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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. Insurance & Billing What insurance does Stanley Psychology accept? Our practice is able to take several insurances including Blue Cross Blue Shield (PPO plans), Scott & White, Aetna, Medicare, and Humana. Practicum clinicians are not able to take insurance, but instead offer lower-cost rates to provide services. If you are out of network, we can provide a form for you to submit for reimbursement. Our office is also able to process HSA and FSA cards for payment due to the nature of healthcare services offered. What if my insurance doesn't cover therapy? Our billing office is happy to provide you with the information needed to file for any out-of-network benefits your insurance may provide. You would pay out-of-pocket rates, and any reimbursement would be paid directly to you. What are the session rates? If you are self-pay (not utilizing insurance), Dr. Stanley’s initial session fee is $275 and follow-up therapy appointments are $200. Psychological evaluations typically range from $1,100 - $1,500 depending on what is being assessed. Additional work Dr. Stanley may engage in, including consulting and engaging in court proceedings, is billed at her $200 hourly rate. These rates are influenced by location of practice, education, and experience. Fees for LPAs are dependent upon their level of practice and have an initial session fee of $150-225 and follow-up therapy appointment fees of $125-$175. Psychological evaluations typically range from $900 - $1,200 depending on what is being assessed. Additional work by LPA clinicians, including consulting and engaging in court proceedings, is billed at their hourly rate of $125-$175. These rates are influenced by location of practice, education, and experience. We are also able to offer a sliding scale through clinicians in training. Practicum clinicians have a session rate of $2 5 per session. They offer reduced cost psychological evaluations, under the supervision of Dr. Stanley, for $200-$400 depending on what concern is bei ng assessed. What is Stanley Psychology's cancellation policy? Appointments require 48 business hours’ notice for cancellation without penalty. Appointments cancelled between 24-48 business hours prior to the appointment will be charged a fee of $100 to your card on file. Appointments cancelled within 24 business hours of the appointment time and appointments unattended without notice will result in the full session charge ($125-$200 depending on clinician level) charged to your card on file. A card on file is required to book appointments. Business hours are defined as Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm central, excluding federal holidays, Christmas Eve, and the Friday following Thanksgiving. We want to provide full transparency for this policy. In the mental health field, it is common to charge the full session fee for cancellations and no-shows. This is because a one-hour block of time is reserved for your appointment. In the medical field, offices typically have a cancelation policy of a lower amount, but it is usually based on a 15-minute appointment with the provider rather than one hour. Due to their booking strategies, they can also overbook to account for cancellations due to the nature of their session times; in mental health, we cannot overbook to plan for cancellations and instead the hour remains open. Session fees are dictated by education level, license, and location of practicing. For doctoral-level providers like Dr. Stanley, the Dallas/Fort Worth area hourly rates are $175+. Masters-level providers (such as licensed professional counselors) typically have lower hourly rates, which likely means lower costs for late cancellations. Although we love what we do, it is still a business! We recognize this hourly rate may be shocking to some, particularly who utilize their insurance for sessions. However, please remember the fee is based on education and experience, and also covers all operating costs of the business. For clinicians in training: Practicum clinicians and clinical residents require at least 48 hours’ notice for cancellation without penalty. Otherwise, their full session fee of $25 is charged to the card on file. MORE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US

Now Offering Weekend Mental Health Intensives with Veronica Guerrero-Quan, LPA (Independent Practice) Contact Us Are you ready to take a FOCUSED, EMPOWERING STEP FORWARD in your healing journey? Beginning in February 2026, Veronica, our OCD & Anxiety Specialist, will be offering structured mental health intensives that are extended, one-time sessions designed to accelerate insight, skill-building, and relief. Whether you’re working through OCD, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or trauma, these intensives provide dedicated space to go deeper without the wait. Contact us for more information or to be put on 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

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. Virtual Therapy What is online therapy? Virtual Therapy Online therapy, also known as remote therapy, virtual therapy, or teletherapy, is therapy conducted when the patient is in a different place than the clinician. This method has become increasingly popular and all Stanley Psychology clinicians are able to offer online therapy services. Why choose online therapy? M any people choose remote services for convenience, time, and comfort. By offering online therapy, any people are able to access therapy when barriers are present otherwise, such as time constraints in the workday, family obligations, or location. At Stanley Psychology, we offer in-person appointments in Mansfield, Texas, virtual appointments, or a hybrid approach in which patients can choose to attend virtually or in person at any point in time. Does online therapy work as well as in-person? Research demonstrates that online therapy can be as effective as in-person for many concerns! If your clinician believes you may benefit more from in-person services, that recommendation will be discussed during your course of treatment. How does online therapy work? Remote services offered through