Family therapy and counseling in Arlington, MA

Hello, and welcome! To start, I want you to know I provide a no-fee 15 minute initial consultation session for prospective clients, because I believe a good fit is essential to effective counseling. This first meeting should allow you to determine that. I am a seasoned therapist with experience across three decades of supporting individuals, families, and groups. The core of my success has always been my ability to help people to efficiently and effectively achieve their goals. I look forward to meeting you.

Hello and welcome! Do you feel stuck - maybe in a difficult relationship with someone important or in a complicated relationship with yourself? My aim is to help you begin healing as quickly as possible, even when the issues are long-standing. Together, we will explore the present and seek out transformational processes, rather than focus on the past or simply relive old wounds as a more traditional approach might.

I work with individuals and people in relationships navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, shame, anger, relationship distress, parenting, adoption, identity, and life transitions. Together, we'll slow down enough to notice what has been difficult to see, better understand what's happening beneath the surface, and explore new ways of relating to yourself and others.

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 specialize in helping couples and adults navigate relationship challenges, cultural differences, and major life transitions. My work is especially focused on couples who feel disconnected, stuck in recurring conflict, or unsure how to rebuild trust and emotional closeness. As a Level 3 Gottman Method-trained therapist, I help partners understand their patterns, communicate more effectively, and create a stronger relationship. I also support individuals balancing career, family, cultural adjustment, and the demands of a new chapter.

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.

I’m a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a background in pharmacy, giving me a well-rounded perspective on mental health care. I work primarily with children, adolescents, and young adults, while also supporting older adults. My practice is rooted in compassion, advocacy, and respect for each person’s unique journey.

I'm a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, and I earned my Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. I completed my Undergraduate in Psychology from Florida A&M University. I’m certified and experienced in EMDR- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, CBT- Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Domestic Violence, Juvenile Intervention Treatment, and I'm Nationally Certified in Anger Management. I’m also a Qualified Supervisor.