About Us
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About Stratus Psychological Services
Stratus Psychological Services was opened in 2023 by Dr. Jessi Manning. She enjoys working with teenagers and adults aged 16+ with a wide range of concerns, although she has two particular areas of passion. First, she enjoys working with people with possible or confirmed neurodiversity, including intellectual disabilities, autism, and ADD/ADHD. She has extensive experience with conducting guardianship evaluations and testifying in guardianship hearings, including testifying over 20 times in 2022 alone. Second, she likes working with students planning for college, college and graduate students of all ages, and adults hoping or planning to return to college. She has experience helping students obtain academic accommodations at the high school and college levels, workplace accommodations, and accommodations on high stakes exams. She is also experienced in completing DBQs and writing nexus letters for Veterans seeking disability.
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Dr. Manning takes a collaborative approach to evaluations, working with clients to understand their strengths and concerns. This usually involves interviews with the client, formal testing measures, and questionnaires. With a client’s permission, other important people in their lives (like parents and significant others) are often involved, with interviews and/or questionnaires. It is also helpful to include information like report cards or other academic records, prior testing reports, records from mental or medical health providers, etc. ​Dr. Manning is licensed in both Michigan and Indiana, and many services can be provided by telehealth. If you’d like to schedule a complimentary 15 minute phone consultation with Dr. Manning to discuss this process further, please click here.
Dr. Manning strives to practice cultural humility in her personal and private life. Her goal is for Stratus to be a safe and supportive environment for everyone, including the queer community, neurodivergent folx, and the BIPOC community. She strives to honor the identities and self-determination of each of her clients, including through anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks.
Dr. Jessi Manning
Psychologist/Owner
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Jessi Manning, PhDÂ (she/her)Â developed a passion for testing during her doctoral training. She honed her skills during her internship at the University of Akron and while working for Purdue University Counseling and Psychological Services for five years. She moved to Grand Rapids in 2016 and worked for a large group practice until launching Stratus Psychological Services in 2023. For more information about her her background, please visit her LinkedIn page. She loves helping people better understand themselves, in order to more effectively steer their lives in directions that they find meaningful and satisfying for themselves. Outside of work, Dr. Manning is a volunteer court appointed special advocate (CASA), including being matched with a darling preschooler. She loves traveling and listening to audiobooks and podcasts. She enjoys going to antique stores and estate sales, refurbishing furniture, and cooking and baking.
Aubrey Wagg
Administrative Assistant
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Aubrey Wagg, BA (she/her) is a newly minted Michigander who is still an Arizonan at heart, having spent much of her childhood and young adulthood in the Grand Canyon State before moving to Grand Rapids in early 2023. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English, with a minor in Cinema Studies, from Northern Arizona University in 2018. Between her time in Arizona and moving to Michigan, she spent three years living and working abroad in Winterthur, Switzerland, where she improved her German language skills and enjoyed learning about a different culture while taking in the beautiful Swiss countryside. She has experience in customer service, marketing, and education, and is passionate about doing work that is community-oriented. In her free time, Aubrey loves to read, spend time in nature, and do almost any arts-related activity (watching films, attending concerts, and visiting art exhibits are some of her favorites).
Maggie Leach
Psychometrist
Maggie Leach, BA (she/her) graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2022 with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. She grew up in Illinois, but moved for college and quickly fell in love with Michigan. Maggie has experience in customer service and administrative psychological duties, and loves helping patients learn more about themselves. She loves the mental health field and is passionate about ensuring that patients feel comfortable and safe while receiving care. In her free time, Maggie loves to garden, read, bake, and spend time with her partner and 2 adorable cats.