Ottilia Sibanda, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC
Ottilia Sibanda, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC is a highly accomplished board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience providing comprehensive psychiatric and primary care to patients across the lifespan. With a career spanning leadership, clinical practice, and behavioral health, she is recognized for her patient-centered approach, commitment to evidence-based care, and dedication to improving the mental and physical well-being of the communities she serves. Her expertise encompasses psychiatric evaluations, psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, primary care, and interdisciplinary collaboration, making her a respected leader in modern healthcare.
As the Founder and primary practitioner of Living Hope Behavioral and Mental Health Care, Ms. Sibanda provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, individualized psychotherapy, and medication management for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. She is passionate about creating a compassionate, supportive environment where patients receive personalized care tailored to their unique mental health needs. In addition to her private practice, she serves as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Winslow Indian Health Care Center in Arizona, where she diagnoses and treats complex mental health and substance use disorders, delivers crisis intervention services, and collaborates with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to promote safe, high-quality patient outcomes.
Before specializing in psychiatric care, Ms. Sibanda held several influential leadership positions with the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD), including Director of Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner. In these roles, she oversaw clinical operations for a 36-bed facility, supervised more than 40 nurses, managed regulatory compliance, and implemented quality improvement initiatives that enhanced patient care and operational efficiency. Earlier in her career, she served as Nurse Manager and Charge Nurse in a busy cardiac unit, demonstrating exceptional leadership, clinical judgment, and a commitment to excellence in patient care.
Dedicated to lifelong learning and professional excellence, Ms. Sibanda earned her Master of Science in Nursing as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from East Tennessee State University and a second Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Maryville University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her professional credentials include board certifications as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C), along with certifications as a Certified Buprenorphine Provider, Basic Life Support Instructor, Infection Control professional, and completion of EMDR Therapy Basic Training. She is proficient in EPIC electronic health records, ICD-10 and DSM-5 clinical documentation, and utilizes evidence-based practices to ensure exceptional patient care.
Throughout her career, Ms. Sibanda has remained dedicated to advancing behavioral health services through compassionate care, clinical leadership, and advocacy for individuals with complex healthcare needs. Her holistic philosophy emphasizes treating the whole person while fostering trust, resilience, and long-term wellness. Through her leadership at Living Hope Behavioral and Mental Health Care and her continued service in community healthcare, she strives to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of her patients, their families, and the broader healthcare community.
• Arkansas State University - A.S. in Nursing, 2009
• University of Texas at Arlington - B.S. in Nursing, 2013
• Maryville University - M.S. in Nursing, 2018
• East Tennessee State University - Post-Graduate Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, 2020
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified (PMHNP-BC)
• Family Nurse Practitioner – Certified (FNP-C)
• Certified Buprenorphine Provider (CBP)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor & Certified
• Infection Control Certified
• EMDR Therapy Basic Training
• AANP
• ANA
• Red Cross donations
• Prison ministry support
• Hunger relief initiatives
• Child protection causes and advocacy
https://www.ibtimes.com/mission-living-hope-behavioral-mental-health-care-advance-more-nuanced-view-whole-person-care-3800802
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Psychiatric evaluation and treatment
- Behavioral and emotional disorders
- Trauma and PTSD therapy
- EMDR therapy
- Holistic mental health care
- Telehealth psychiatric services
- Clinical Documentation (ICD-10 & DSM-5)
- Behavioral Health Leadership
- Quality Assurance
- Regulatory Compliance
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most about my practice is the opportunity to genuinely help people and make a meaningful difference in their lives. I do not view compensation as the primary goal. Instead, I focus on what truly matters to me, which is positively impacting someone’s life and supporting their healing journey. As long as my basic needs are met, I am fulfilled knowing that I am contributing to the well-being of others every day. My approach is centered on providing individualized care, understanding the root causes of my patients’ struggles, and helping them find lasting solutions rather than focusing solely on medication management.