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!

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, and etc.

My academic background includes a Post-Certificate DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health from the University of Illinois Chicago, a Doctorate of Nurse 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.

At the heart of my care philosophy lies one unwavering conviction: every person deserves to be seen and valued as a complete human being, never reduced to a diagnosis or label. As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive clinical experience in inpatient psychiatry, crisis intervention, and medication management, I deliver thorough, evidence-informed care in every encounter. I begin each partnership with an unhurried, thorough assessment devoted to deeply understanding your symptoms, lived experiences, cultural background, and personal strengths that you bring to our work.

Whether supporting individuals living with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or co-occurring substance challenges, I build personalized treatment plans that honor each person's unique history and goals. Medication management is always intentional, careful, and deeply collaborative. I closely monitor outcomes, listen attentively to your lived experience, and thoughtfully adjust your care as your needs evolve over time.

Trauma-informed care is woven throughout everything I do. My background spanning high-risk obstetrics, perinatal mental health, and acute inpatient psychiatry has profoundly shaped how I understand the ways trauma affects emotional well-being and resilience. I approach every interaction with genuine empathy, cultural humility, and a steadfast commitment to creating a safe, welcoming, and stigma-free space where lasting recovery can truly flourish.

I am also a devoted advocate for my patients well beyond the clinical setting. Meaningful care does not stop with the individual; it must engage the broader communities and systems that profoundly shape our lives. My aims are clear and deeply unwavering: to genuinely partner with you, offer compassionate guidance, and steadily support your journey toward lasting stability, resilience, and a fuller, deeply meaningful, and authentically connected life.

The care I offer rests on warmth, true empathy, and deep respect for who you really are. From our very first meeting, I see you as a whole, capable person facing real challenges, someone carrying an innate wisdom and quiet resilience that we'll nurture and strengthen together, every step of the way.

My approach draws from psychiatric principles that recognize how early life experiences shape the struggles you face today. I work to create a space entirely free from judgment and stigma, one that offers real understanding and steady, dependable support from the outset. Your perspective remains at the heart of everything we discuss, shaping every decision we reach together as true partners in your care.

Our work begins exactly where you are and unfolds at whatever pace feels right for you. During this first appointment, we'll talk through what's brought you here and what kind of support might serve you best. Some people do best with medication, others respond well to alternative approaches, and many find that a thoughtful combination of both serves them most effectively. I'll guide you through each option with clear, honest conversation, so the path you choose genuinely reflects your own values and hopes.

You're never defined by a diagnosis or reduced to your symptoms alone. You're a complete person, fully worthy of dignity, comfort, and truly excellent, respectful care. I'm dedicated to honoring the cultural identities, personal histories, and unique perspectives you bring, keeping your care inclusive, affirming, and attentive to your whole self from day one.

I remain right beside you through every single step. This first appointment offers a safe space where your story holds real meaning, your goals are genuinely heard, and your humanity is honored without reservation. Together we'll explore how your physical health, your relationships, and your broader life circumstances all connect and genuinely shape your overall sense of wellbeing.