Christina Stelly

IMPORTANT: For current availability, visit https://mentalhealthpractitioners.com/ or call or text us anytime at 415-968-6515—we make it super easy! Intake forms are required before your first appointment and will be emailed to you when you book online. You can text us your info or email us at [email protected]. Please be sure to send us a picture of your insurance information and photo ID!

Hi! I'm Christina Stelly, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC — a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner based in Martinez, CA. With over 15 years of clinical experience across inpatient psychiatry, maternal health, and advanced practice, I am deeply committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to every person I serve.

I specialize in treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, depression, anxiety, etc.

My academic background includes a Post-Certificate DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health from the University of Illinois Chicago, a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Texas Tech University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Touro University. I also completed an intensive NP residency focused on advanced psychiatric care, crisis stabilization, and forensic psychiatry, which further strengthened my clinical expertise.

Earlier in my career, I specialized in maternal mental health, serving as a Patient Care Director for high-risk obstetric populations and contributing to perinatal mental health policy at the state and national levels. This background gives me a uniquely broad, whole-person perspective on psychiatric care across the lifespan.

My approach is grounded in trauma-informed, individualized care. I take time to fully understand your history, concerns, and goals before collaboratively building a treatment plan tailored to you. I have also served on health policy committees and presented at national nursing conferences, reflecting my commitment to psychiatric care.

Every person deserves to be seen as a whole human being, never reduced to a diagnosis or a label. As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a background in inpatient psychiatry, crisis intervention, and medication management, I provide thorough, compassionate, evidence-based care.

We begin with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. I take time to understand your symptoms, lived experience, cultural background, and personal strengths. Whether you are managing schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or co-occurring substance use, we build a personalized plan around your history, values, and goals, at a pace that feels right for you. Loved ones are welcome to join if you wish.

Medication management is careful and collaborative. I explain the benefits, risks, and alternatives of each option in plain language so you can decide with confidence. Between adjustments, I monitor your progress closely, listen to how you are truly feeling, and change course when something isn’t working. You are an active partner in every choice, never a bystander in your own care.

Trauma-informed care shapes everything I do. My experience in high-risk obstetrics, perinatal mental health, and acute inpatient psychiatry has deepened my understanding of how trauma affects well-being across the lifespan. I bring empathy and cultural humility to every visit, offering a safe, stigma-free space where recovery can take root.

My support also extends beyond our appointments. Mental health is shaped by families, communities, and the systems around you, and I advocate for my patients within each of them. In every session, you can expect clear guidance and steady support as you work toward stability, resilience, and a life that feels truly your own.

Whether you are in crisis or focused on long-term wellness, you will not face it alone. My goal is for you to leave every visit feeling heard, informed, and hopeful about what lies ahead.

Seeking psychiatric care takes courage, and I want our first session to feel like a relaxed, genuine conversation rather than a formal clinical intake. From the start, my goal is for you to feel welcome, heard, and at ease. I bring real curiosity, warmth, and compassion to every visit, along with a steady presence. There are no wrong answers, and you’ll never feel pushed to share more than you’re ready to.

We’ll begin by getting to know each other. I’ll ask what led you to reach out, what you’ve been going through, and what you hope will change. We’ll review your personal and family mental health history, along with any medications you’ve tried, including what helped and what didn’t. Because I treat the whole person, I’ll also ask about your relationships, daily routines, cultural background, and life experiences. If trauma is part of your story, we’ll explore it only at a pace that feels safe to you.

In psychiatry, context matters enormously. Whatever you choose to share helps me understand you more fully and lays the foundation for a treatment plan that fits your life, not just your symptoms. Nothing you bring is too small or too complicated to matter.

Before our first session ends, I’ll share my initial impressions in plain language and, when appropriate, talk through possible diagnoses and next steps. If medication may be an option, I’ll be open about my reasoning, including potential benefits and side effects, and I’ll answer all your questions. You’ll have time to decide without pressure, and the final choice will always be yours.

I believe trust and collaboration are at the heart of excellent psychiatric care, and I’m committed to being an honest, dependable partner throughout our work together. Progress looks different for everyone, so we’ll shape treatment around your goals and values. Above all, your emotional safety comes first, and you’ll be treated with dignity, respect, and thoughtful attention at every step.