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Dr. Amanda Stanley, Ph.D, L.P. and her staff of clinicians provide in-person and remote diagnostic evaluation & therapy in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond with an office located in Mansfield, Texas. Stanley Psychology treats a variety of conditions for patients of all ages, both individually and in group settings. Frequently Asked Questions What is a psychologist? Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Psychiatric Nurse, Licensed Psychiatric Associate…there are a lot of similar terms in our field! In a nutshell, a psychologist has achieved a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.) studying the science of human behavior. A psychologist is required to earn a doctorate, and as such have one of the highest levels of education in mental health care. They often surpass ten years of education, in addition to post-doctoral work under supervision to meet rigorous licensing requirements. What is a psychological evaluation? Psychological evaluation is a large part of a psychologist’s training. Licensed Psychological Associates (LPAs) also uniquely receive psychological testing training, which is not a part of most masters-level mental health training programs and licenses. Simply stated, a psychological evaluation involves clinical interviewing, review of collateral data, and various forms of psychological testing which is determined by the referral reason. Anyone who begins the psychological evaluation process with Dr. Stanley hears the same statement: that she dislikes the term “psychological testing” as it is innately anxiety provoking. To simplify the process: clinical interviewing involves asking questions to a client and others if applicable (e.g., parents, medical providers, etc.) regarding psychosocial history and current concerns/impairment. A testing plan is created by Dr. Stanley to assess the clinical concern. This sometimes includes responding to true/false questions, rating scales, and various interactive tasks. Any appropriate collateral data is reviewed, such as medical and therapy records. These pieces of information and reviewed and interpreted, and a clinical evaluation report is written. These reports typically range from 10-20 pages, depending on the reason for referral. This information is typically used to aid in diagnosis and planning treatment or other services. Many evaluations are able to be completed completely virtually, although some require portions if in-person testing. These specifications will be communicated to you when booking. How do I know if I need therapy? As a mental health clinic, we are inherently biased...but we believe just about anybody can benefit from therapy! Whether you are going through a difficult life stressor, have ongoing concerns, or want to develop insight into yourself, therapy can be of great assistance. We all struggle at times, and therapy can help you navigate a variety of life issues. How long does it take to feel better with therapy? This is a difficult question to answer. In our field, sometimes people begin experiencing symptoms relief simply by contacting a provider and making an appointment; that is, knowing help is coming has an impact itself. Other patients describe relief after the first session, once they get an initial read on if the provider is a good fit for them. As far as improvement once treatment begins, this largely depends on symptom severity and other factors of a patient’s clinical presentation. As a general estimate, most patients will report some improvement within ten sessions, and many significantly earlier. However, therapy can be an ongoing process for months or even years, depending on the patient’s needs and wants, as progress continues. What do I do in an emergency? Should a mental health emergency occur, immediate intervention is required. Not only is crisis management a piece of a patient's treatment when indicated, but they should also be aware of options during potential mental health emergencies: - If suicidal, call 911 or report to the emergency room immediately - 988 is the national suicide and crisis lifeline, available 24/7 During any suicide/crisis intervention, the individual should be continuously observed and not be left alone until professionally assessed and recommendations provided. Importantly, Stanley Psychology is an outpatient clinic and does not utilize on-call providers. As such, although we would like to be notified when our patients experience a crisis, this notification should only occur after emergent help is sought and the patient is stabilized. I’m a masters or doctoral psychology student and am interested in a practicum placement with Stanley Psychology. How should I proceed? Thank you for your interest! Dr. Stanley supervises all practicum students directly; please call the office or email her directly to initiate the interview process (dr.stanley@stanleypsychology.com). If you want to talk to current practicum students to inquire about their experiences, feel free to contact them- email addresses can be found by their profile in the “About” section. Please note Dr. Stanley does not accept psychiatric nurse practitioner students for practicum due to requirements and office limitations. Why should I choose Dr. Stanley and Stanley Psychology? Patients frequently describe Dr. Stanley as warm, compassionate, open-minded, and appropriately direct. She has a strong track record of building lasting therapeutic relationships—whether with individuals new to therapy or those who have previously struggled to find the right fit. Dr. Stanley is also committed to training her team to reflect the same supportive and effective approach. To hear directly from patients, we invite you to visit the testimonials section of our website. Click here to learn more about Dr. Stanley.