About Me
8+
Years of Experience
Who I Am
I’m Jeff Thomas, a dual board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with nearly a decade of healthcare experience in family medicine, emergency care, and addiction treatment, which gives me a broad perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges people face. My background in family t gives me a broad perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges people face.
At Thrive & Shine Behavioral Health, I provide compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care through secure telehealth services. My approach is warm, collaborative, and focused on helping you feel safe, understood, and empowered in your mental health journey.
Why I Do This Work
Before becoming a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I spent many years on the front lines of healthcare. I began as a Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic, later worked as an Emergency Department RN and Critical Care Transport RN, and then advanced to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner in primary care and emergency medicine.
In 2019, I shifted my focus to addiction medicine, where I saw firsthand how trauma, stress, and untreated mental health conditions can deeply affect lives and families.
These experiences inspired me to expand into psychiatry so I could better serve adults facing conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders.
I have a special passion for supporting first responders and healthcare professionals, having witnessed the toll that high-stress, high-responsibility work can take on mental health.
My mission is simple: to meet you where you are, without judgment, and work alongside you to create a plan that supports your goals, builds confidence, and helps you not just get by, but truly thrive and shine.
My Professional Background
Education
Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) – George Washington University, 2017
Post-Master’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Herzing University, 2025
Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing for academic excellence
Currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) to further advance my clinical and leadership skills.
Certifications
Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner – American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
Certified Addictions Registered Nurse – Advanced Practice (CARN-AP)
Certified First Responder Counselor (CFRC)
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Addictions-Informed Mental Health Professional (AIMHP)