Stanley Psychology have similarities amongst clinicians, including privacy, HIPAA compliance, and video or phone offerings. You will be provided a link to access your session prior to your appointment time. Do I have to do online or can I attend in person? You can absolutely attend in-person. In fact, we would love to have you in the office! However, because of the popularity of remote services, some clinicians have remote days of work where they are not physically present in-office. Your clinician will discuss availability during your initial session. What states can you practice virtual therapy in? Note this is dependent upon the specific license of the provider. For LPAs and practicum students, the patient must be physically located in Texas to engage in remote sessions. Dr. Stanley is fully licensed in Texas and Kansas. Additionally, she is part of the PSYPACT program, which allows for interstate practice in 42 states and counting! Thus, there are more states that Dr. Stanley CAN see patients in versus not! However, this does not extend to the other clinicians in the office, as this is reserved for doctoral-level psychologists involved in the PSYPACT. The PSYPACT map is regularly added to, therefore it is best to reference this information to determine state-specific questions. MORE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US

It’s the baby’s nap time, and you can’t decide whether you should take a shower, eat, drink some coffee, clean, read, or take a nap.  If you find yourself in this season of life, I see you, Mama! Let's talk about mental health for moms. There are so many changes that happen when becoming a mom. There is comfort in knowing that this season is one to cherish AND one that will graduate into future seasons with their own set of challenges and delights. No matter the season, however, the biggest blessings in life often come with the biggest sacrifices.  There is the expected hard. There is the unexpected hard.  There is the expected joy. There is the unexpected joy.  And there is a lot of life that fills the in-between.  It matters. Your family matters. You matter. You are not alone.  Motherhood holds a kind of hard work that shapes us in profoundly beautiful ways, yet there are seasons when we slip into unnecessary suffering that dims that beauty.  We can start to feel alone, overwhelmed, uninformed (or even overinformed lol), and feel broken down, anxious, angry, and upset that we cannot just stop feeling upset. Mom guilt has a way of wearing us down in ways no sleepless night ever could. Every mama has days that feel this way, but if it seems like most days are consumed by these feelings, take heart that there is hope. Motherhood doesn’t have to feel like this all the time. Being emotionally and mentally present is one of the most meaningful ways we can show up for ourselves and our families. This can become very difficult to walk in when we are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or a lack of confidence in our lives as a new mama. Having the space to grow personally can have a significant ripple effect on your kids, your spouse, and ultimately generations to come after you.  Therapy is not a “fix-all,” but it can be a tool to help in very practical and meaningful ways. One thing I am passionate about is sitting with women in their season of motherhood, and I would love to have the chance to hear your story.

Whether you have been diagnosed with ADHD or you just have a short attention span, many people struggle with staying focused on day-to-day tasks. Adults and children alike can benefit from some Back to School Focus Tips for staying on task and maintaining productivity throughout the day, and that’s what I’m here to help with! My first suggestion is to allow lists to be your best friend. We may have a list in our heads of all of the stuff that we need to get done each day, but if we don’t write it down, we can 1) forget what we need to do or 2) feel too overwhelmed by everything you need to remember to get started on anything.  Here’s how you start a list of tasks: Pick a day of the week to make your list and list everything out. For example, every Monday you make a list of things that need to be done that week. Write down everything from making the bed to mowing the lawn to writing invitations for the kids’ party next weekend.  Break the tasks down into smaller tasks and assign them to a day of the week. Do you eat an orange whole? No! You cut it up into smaller pieces. Treat tasks the same way. For example, if you have “clean the house” on your list, break that down into “clean the bathroom,” “mop the floors,” “dust the living room,” etc. Add those smaller tasks to a daily task list. Another option would be to assign a room to clean each day. For example, on Mondays you clean the bathroom, on Tuesdays you clean the kitchen, etc. Whatever makes the tasks feel achievable, do that! A task can be too big, but it can’t be too small.  If your list of daily tasks is getting too long, prioritize what needs to be done. For example, if you have “bathe the dogs,” “mow the lawn,” and “weed eat” on your list for a day that you also work a full shift, identify which of those tasks can be moved to a different day or a different week. If you overwhelm yourself, there is a good chance that nothing will get done, so make your task list achievable so at least the important things get completed.  Place this list somewhere you won’t miss it, like on your phone, front door, mirror, or all of the above. The list won’t do you any good if you don’t look at it.  For your kids, make a daily task list with pictures to put up in each room. For example, put their list of tasks done in their room (making the bed, putting toys away, etc.) up on a wall in their room. List their chores on the refrigerator (feed the dog, take out the trash, etc.). Put a list of things to do to get ready in the morning in the bathroom (brush your teeth, brush your hair, etc.). Provide a marker or sticker for the child to mark off the completed tasks.  