Family therapy and counseling in Arlington, MA

Healing Across the Lifespan: A Partnership in Mental Wellness

Choosing a mental health provider is a deeply personal decision. You aren’t just looking for a prescriber; you are looking for a witness to your story, an expert in the biological complexities of the brain, and a partner in your recovery.

My name is Jessica Stanley, and I am a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). My journey to this practice has been defined by a unique duality: the macro view of a healthcare executive and the micro focus of a dedicated clinician. Before opening the doors to this practice, I served as the Clinical Director for a large-scale healthcare organization. In that role, I was responsible for the oversight of complex systems, the mentorship of large clinical teams, and the implementation of evidence-based protocols across diverse populations.

While my time in leadership allowed me to impact mental health at a systemic level, my true passion has always remained in the quiet, transformative moments of the exam room. I have returned to full-time clinical practice to bring that high-level expertise back to where it matters most: the individual human experience.

Mental health does not exist in a vacuum, nor does it look the same at age seven as it does at seventy. I specialize in treating patients across the entire lifespan. Whether I am working with a child struggling to navigate their first years of school, an adolescent facing the pressures of identity formation, or an adult managing the heavy mantle of career and family, my approach remains the same: comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence based.

Areas of Specialization

I am trained to treat a broad spectrum of psychiatric conditions including:

ADHD & Neurodivergence

Anxiety Disorders

Depression

PTSD & Trauma Recovery

I am passionate about helping individuals improve their quality of life. My treatment strategy is to provide an initial assessment and create treatment goals using a collaborative approach to best meet your needs.

I provide an authentic, safe, and down-to-earth space where your story is respected. Because of my 20-year background serving on active duty in the U.S. Army, I bring a structured yet deeply compassionate approach to healing. I welcome adults, couples, families, and children (ages 5+).

When a child has been through more than they should, or when a family is navigating trauma, foster care, or adoption, the right support changes everything. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families dealing with PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, and the weight of whatever life has handed them, including the complex emotions that come with foster care and adoption experiences.

With more than a 10 years in mental health, I believe you are the expert on your own life. My role is to walk beside you as a guide and support as you build on your strengths and work toward the future you envision.

I graduated from Simmons University with my Masters's Degree in Social Work in 2023. I have over 14 years of work and volunteer experience working with adolescents between the ages of 14-22 year olds. For the past 8 years, I have been working with young men between the ages of 13-21 in an alternative school setting. Over the last several years, I have taken a special interest in helping students navigate the emotional and logistical transition from high school into adulthood.

Hi would you want to join me in your success story?I have been licensed in MA for over twenty years. I have helped families, couples and individuals navigate rough times with great success. I would love to help you!

I started specializing in CBT for children in 1998 — and the 28 years since have taken me through residential programs, day treatment, outpatient clinics, and public schools. That breadth of experience means I've worked with people across the full range of what life can throw at someone, and I've learned what actually helps.

In 2021, I completed a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Resiliency in the Helping Professions — deepening my focus on the skills that make change stick: emotional regulation, realistic optimism, and self-compassion. These aren't just techniques. They're the foundation of what I help clients build.

I work with children (ages 6+), adolescents, and adults on anxiety, depression, trauma, ADD/ADHD, family stress, and anger. I'm based in Central Massachusetts and offer telehealth across the state.

As a therapist, my goal is to provide empathy and compassion in an emotionally safe environment. I am passionate about helping people through the most difficult challenges life may have. I work with people to build their self-worth, ease emotional pain, and help regain a sense of enjoyment in their life as they once had. I envision helping people recognize their strengths, then build on their strengths, to help them to become more self-confident, happy and aware.