Prenatal and postpartum therapists & psychiatrists in Worcester, MA

As a LMHC and Art Therapist, my work is rooted in the belief that creative expression can be a powerful pathway to healing, insight, and personal growth. My use of art therapy offers a unique way to explore thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Through the creative process you can safely examine experiences, reduce stress, and access deeper self-understanding. No artistic skill or background is needed the focus is on expression, not perfection.

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

Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. Beginning or continuing therapy can feel like a big step, and my goal is to create a space where you feel safe, supported, validated, and genuinely understood.

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Registered Art Therapist (ATR) with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship concerns, and other life stressors. I have a particular interest in supporting LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent clients. I am also a mother with extensive clinical experience working with children, teens, and their families.

I am a down-to-earth, approachable therapist with over a decade of experience supporting teenagers, young adults, and their families. Many clients arrive hesitant about therapy but quickly find a comfortable, nonjudgmental space where they can talk about anything. I strive to be responsive to each person’s life experiences, including gender- and race-based toxic stress and trauma. I completed my training at Boston University and spent several years working with a multidisciplinary team at a safety-net hospital.

As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years in the field, I believe mental health is just as important as physical health. I am most drawn to children, teens, young adults and parents experiencing stress, anxiety and depression as well as individuals navigating life transitions. I additionally love helping parents better understand infant, toddler and child development while also providing parents with strategies they can use to promote their child's social and emotional skill building in the home environment. I have certifications as an Early Intervention Specialist through the MA Department of Public Health and as a Perinatal Mental Health Specialist through Postpartum Support International. I am also trained in SPACE therapy, a parent-based treatment program, developed by Dr. Lebowitz from Yale University. SPACE stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions and this program aims to treat children and adolescents with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

I’m a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) prepared Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who earned my doctorate from Elms College. I have over 10 years of experience in mental health care and nearly 19 years in the nursing field. Throughout my career, I have worked in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. I have experience supporting an treating a wide range of individuals, from young adults to older adults and geriatric patients.

I am a Latinx provider with a special interest in trauma and stressor related disorders. I have 10 years of experience in outpatient and residential settings. I have worked with children, adolescents, adults and their families.

Is your experience with pregnancy, postpartum, or parenthood not going as you thought it might? Or are you finding the transition to motherhood stressful and life changing? Though it can be joyful, it can also be a vulnerable time filled with overwhelming stress, worry, sadness, or even grief. If this sounds at all like you, please know I am here to help.