My second suggestion is to take regular stretch breaks and utilize fidget toys if you have to sit for long periods. Sitting at a desk all day is hard for adults and kids. Here are some tips for staying focused: Stretch intermittently. For example, every hour, stand up and touch your toes, reach to the sky, and slowly twist your back. Stretching allows the mind to refocus and it releases endorphins that make you feel good! For your kids, ask their teachers if they can have regular stretch breaks throughout the day, or teach your kids some simple stretches they can do at their desks when they find their minds wandering. Reach your arms up and to the right then to the left Sit up straight and slowly twist your back from right to left Sit up straight and slowly turn your head from side to side Have some little fidget toys on hand. Pop-its, Thinking Putty, and stretchy noodles may seem like kid toys, but adults find them useful too! Don’t be afraid to have some little things on your desk to keep your hands busy during slow times. There’s no need to struggle through your workday when fidgets are designed to help! For your kids, talk to their teachers about fidget toy options in their classroom. If fidgets are not allowed, here are some options for quiet fidgeting in the classroom. Slowly tap your fingers one at a time on your desk. Try tapping your fingers in different orders or patterns. Remember to tap your fingers slowly so you don’t make much noise and disrupt the class! Place your hands on your chair on either side of your legs. Push the chair away from you so that your bottom barely comes off of the seat. This exerts energy and uses the muscles to help regain focus and release endorphins through movement.  Make your hands into fists and squeeze them as tight as you can for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, relax your hands and notice how tired they feel. You can do this over and over and you can even do it with different muscles like your arms, legs, and feet.  If an inability to focus interferes with your ability to function during the day, start with these tips and then seek additional help. These struggles are not new or uncommon, so talk to a mental health professional who can help!

When people talk about peripartum mental health, they usually focus on postpartum depression or anxiety—and that’s incredibly important. But there’s something else many new moms go through that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: the mental load for moms that comes with motherhood. I’m not talking about the physical tasks of parenting, like changing diapers or feeding. I’m talking about the constant, never-ending  stream of mental “tabs” that stay open in your head all day (and night). Your mind is constantly running: Did I switch the laundry? When was the baby’s last feeding? I need to schedule that pediatrician appointment. Is this rash normal? Did I do enough tummy time today? It’s like having a browser with a dozen tabs open at all times—and you never really get to close any of them. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and NO, you’re not imagining it. This is often called the invisible load, and it’s real . What Is the Invisible Load? The invisible load doesn’t look the same for everyone. It can weigh heavily on moms whether you have one child or a house full of them. It’s not about how many kids you have—it’s about the constant mental juggling that comes with caring for others. It is all the mental, emotional, and logistical weight that many moms carry that is often without recognition or support. It’s the behind-the-scenes work of managing a household, caring for a child, and anticipating everyone’s needs. This includes remembering appointments, tracking feeding and sleep schedules, keeping up with school forms, grocery lists, birthday gifts, and even knowing where everyone’s shoes are. It’s checking the diaper bag before leaving the house, noticing when laundry needs to be done before anyone else does, and always being mentally three steps ahead. It’s the emotional labor of regulating your child’s feelings while barely managing your own, or absorbing a partner’s stress while holding it all together. It’s constantly weighing decisions— Should we try a new formula? Was that cry normal? Do I need to call the doctor? —and often doing so with very little rest. This is why so many moms say, “I’m exhausted, but I didn’t do anything today.” Because while it may look like “nothing” from the outside, internally, your brain was on overdrive. You did a lot—you just weren’t physically clocking in and out. You did it all while trying to remember to maintain a sense of your own identity that you also feel like you lost along the way either during pregnancy or after the baby was born. Somewhere in the blur of feedings, laundry, and middle-of-the-night wake-ups, it’s easy to lose sight of the person you were before becoming “Mom.” The invisible load is real, it’s heavy, and it deserves to be acknowledged. Just because it’s not visible doesn’t mean it isn’t work. In fact, it’s often the most exhausting kind. When this mental load builds up (and it almost always does), it can lead to some pretty serious struggles. You might start feeling constantly anxious or on edge, or notice that you’re more irritable than usual. Sleep becomes a challenge—not just because of the baby, but because your brain won’t turn off. You might find yourself snapping at people you love over small things, or feeling emotionally numb and disconnected from everything and everyone around you. There may be a constant sense that you're falling short, even when you're doing everything in your power. You may feel resentment, guilt, or sadness that lingers throughout the day. Sometimes, it shows up as decision fatigue—feeling paralyzed by even the smallest choices—or as a deep loneliness, even when you're rarely alone. This invisible weight can take a toll on your mental and physical health, making it harder to enjoy the moments you want to be present for. Why It Matters and Why Don’t We Talk About It More? Because the invisible load isn’t usually very visible. A lot of people that you interact with frequently don’t even notice it. Maybe not even your partner, your friends, or your own parents. It doesn’t come with a clock-in time, a job title, or a checklist you can point to. It lives in the quiet spaces: the middle-of-the-night mental notes, the endless background worry, the planning five steps ahead while managing the present moment. You know others mean well when they say things like, “But your baby is healthy!”  