Obsessive-compulsive disorder therapists & psychiatrists in North Miami Beach, FL

I chose to practice as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner because I am passionate about helping individuals improve their mental health and overall quality of life. Mental health challenges can significantly affect every aspect of a person’s well-being, relationships, and daily functioning, and I believe compassionate, patient-centered care can make a meaningful difference.

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who takes a holistic and compassionate approach to therapy, supporting the mind, body, and spirit throughout the healing process. I believe people open up where they feel safest and most understood, so creating a comfortable, nonjudgmental environment is one of the most important parts of my work.

I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in a variety of settings. I specialize in supporting clients navigating anxiety, depression, personality disorders, relationship challenges, substance use concerns, ADHD, behavioral challenges, family conflict, self-esteem issues, life transitions, and emotional regulation difficulties. I help clients better understand their emotions, patterns, and relationships while building healthier coping skills, stronger self-awareness, and greater confidence in themselves and their lives. I also value incorporating psychoeducation into sessions so clients feel empowered with both insight and practical tools they can apply outside of therapy.

My philosophy is that we are never too old to heal, grow, or rediscover joy. I strive to help clients turn pain into wisdom, reconnect with their strengths, and create meaningful change in their lives.

If you're an adolescent or adult carrying anxiety, depression, trauma, or the kind of exhaustion that comes from navigating life on your own for too long, therapy with me is meant to feel calm, unhurried, and genuinely supportive. I work with teens and adults facing relationship struggles, self-esteem challenges, life transitions, emotional dysregulation, and stress that's hard to shake. I also support parents of children and young adults with ADHD or autism-related needs, and I have experience working with individuals and families facing complex mental health and substance use challenges. My background spans community mental health, crisis stabilization, outpatient care, and hospital settings, so I've sat with a wide range of what people go through.

I am a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience in behavioral health across diverse clinical settings including inpatient psychiatry, outpatient care, long term care, and telehealth. Throughout my career, I have worked with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, mood disorders, life transitions, burnout, and the emotional challenges that can come with balancing multiple roles and responsibilities.

I'm Karina Astigarrabia Ferraz, PMHNP-BC — a Board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner practicing in Florida. Before specializing in psychiatry, I spent years as a Board certified nurse in cardiac intensive care, an experience that deepened my understanding of how the mind and body are inseparable. That background shapes the way I practice: I see mental health as rooted in biology, physiology, and lived experience — not just symptoms to be managed. I believe therapy is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools in mental health care. My work centers on evidence-based approaches — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Interpersonal Therapy — integrated with a positive psychiatry framework that focuses on your strengths, resilience, and capacity to heal. When medication is appropriate, I incorporate it thoughtfully as part of a broader, individualized plan. Clients often describe me as warm, unhurried, and genuinely curious about their lives. I collaborate with Brain X Dynamics as an independent clinician, sharing a commitment to whole-person, holistic care — including attention to brain metabolism and the biological foundations of emotional well-being.