Stacia McNeely

I’m a psychiatric nurse practitioner who works from the belief that people are not broken—and that many of the struggles we call “mental illness” make sense when we look at trauma, context, and lived experience. I’m especially attuned to the ways mental health systems, stigma, and labels can unintentionally cause harm, and I aim to practice in a way that feels respectful, collaborative, and deeply human.

My approach is unconventional and trauma-informed, influenced by perspectives like those of Gabor Maté, which emphasize compassion, curiosity, and understanding symptoms as meaningful responses rather than defects. I do not believe in rushing to pathologize the human experience. As Joni Mitchell once reflected about depression, sometimes what we’re feeling is not an illness to be fixed, but a signal—an honest response to pain, loss, or a world that has not been kind.

I offer psychotherapy as a stand-alone service as well as medication management, depending on what feels right for you. My clinical work includes EMDR, DBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for trauma, and addiction-focused therapy. I also provide highly personalized ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for appropriate participants. This work is intensive, trauma-informed, evidence-based, and medically supervised from start to finish, with careful attention to safety, preparation, and integration.

In our work together, I strive to meet you exactly where you are. I bring a non-judgmental, down-to-earth presence and see you as a complex, whole human being—not a diagnosis. We’ll move at your pace, focusing on safety, trust, and what actually feels helpful to you. Medication can be part of the conversation, but it is never the whole story.

If you are someone who feels like everyone has given up on you, this is a place where you are welcome. If you’ve been told you are “too much,” “non-compliant,” or beyond help—or if no one has truly been able to meet you where you are because you’ve experienced homelessness, incarceration, or deep shame around your suffering—you belong here. Care should never be withheld based on someone’s history or how hard their life has been.

You don’t need to be fixed to deserve care. You deserve to be understood.

The first session is simply a place to begin. There’s no pressure to share everything, no need to have the right words, and no expectation that you know exactly what you need. We’ll take things slowly and let the conversation unfold in a way that feels manageable for you.

I’ll be getting to know you as a person, not as a list of symptoms or a story you have to tell in full. You’re welcome to share what feels important right now, and it’s always okay to pause, change direction, or hold things back. This time is yours.

If medication is part of your care, or something you’re curious about, we can talk about it thoughtfully and without pressure. If you’re here for therapy alone, that is just as welcome. The first session isn’t about arriving at answers or labels—it’s about creating a sense of safety and seeing how it feels to be in this space together.

It’s very common to feel nervous, unsure, or even disconnected in a first session, especially if past experiences with mental health care have been difficult. You don’t need to explain yourself perfectly or make your pain understandable. Your experience is enough as it is.

Above all, the first session is about being met where you are, with care, patience, and respect—and beginning at a pace that feels right for you.