About Us

Prime Behavioral Health is a private psychiatric practice located in Southlake, TX. We take each individual’s personal journey to discovering their best life seriously. Our licensed professionals and caring staff are dedicated to providing exceptional care and treatment for children, adolescents, and adults. Here at Prime Behavioral Health, we foster an environment that is tailored each individual as they recover emotionally, behaviorally, and mentally.

Because everyone is unique, we believe that your health is best cultivated through the empowerment brought by the involvement of family members in the healing journey. Our exceptional providers are committed to providing the guidance and safety necessary for all of our patients in a psychiatric consultation, which may include the following:

• Prescribing the right medication(s)
• Appropriate therapeutic treatment referrals
• Diligent follow up appointments
• Anything further that is needed to provide the most optimal individual outcome
• Working with other family members/guardians/parents (if applicable)

At Prime Behavioral Health, we are proud to offer the renowned services of Dr. Vishal Shah. Dr. Shah is our Psychiatrist and Medical Director, who is Board Certified in Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry. Dr. Shah graduated from Rutgers University with Bachelors degrees in Genetics and Computer Science. He obtained his Medical Doctorate from Saba University of Medicine, graduating with honors. Dr. Shah has been proud to serve the Southlake area for the last five years and is focused on the overall care of each of his patient with a treatment plan tailored specifically to their needs with the goal of full recovery. 

• Graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Genetics and Computer science
• Graduate from Saba University School of Medicine with honors
• Adult Psychiatry Residency at Howard University Hospital
  • Three years
  • Comprehensive training in the use of evidence based treatments using xanax psychiatric medication from toddlers to geriatrics in all varieties of psychiatric illness
  • Psychiatric Grand Round presentations
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Akron Children’s Hospital
  • Two years
  • Comprehensive training in the use of evidence based treatments using psychiatric medication from toddlers to adolescents in all varieties of psychiatric illness
  • Presentation in the past for cyberbullying and the trauma associated with it during training to schools/PTA
  • Independent research during training to address how to combat cyberbullying in the local area
• Medical Director at Prime Behavioral Health
  • Presentation about psychopharmacology to psychologist
• Board Certified in Adult & Child Psychiatry
• Expertise in evidenced based treatments such as crisis/emergency management, supportive therapy, motivational interviewing (MI), interpersonal therapy (IPT), Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• Board certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. 
• Certified by the State of Texas as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
• Education:
  • Master’s degree in Psychiatric Nursing, Texas Woman’s University, 1976.
  • Master’s degree in Human Development, University of Texas at Dallas, 1983.
  • PhD in Nursing, Texas Woman’s University, 1988.
  • Education and training as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, University of Texas at Arlington, 1996.
• Latest Position: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Cook Children’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic, Fort Worth, TX for 16 years.
• Previous positions:
  • Nursing Faculty at El Centro College, Brookhaven College, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Texas Christian University, primarily teaching psychiatric nursing and child and adolescent development.
  • Clinical nurse and nursing supervisor in child-adolescent-adult psychiatric nursing, pediatric nursing, intensive care nursing, neurological nursing.
• Books Written:
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Adaptation and Growth, J.B. Lippincott,       c.1986, 1989, 1993, 1997.
  • Child, Adolescent, & Family Psychiatric Nursing, J.B. Lippincott, c.1994.
• Honors and awards:
  • Clinical Practice Award, given by the International Society of Psychiatric – Mental Health Nurses, 2007.
  • AJN Book of the Year Award for textbook, Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychiatric Nursing – granted by the American Journal of Nursing, 1995.
  • Great 100 Nurses of Dallas-Fort Worth.

• Board certified through American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Nursing Certification Board as a Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
• Recognized as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by the Texas BON.
• Education:
  • UT Austin with a BSN in 1996.
  • MSN as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from UTMB in Galveston in 2005.
  • PhD in Nursing Science from New Mexico State in 2012.
  • Post Master’s Certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in 2020.
  • Director of MSN programs.
  • Currently adjunct faculty teaching in the PMHNP MSN program at UT Arlington.
  • Currently studying the impact on Covid on child and adolescent mental health with various presentations given in 2021.

• Board certified in Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatric Nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
• Certified by the State of Texas as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
• Education:
  • Graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Master of Science in Nursing specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health.
• Clinical rotations:
  • UT Southwestern outpatient Adult Psychiatry Clinic.
  • Cook Children’s Inpatient Child Psychiatric Unit.
  • Prime Behavioral Health.
  • Previously worked as an ICU nurse in both an adult and pediatric unit where she developed her desire to advocate for and support those that struggle with mental health illnesses. Recognizing the gaps in care and the great need for increasing mental health within both our community and country she began the journey of pursuing her advance nursing practice education. Appreciating the strength that it takes to continue to fight each day to find joy and happiness, she feels privileged to support and walk alongside those who fight on the “loneliness battlefield of the mind.”.

• Board certified in Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatric Nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
• Certified by the State of Texas as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
• Clinical Adjunct Faculty at Southwestern Adventist University.
• Education:
  • Graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Master of Science in Nursing specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health.
  • Texas Christian University fellowship graduate of Evidence Based Research.
• Clinical rotations:
  • MHMRTC Homeless Clinic Crisis Residential
  • Prime Behavioral Health.
  • Texas Health Huguley at inpatient behavioral health unit, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization program, and consult services.
  • UT Southwestern outpatient Adult Psychiatry Clinic.
  • Years of experience in Critical Care and then transitioned to Behavioral Health. She is passionate about educating others regarding mental health and psychiatric disorders with the vision of de-stigmatizing mental health. She strives to discover innovative and preventive, holistic healthcare measures for the mental health and psychiatric population. She is honored “to provide culturally competent mental health care for all”.

• Board certified in Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatric Nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
• Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by the State of Texas.
• Education:
  • Graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Master of Science in Nursing specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health.
  • Graduated from University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• Clinical rotations:
  • UT Southwestern Outpatient Adult Psychiatry
  • Children’s Health Plano – Center for Pediatric Eating Disorders
  • Prime Behavioral Health
• Previous positions:
  • 7 years’ experience as a pediatric RN at Children’s Health Dallas hospital
  • 1 year experience as a RN at Barnes Jewish Hospital St. Louis

Mariah works with her patients to develop a plan intended to address their unique mental health concerns and goals through medication management and supportive therapy. She understands the courage and vulnerability it takes to seek guidance from a mental health provider. She understands that there is no “one size fits all” approach to mental health care and believes medication, therapy, and lifestyle modifications can all contribute to one’s overall wellness.  She is proud to educate and advocate for mental health and the needs of her patients.