(https://www.stanleypsychology.com/our-team-1) Which therapist will I see? How can I tell if they're a good match for me? When you call, our Patient Care Coordinator will discuss several factors with you, including availability and specialties of our clinicians, to help you find a great fit. If you have a particular clinician in mind, you are able to request them. Why should I see a practicum student at Stanley Psychology for treatment or evaluation? Even before Dr. Stanley began employing her own practicum clinicians at Stanley Psychology, she often recommended the services of student clinicians associated with local universities. This recommendation is primarily influenced by two factors: Most importantly, because these student clinicians are under heavy supervision, this is oftentimes some of the best treatment and evaluation one can find. Not only are patients exposed to their treating clinician, who is heavily emerged in the education of psychology at the time of treatment, but a licensed supervisor is closely overseeing their work. Secondly, because these individuals are pre-license, fees are often far more affordable than licensed providers, opening access to individuals who may have financial difficulty seeking services. I've had issues with "fit" with past providers. How do I know Stanley Psychology clinicians will be any different? Not to sound pessimistic, but you don’t! Although we pride ourselves in patient retention, our psychological research consistently points to rapport as being the number one predictor of successful outcome in therapy. We realize that our personalities cannot possibly be a perfect fit for everyone! If there are any concerns with fit, we encourage patients to discuss apprehensions with their clinician- if we are not the ones to help you, we absolutely still want you to get help, and we may know someone in our network to refer you to. Do you prescribe medication? Although psychologists have a foundational understanding of psychopharmacology as part of training, psychologists are not able to prescribe medication in Texas. For medication, we typically refer to psychiatrists, who hold a medical doctorate (MD or DO) and prescribe psychotropic medications. Psychiatric nurse practitioners (NPs)are also medical providers trained specifically in psychotropic medication. Additionally, some primary care providers will also prescribe psychotropic medication, depending on complexity of the patient and training with psychotropics. Does the office offer free phone consultations before making an appointment? Although many mental health offices utilize this practice, we have found that it is hard to gain significant benefit or get a read on therapeutic fit from a 10-15 minute phone call. As a result, the ultimate decision of having a phone consultation is up to the individual clinician. Although Dr. Stanley does not provide these calls, many of the staff at Stanley Psychology do. Regardless of if you have a consult call or not, our Patient Care Coordinator will ask for referral information and be able to answer questions about our practice. At the first appointment with your clinician, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and if you decide your clinician is not a good fit, we can provide you with alternatives, including referring to local providers who may be a better fit for you. It is important to remember that by making an appointment, you are signing up just for that- one appointment! There is no additional commitment if you do not want to continue. I am looking for an evaluation - what do I need to know? We conduct a wide variety of evaluations, including for general mental health, substance abuse, pre-surgery bariatric, veteran's benefits, behavioral concerns, learning disabilities, adult and childhood ADHD, and various forensic evaluations for individuals involved with the legal system. Dr. Stanley is an approved evaluator for several monitoring groups and boards, including the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN), the Texas Board of Nursing (TBON), and the Texas Physician Health Program (TxPHP). Our Patient Care Coordinator can discuss various factors for evaluations and answer questions you may have, including if your evaluation can be conducted remotely, insurance benefits, scheduling factors, clinician options, and report rush availability. What is therapy with Stanley Psychology like? Whether in person or remote, therapy sessions typically last between 50-55 minutes. Your provider will discuss what to expect with timing at your first session. What should I expect at my first therapy appointment? During your intake session with your provider, you will first be thoroughly informed of limits to confidentiality. Then, an open discussion on what brings you in, followed by gathering information about your psychosocial history, will occur. This process can sometimes take up to three sessions, in order to be thorough and best build your treatment plan. Most importantly, this is an interactive process between clinician and patient. Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential? Your confidentiality is vital in therapy- you need to feel safe talking with us! There are a few limitations of confidentiality, including for child, elderly, or disabled person abuse, immediate threat to life, and court orders. These limits will be thoroughly discussed at your first session in order to have a solid understanding of any confidentiality issues. Where will my sessions take place? If your session is in-office, we are proud to be located in historic downtown Mansfield, Texas, about one block off of Main Street. The address is 108 N 1st Ave, Mansfield TX 76063. Look for the charming blue house with red doors! The area is walkable with residential and commercial businesses nearby. Feel free to shop or eat while downtown! We also offer remote sessions, and you will be provided a link to access your session prior to your appointment. Do I need to see a provider with a doctorate? Many individuals seeking treatment are focused on finding a doctor, and thus limit their provider search to psychologists. But is this necessary? This answer may sound shocking coming from our office considering that Dr. Stanley is a psychologist, but the answer is a resounding no! There are a lot of masters-level providers who are fully equipped, trained, and licensed to provide psychotherapy. Our Licensed Psychological Associates, or LPAs, are a vital part of our practice and offer both therapy and evaluation services. Click here to learn more about LPAs.(https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:e0aa0327-d021-4043-81b9-6b9c3c5c7b1c) MORE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US Does Dr. Amanda Stanley Use EMDR in Treatment? Hot Topic: Have you heard that EMDR works because of the eye movements? Let's break down Dr. Stanley's perspective behind the trend—and what actually helps people heal from trauma. More About EMDR

