Our Team
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
Amanda Snow MSN, PMHNP-BC
Amanda is what many would consider a Prodigy of sorts and specializes in treating children and has specific forensic training in sexual assault and trauma. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and had already completed two Collegiate degrees, a Baccalaureate in Psychology and a Baccalaureate in English, both Cum Laude, from Rocky Mountain College at the age of 19. She began her Mental Health career working as a case manager, overseeing the residential treatment of children, and was certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, prior to joining the United States Navy where she served for 12 years before retiring.
While in the Navy, Amanda applied for a very, very competitive program titled the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program where she was selected on her first attempt and attended the University of Rhode Island’s Nursing program, again graduating Cum Laude with a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing and was then commissioned as a Naval Nurse Corps Officer.
She worked Inpatient Psychiatric Nursing while at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune and while there earned a Master’s in Forensic Psychology and was then trained and certified as a Forensic Nurse. She performed over 50 forensic sexual assault exams and testified as an expert witness in 5 Courts Martial for the Judge Advocate General Corps. While in the military Amanda earned multiple honors and awards. Upon Naval retirement, Amanda attended Walden University in her lifelong quest to become a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and graduated in 2018.
She did her Preceptorship (clinical hours) at Fairfield Psychological Associates (FPA) where her talent, motivation, work ethic, and dedication to patient care were obvious to the entire Fairfield team. She was offered a position while only halfway through her Preceptorship. While at Fairfield she saw patients in all age groups treating all Psychiatric pathology but specialized in children with ADHD, Mood Disorders, Autism, Learning Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, and general behavioral problems. She is also a certified Therapist in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, one of the only treatments that have shown effectiveness in treating those with Borderline Personality Disorders and offers a 4-module skills building course.
Amanda decided to leave FPA and join South Chesapeake Psychiatry (SCP) as the 5 pillars of Quality, Availability, Excellence, Accountability, and Expertise fit her vision of what Psychiatry should and could be. She felt her skill set, not restricted by the rules of insurance companies, outdated practice policies, and partners who did not share her vision would be much more suited for SCP and we couldn’t agree more.
Krista Pembroke MSN, PMHNP-BC
Welcome to South Chesapeake Psychiatry! My name is Krista Pembroke and I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). I provide psychiatric therapy, and medication management, and collaborate with other professionals to create an individualized experience for each of my clients.
I have years of experience managing complex patients as part of a treatment team while working in acute psychiatric units and hospital settings in Hampton Roads and Florida. My experience with inpatient nursing includes medical, surgical, high-risk perinatal, and behavioral health for both adolescents and adults.
I obtained my Master of Science in Nursing degree from Old Dominion University and my Post-Graduate Certification as Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Shenandoah University.
I treat ages 12 and older and treat a wide range of psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, and addiction. I have special interest in treatment resistant depression and innovative treatments for such, including Spravato and ketamine. I am an active member of the American Society of Ketamine Practitioners and stay up to date on groundbreaking research regarding psychedelic medicine and its use in mental health.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, hiking, live music, and boating. I greatly enjoy meeting new individuals, experiencing different cultures, and learning about others’ life experiences which is what drew me to the psychiatric field.
I recognize that mental health is the core of well-being, and I want to help you achieve a better quality of life while being the best version of yourself through mind, body, and soul. My goal is to have an open, honest, and safe environment to develop a trusting and therapeutic patient-provider relationship. Let me help you take the next step to supportive and exceptional mental health care. I am delighted to meet you!
Sarah Stankavich, Office Manager
Sarah joined the SCP team as a medical secretary in September 2021 and was promoted to the position of office manager one year later. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and has extensive experience in a variety of customer service and administrative roles.
Sarah’s compassion and empathy for every client, as well as her skill sets, work ethic and friendly demeanor, make her an asset to our team. She is committed to developing and maintaining a positive rapport with every client and continuously goes above and beyond for the clients, the providers, and the practice.
Lauren Lannigan, Front Office Coordinator
Lauren is a Chesapeake native who knows this area well and has over 15 years of experience working with people in various fields and positions. She graduated from Great Bridge High School and continued her education locally to achieve her goals of working in the medical field. She completed her associates of applied science with plans to specialize in radiography.
Lauren is attentive and committed to each and every client. If there’s an issue or you need something you can count on her to go above and beyond for you. Lauren brings so much positivity and compassion to SCP and you can count on her to greet you with a smile.
