Find a therapist in Salem, MA — covered by insurance

I could list all my accomplishments from the past 30 years, but that wouldn't give you a true sense of my style or beliefs. I strive to empathize, be respectful, and remain non judgemental. We all face worries, stresses, and challenges daily, and we all need someone who listens and understands. While family and friends can provide wonderful support, talking to someone with professional expertise and an outside perspective can be incredibly beneficial.

I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings, providing comprehensive mental health care across diverse populations. My background includes extensive work in behavioral health emergency settings, partial hospitalizations, IOP, recovery care, community psychiatric care. I also have experience supporting dually diagnosed patients with co-occurring medical conditions, giving me a broad perspective on the complex interplay between mental and physical health.

I earned my PMHNP degree from Post University and hold PMHNP licensure in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to evidence-based care, while continuously seeking opportunities for professional development and growth in the mental health field.

A bit about my educational journey: Upon Graduating from High School in Oregon, I headed East. I earned my Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies from Emerson College in Boston where I minored in Psychology. My Masters in Clinical Mental Health came years later from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA.

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who runs a private practice called Next Play Therapy. I work with adolescents, young adults, adults, and athletes. My background includes both school-based counseling and outpatient therapy, where I’ve helped clients manage anxiety, stress, depression, self-esteem challenges, and life transitions. I also have experience coaching high school athletics, which has shaped my passion for helping athletes build confidence and mental resilience. My goal is to create a supportive space where clients feel comfortable, understood, and empowered to move forward.

As your therapist I will work alongside you to help you learn to identify your emotions, learn healthy ways to express yourself, and healthy and effective ways of communicating with others. Together we will also identify your strengths as well as possible unhealthy thinking or behavioral patterns and how they relate to your everyday experiences and emotions.

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 a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing medication

management and therapy for children ages 5+, adolescents, and adults. I treat ADHD,

depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and related conditions. I also work with adults with autism

spectrum disorder and ADHD, providing diagnostic clarification and ongoing treatment within

general psychiatric care. I offer in-person and telehealth visits and focus on collaborative,

evidence-based, and individualized care.

Now accepting patients in Massachusetts! Offering in office visits on the fourth Monday of each month in Westford, MA from 8:00 until 11:30 and virtual visits throughout the week.

I have been in healthcare for over 20 years and enjoy partnering with patients . As a gay man, I understand the comfort that comes with working with someone from the community.

As a licensed mental health clinician, I utilize a combination of evidence-based interventions and genuine compassion, empathy, and belief in growth through the therapy process. My background is in cognitive behavioral therapy, with training in dialectical behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. I have experience working with teenagers and adults of all ages in addressing struggles related to anxiety, depression, addiction, grief & loss, life transitions, and trauma.

Hi, I'm Rachel — and if your child is struggling, you're in exactly the right place.

I know how hard it is to watch your loved one deal with anxiety, sadness, or stress and not know how to help. That's where I come in. I'm a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience working with young children — from preschool all the way through preteen — and helping them build the kind of skills that actually make a difference in their everyday lives.

My background is rooted in schools. I've been a school social worker in Norwell, Plymouth, and Sandwich, which means I understand the world your child is living in — the classroom pressures, the social dynamics, the moments that feel too big to handle alone. I bring that real-world context into every session.