Dr. Amanda Stanley, Ph.D, L.P. and her staff of clinicians provide in-person and remote diagnostic evaluation & therapy in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond with an office located in Mansfield, Texas. Stanley Psychology treats a variety of conditions for patients of all ages, both individually and in group settings. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: For therapy inquiries: Providers who accept Aetna, Medicare, BCBS, and Scott & White insurances, along with self-pay patients, have immediate openings available. We can assist with verifying out-of-network benefits for therapy if you have a different insurance plan. For testing/evaluation inquiries: All providers are accepting new evaluation cases. We are able to immediately accept new requests using insurances we are in-network with and self-pay clients. Send us a message! First Name Last Name Email Phone Number How can we help you? Best time to reach you: How did you find us? Choose an option SEND Thank you for your message! We will contact you within 24 business hours. Please check your spam folder if you do not see a response. Come visit us at Stanley Psychology! 108 North 1st Avenue Mansfield, Texas 76063 Patient Care Coordinator: info@stanleypsychology.com Dr. Stanley: dr.stanley@stanleypsychology.com Office: (817) 592-0750 (call or text) Fax: (817) 259-2491

Mental Health and Consulting Intensives Contact Us Are you ready to take a FOCUSED, EMPOWERING STEP FORWARD in your healing or professional journey? Dr. Stanley, psychologist and practice owner, is now offering focused intensive sessions designed to provide high-impact, individualized support in an extended format. These intensives are intended to accelerate insight, skill development, and meaningful progress -whether you are seeking treatment for anxiety or trauma-related concerns, consultation for private practice start-up or transition, or coaching related to doctoral-level training and applications. Intensives offer dedicated time to go deeper without the constraints of traditional session limits. Contact us to learn more or to be added to the waitlist. Why Choose an Intensive? A brief 15-minute consultation is available prior to your session to ensure clinical fit and focus. One-time, extended session for focused progress Weekend availability for busy schedules Individualized, evidence-based care Ideal for kick-starting therapy or addressing a specific concern All sessions available via telehealth AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH INTENSIVES 1 OCD Intensive $850 (4 hours, Sat or Sun) A comprehensive session that includes diagnostic assessment, personalized treatment planning, and targeted ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and I-CBT (Inference-Based CBT) interventions. *If OCD isn’t indicated, the time may be redirected toward trauma or anxiety-based work. More Info 2 Anxiety Intensive $650 (3 hours, Sat or Sun) Focused on general anxiety symptoms, this session includes symptom mapping, nervous system education, relaxation skills training, and a tailored wellness roadmap for moving forward. More Info 3 Social Anxiety Intensive (4 hours, Sat or Sun) Explore the roots of your social anxiety and receive active interventions like ERP and social skills training. Leave with a structured Plan of Action to reduce avoidance and increase connection. More Info 4 Trauma Intensive (4 hours, Sat or Sun) Through structured assessment, education, and somatic skill-building, this intensive helps you reconnect with your body, understand trauma’s effects, and learn tools to regulate and heal. More Info Ready to Begin? To schedule or learn more, contact our front office and request to be connected with Veronica Guerrero-Quan for details. These sessions are self-pay only (insurance does not cover this format) and are designed to deliver maximum clinical value in a short amount of time. If you wish to continue care after your intensive, we’re happy to discuss whether ongoing therapy may be covered by your insurance. Contact Us

Jessica Simonetti, M.S.   We all most likely know someone with a smartphone. We all also most likely know someone who is always on their phone and never seems to have the ability to set it down. They seem to be addicted to being on their phone at all times. Maybe this person is you or maybe it’s someone you know, but one thing is for sure: there is increased research that suggests using a smartphone or other electronic devices can cause symptoms congruent with an addiction and can potentially cause an increase in ADHD in adults. Smartphone addiction, also known as problematic or compulsive smartphone use, refers to excessive and compulsive use of smartphones or other mobile devices, often to the detriment of one's well-being, relationships, and daily functioning. While smartphones offer numerous benefits such as communication, access to information, and entertainment, excessive use can lead to negative consequences. Some signs of addiction to a cell phone include: Preoccupation: Constantly thinking about or feeling the urge to use the phone, even in inappropriate or unsafe situations. Excessive Use: Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone, often at the expense of other