or “Enjoy every minute, it goes by so fast,”  or “You’re doing such a great job!”  These comments are usually meant with love and good intentions, but they can leave you feeling unseen and unheard. Because while you might look  like you have it all together on the outside, inside you may feel like you’re barely holding it together. You’re grateful, yes, but also insanely overwhelmed, exhausted, and stretched thinner than you’ve ever been before. There’s also a pressure to be the “supermom” who does it all without complaint. We’re told to savor every moment, be endlessly selfless, and bounce back quickly in all ways: physically, emotionally, socially. There’s an unspoken expectation to carry the mental load silently, and to do so with a smile. So when you don’t feel like you're managing it all well, it’s easy to think something must be wrong with you. You can start to second-guess your feelings or minimize them. But the truth is, struggling doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful for you child(ren). It doesn’t mean you’re weak, or failing, or any less of a good parent. It just means you’re human. What Can Help? If you’re feeling mentally maxed out, know that you’re not alone. More importantly, there are  things that can help. The first step? Say it out loud. Sometimes, simply naming what you’re feeling— “I’m feeling really mentally overloaded,” can be extremely powerful. When you put words to the invisible load, it not only validates your experience for yourself, but also helps those around you better understand what you’re going through. Next, give yourself permission to ask for help, and to do so without guilt! This is one of the hardest things for many moms, especially those used to being the go-to, the planner, the one who just gets it all done. But here’s the truth: asking for help doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human . Learn to lean on your partner to schedule the pediatrician appointment. Let a friend or family member take over dinner duty for a night (I promise they want to). Delegate the grocery pickup. It’s okay to lean on your village, even if that village is small or still forming. New moms were never meant to carry all of this alone. Take time to care for yourself. Even if it’s just for a few minutes each day, carving out space to do something you enjoy or simply to breathe can make a huge difference. Whether it’s a quick walk outside, a few stretches, a short meditation, or diving into a hobby you used to love. Taking this time doesn’t make you selfish. It’s necessary! Physical activity, even something gentle like a walk or yoga, can boost your mood, reduce stress, and help you reconnect with your body. Also, try revisiting hobbies you used to enjoy or explore new ones that fit your current lifestyle. If you don’t have time to sit down and read a book, for example, look for an audiobook or podcast you can listen to while driving, cooking, or cleaning. If you liked crafting but don’t have long stretches of free time, try quick projects like coloring, knitting, or even simple doodling during small breaks. If you enjoyed music, create playlists that lift your mood or try learning a new song on an instrument in short sessions. The key is to find little pockets of time to connect with things that bring you joy, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Talking to someone who really gets it can make a huge difference. Therapists who specialize in perinatal mental health understand the invisible stress, the identity shifts, and the deep exhaustion that doesn’t go away with just a nap or a shower. They know that even when everything looks “fine” on the outside, you might be barely holding it together inside. Having a space to just talk—without needing to explain or sugarcoat anything—can be a huge relief. You don’t have to worry about saying the “right” thing or keeping it all together. You can cry, vent, be totally honest, and actually feel heard. And therapy isn’t just about giving you coping tools (although that helps, too). It’s also about feeling seen and supported. It’s a space to sort through everything you’ve been carrying, and maybe even reconnect with parts of yourself that have gotten lost in the shuffle. Because yes, you’re a mom, but you’re also a person with your own needs, feelings, and dreams. You deserve  that kind of support, even if you don’t think you do. If there’s one thing I hope you remember, it’s this: you’re not failing—you’re just carrying way too much on your plate. Motherhood is full of love and sweet moments, but it’s also full of pressure, expectations, and a never-ending to-do list. It’s okay to say, “This is a lot.”  It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to need help. So many moms feel like they should be able to do it all with a smile on their face and feeling 100% okay, but unfortunately that’s just not real life. What no one sees is all the behind-the-scenes mental work and how exhausting it can be to keep up with it all. But here’s the thing: there’s no medal for doing it all by yourself. No one hands out trophies for pushing through in silence (though honestly, if they did, we’d all be walking around with a bunch!) What you do  deserve is support, rest, and a chance to feel like yourself again and not just someone going through the motions. Take it from someone who knows firsthand—it doesn’t usually get better on its own. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, irritable, anxious, down, or just plain exhausted, know that you’re definitely not alone. Reach out. Talk to someone. Ask for help. Let others share the load with you. Because you matter! Not just as a mom, but as you . It’s possible to fully embrace your role as a mom while still staying true to who you are. That’s the beauty of motherhood—it doesn’t mean you have to lose yourself and who you were before kids, but rather growing into a new version of you. You can nurture your family and also nurture your own dreams, passions, and well-being. Finding that balance might take time and support, but it’s absolutely within reach!