or depression.

Every appointment ends the same way: “Do you have any specific questions? Any concerns? Anything else you wanted to talk about?” Sarah ensures patients never walk out feeling unheard or that they forgot to mention what brought them there in the first place.

Personal Interests

Sarah shares her life with her husband, a physician who she met in Maryland and who introduced her to life in Gilbert, his hometown. Together, they’ve built a home in Arizona and discovered a shared love of adventure. They’re avid scuba divers, having explored dive sites throughout Central America. They enjoy attending rodeos, car racing events, and make annual trips to the F1 races in Las Vegas.

At home, Sarah and her husband care for Dave, their beloved mini dachshund who they adopted from a Serenity colleague. He’s now the center of their family.

What to Expect

Sarah’s greatest hope is that patients never feel like a number. “I pride myself on recognizing my patients by face,” she shares. “I never want them to feel like they’re being shuffled in and out.” Her collaborative, compassionate approach ensures that every patient feels seen, heard, and valued as an individual with a unique story worth understanding