activities such as work, school, or socializing. Withdrawal Symptoms: Experiencing anxiety, irritability, or distress when unable to use the phone, such as when the battery dies or there is no internet connection. Loss of Control: Difficulty controlling phone use despite efforts to cut back or limit usage. Negative Impact on Relationships: Neglecting relationships with family and friends or experiencing conflict with loved ones due to excessive phone use. Negative Impact on Health: Physical symptoms such as eyestrain, headaches, neck or back pain, and disrupted sleep patterns due to excessive screen time. Impaired Functioning: Decline in academic or work performance, decreased productivity, or neglect of responsibilities due to excessive phone use. Escapism: Using the phone as a means of escaping from stress, boredom, or negative emotions. Previous research indicates that 15% of young American adults aged 18 to 29 rely heavily on their smartphones for online connectivity, with 46% viewing their smartphones as indispensable (Smith, 2015). Toma et. al (2022) completed a study that looked at the effects of smartphone addiction on adult ADHD symptoms and well-being of the user. They found that in connection with smartphone addiction, there was a moderately adverse correlation with well-being and a significantly positive association with symptoms of adult ADHD. Similar findings have been documented by other researchers investigating the repercussions of excessive or problematic utilization of electronic devices—such as addictive conduct contributing to diminished well-being and mental health complications. This can likely be attributed to some of the key traits of ADHD being linked to addictive and problematic behaviors that can occur with smartphone addiction. Another study done by Panagiotidi and Overton (2020) had a sample comprising of 273 healthy adult volunteers who took assessments using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), the Mobile Phone Problem Usage Scale (MPPUS), and the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS). A noteworthy positive correlation emerged between the ASRS and both scales. Notably, symptoms of inattention and age emerged as predictors of the propensity for smartphone addiction and problematic mobile phone usage. Their findings indicated a favorable association between traits indicative of ADHD and problematic utilization of mobile phones. As you can see, recent studies have revealed a notable overlap between smartphone addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults. Individuals with ADHD may be more susceptible to excessive smartphone use due to factors such as impulsivity, poor impulse control, and difficulty in maintaining attention. However, both smartphone addiction and ADHD can manifest with similar symptoms, and this overlap can sometimes make it challenging to distinguish between the two conditions. The important thing to note is the co-occurrence of smartphone addiction and ADHD can have detrimental effects on various aspects of adult functioning, including work, relationships, and mental well-being. So what can you do if this all sounds similar to what you are experiencing? A big first step is to first admit that you need help. There is nothing wrong with reaching this point and needing help to work past these issues you are facing.  Treatment requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the smartphone addiction and ADHD symptoms simultaneously. This may involve things such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to modify problematic smartphone use patterns and other interventions to manage ADHD symptoms such as medication, psychoeducation, and skills training. Your therapist will work with you to provide education about the relationship between smartphone addiction and ADHD, as well as teach you coping strategies and alternative ways of managing ADHD symptoms. Mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness meditation and progressive muscle relaxation, can help individuals develop greater self-awareness, reduce stress, and improve attentional control. These techniques can be particularly beneficial for managing impulsivity and regulating emotions. It is also important to establish clear boundaries and limitations around your smartphone use, such as setting specific times for phone-free activities or implementing times where your phone is not on for any reason in certain environments. This can help reduce reliance on smartphones and promote healthier habits. Overall, recognizing the interplay between smartphone addiction and ADHD in adults is essential for providing effective intervention and support. By addressing both conditions concurrently, clinicians can help individuals suffering with symptoms in these areas improve their functioning and quality of life again.   Jessica is accepting new therapy patients. Please reach out to Stanley Psychology to inquire about services! References Panagiotidi, M., & Overton, P. (2020). Attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms predict problematic mobile phone use. Current Psychology, 41(5), 2765–2771. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00785-2 Smith, A. (2015, April 1). U.S. smartphone use in 2015. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/01/us-smartphone-use-in-2015/ Toma, R. A., Anderson, C. A., Matichescu, M., Franţ, A., Almǎjan-Guţă, B., Cândea, A., & Bailey, K. (2022). Effects of media use, smart phone addiction, and adult ADHD symptoms on wellbeing of college students during the COVID-19 lockdown: Dispositional hope as a protective factor. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1019976

