04/10/2026
Every member of our team has a story and a purpose behind the care they provide.
In this employee spotlight, Joshua Fantauzzi, PMHNP, shares his journey into behavioral health, the importance of a holistic approach to care, and what it means to walk alongside patients as they take steps toward healing.
His perspective is a powerful reminder that meaningful care goes beyond treatment - it’s about connection, understanding, and meeting people where they are.
Read Joshua’s full story below:
"I’m Joshua Fantauzzi and have been a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with Oceans Behavioral Hospital - Abilene for over a year. Prior to my venture as a nurse practitioner, I was a psychiatric nurse with Oceans for two years. In total, I’ve been a nurse for eight years and a PMHNP for one and a half years. I’m honored to work and continue to grow with Oceans Healthcare. I value this organization for putting client welfare first as well as going above and beyond to make sure clients get the most out of our services. I do my best to emulate these values through my role in outpatient services. I see patients who are participating in the partial hospitalization program (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and through Oceans Physician’s Clinic.
Although my role through outpatient services is primarily medication management, I do take a holistic approach to mental health care. There are many factors that can significantly impact one’s health. Medical comorbidities, relationship and family strains, financial stressors, and work environment can all have a significant impact on one’s mental health. While medication can be an important and effective component of treating mental health, it should not be viewed as the sole solution. Therapy serves as an essential complement by helping individuals gain insight into their experiences, develop coping strategies, and navigate their challenges more effectively. The benefits of PHP and IOP are that they include and focus on psychotherapy. I work closely with our therapists to collaboratively work towards goals and address any concerns. I want to ensure my patients feel heard and consider themselves an active component in their care.
When I began my nursing career, my primary goal was to become an ICU nurse. I was an ICU nurse for four years, where I loved my work. It was gratifying and rewarding to care for critically ill patients and be able to witness their progress toward stabilization. Most of the people I cared for were ventilated. Many were kind and resilient, but there are a few who stood out for different reasons. Some expressed hopelessness, some did not want to continue living and were upset to be revived. Those experiences shifted my perspective and ultimately inspired me to pursue psychiatric care, where I felt I could make a deeper impact.
Throughout my journey, I’ve aimed to encourage and support others, hopefully reducing the number of people who end up in the ICU due to similar circumstances. For those currently experiencing struggles, I encourage you to consider therapy, medication treatment, or a combination of both. No matter where we are in life, there are usually two steps we struggle most with: the first step, and then the next one- initiation and consistency. Doing new things can make us uncomfortable, yet if we never try anything different, we end up in similar circumstances and patterns. Some steps can be harder than others. Motion creates friction, but it also creates momentum. When we understand where we want to go and take the appropriate steps to get there, we’ll eventually end up at our destination. My steps have taken me here, and even if I may never see where your steps take you, I hope they lead you exactly where you want to go."
