Our Providers
Justin Ray, MSN, PMHNP-BC, Owner
Greetings, I am the owner of South Chesapeake Psychiatry (SCP) and have 28 years of experience in Mental Health/Psychiatry. I started as a Neuro-Psychiatric Technician and worked my way up to becoming a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). I have worked in almost every Psychiatric setting there is, including acute inpatient, substance inpatient, general and substance outpatient, corrections, Emergency Room, education, and Locums.
I have years of experience treating almost every mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. I am a subject matter expert on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy which is the framework of my approach to patients. I reside in Hickory and have worked extensively in the community as well as working for Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, Hampton Roads Regional Jail for a year, and Virginia Beach Correctional Center for 2 years.
I have extensive knowledge in taking care of the seriously mentally ill (SMI) and a wealth of experience in mood disorders, depression, anxiety, ADHD, psychotic disorders, older psychotropics, telepsychiatry, and substance abuse/dependence. Besides being the owner of SCP, I also work for the Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Health (CIBH) Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). ACT patients are those who are often homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, individuals at high risk for psychiatric hospitalization, and those with a history of intensive treatment for co-occurring disorders. I am also an educator and almost always have students working with me and learning. I have been an affiliate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, Ohio State University, Walden University, Frontier University, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Eastern Kentucky University. Five of my previous students currently work as PMHNP’s in the Hampton Roads area and have over a 90% pass rate on their boards the first time.
I have been featured on several television news stories ranging from 4th of July fireworks in relation to PTSD, regressed children’s behavior as it relates to COVID and anxiety related to COVID. I have had the privilege of giving lectures to other professional organizations such as the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. I am also a paid speaker for AbbVie Pharmaceuticals where I lecture other professionals on Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorders and treatments for both. I believe in Honor, Courage and Commitment and served 22 years in United States Navy.
This is why after 5 years of working at Fairfield Psychological Associates I made the decision to start my own practice based on what I call 5 pillars which consist of Quality, Accountability, Excellence, Availability and Expertise. I no longer felt my patients were receiving the care that they needed as a result of unnecessary rules leveraged by insurance companies, outdated and antithetical policies and a significant lack of support, therefore, I started SCP. I also brought Amanda Snow with me, one of the best PMHNP’s in Hampton Roads. My Office Manager is one of the best having worked in Psychiatric Administration for 10 years. If you are a patient in need of a Psychiatric provider with years of experience (over 50 combined years between the three of us), delivering the highest quality of care who also believe in excellence, accountability, expertise and who will also be available to you, then look no further and call South Chesapeake Psychiatry at 757-908-2124