Welcome to Stanley Psychology! I'm Dr. Stanley, but I tend to be informal - most of my patients call me Amanda. I want to welcome you to our practice. I am excited to be establishing our practice in Historic Downtown Mansfield, Texas, to embrace the charm of the area and community culture. We want our practice to feel comfortable for our patients and like a second home, rather than having too much of a medical feel. I truly believe the best healing begins with being comfortable and that starts with the treatment environment. I am also happy to announce we will continue remote services for those who prefer to attend virtual sessions. Many psychology group practices focus on a single area of expertise throughout their clinicians; meaning, that the whole practice has a specific specialty. This works great for some practices. However, when expanding my practice, I wanted to embrace the diversity in specialties for clinicians, leading us to serve a wider range of patients. Individuals who practice in the mental health field tend to be generalists; meaning, they are equipped to treat a wide variety of issues, as we all are here. However, each clinician also brings specialties to the practice. For myself, I specialize in trauma and substance abuse treatment. Morgan Flores, one of our therapists, specializes with couples and families, Christian counseling, and women’s issues. Morgan Brown, one of our other therapists, specializes in treating anxiety, self-esteem concerns, and is our child expert in the practice treating children ages 4+. In addition, as clinicians trained in the science of psychology, we are all experienced in conducting testing or psychological evaluations, which is something unique to our specific field. We are also always looking to hire new clinicians to bring additional specialties to our practice. In our office, each therapist utilizes a base of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with additional modalities utilized depending on clinician and case circumstances. All treatment is supervised by me, allowing each patient to have access to both a psychologist and their treating therapist throughout their mental health journey. We are also excited to be offering group therapy for various concerns- keep an eye out on our social medias and in-office for information! We are delighted you are here- welcome in! Dr. Amanda Stanley

Amanda Stanley, Ph.D. Grounding is a technique used in mental health to help people come into the present moment with their senses. Mindfulness is described as being in the present moment, whereas grounding is used to get to the present moment. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and that is ok- there’s no quiz here! When we worry, we are focused about something that has happened in the past or thinking about something in the future . Grounding helps us stop this past/future focus and be in the present moment by engaging our five senses. Let’s talk about how grounding is classically taught first…and then I’ll tell you why I tell patients to “throw that out the window” when I teach grounding and what to really do, based on success in practice. The classic instruction is to use a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 strategy: First, we want to use sight . Look around and name five things you can see. Focus on the details of each object. Then, we use touch . Feel four things that you can touch. Really feel the texture of the item you are touching, and think about the sensations and temperature. Next is hearing . Name three things you can hear. You want to pay attention to sounds in your environment, such as a fan, birds, traffic, a clock, etc. Then, we use smell . Focus on any scents in the air such as with food or nature. Scented lotions work well too. Last, we want to taste . Get something nearby to taste that is pleasant, and describe the flavor and any other sensations you experience. Why is this difficult to do? Well, if you are already anxious or otherwise distressed, this can be overwhelming. Unless you are visually impaired, most people can complete the five things you can see. Four things you can touch are also typically easy for people. However, after that, it gets tricky! I don’t know about you, but unless I am out in nature, it is difficult to think of three things you can hear. This can induce pressure and panic to find an answer; now we are getting more worked up. Two things to smell? We don’t always have multiple pleasant smelling things around us. Lastly, for taste- if we do not have something to taste, this can induce more stress to try to find something to complete the task. Taken together, grounding in the classical sense can actually be counterproductive by adding to distress. If it works for you, great! But if not, here are some alternatives: The 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 strategy: just like above, but focus on only one thing for each sense. If you do not have something to taste nearby, you can imagine something pleasant to you. The 1-sense strategy: Pick your favorite sense, and use that! You can do 5 things you see and successfully ground yourself, as an example. Touch is another great one for the one-sense approach. The multi-sense item: Some people like having an established “grounding item” that engages multiple senses. Small lotion bottles are a great example- you can feel the texture of the bottle, the cap, and the actual lotion; you can see the writing on the bottle and then focus on the color of the lotion; and, you can smell the pleasant scent of the lotion. In our office, we offer scented dough balls (think of a more pliable stress ball) to help ground with multiple senses- next time you are in-office, feel free to ask for one! Regardless of how you approach grounding, a lot of individuals think that this just “won’t help” and disregard it before ever trying. I think that is typically due to improper expectations. Is grounding going to solve your problem? No, of course not! But, does it allow your mind to take a “brain break” and focus on something pleasant in the moment to take the edge off? Yes, it does. When you return to thinking about the stressor, you can usually do so from a calmer place with more clarity. Try it out, let us know what you think, and watch future blog entries and posts for more anxiety management strategies! -Dr. Stanley