Jessica

Life can be tough, and we all deserve a little helping hand to get over the road bumps because sometimes those road bumps can feel like hills or mountains!

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor I am here to help, and do so with safety, support, and maybe even some fun. I am not what most think when they think “therapist”, I believe in a person-first approach and am going to gear the therapeutic process to your needs and goals.

A good way to think about my therapeutic role is that I’m like your own personal sidekick! A sidekick’s job is to provide support to the main superhero.

I’ve had several years of education to become a sidekick. I’ve earned a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in psychology with a focus on risk, resilience, and prevention, and then completed a second Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have gone on to obtain my license in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and am currently working on further credentialing.

I’ve received extra training in trauma-focused approaches, play-based techniques, and emotion-focused therapy, as well as animal assisted therapeutic techniques.

I work with children as young as 5 years to adults in the later stages of life. I believe in a positive, person-centered approach with a focus on individual strengths. I also believe that play is a language of its own and can benefit everyone, no matter your age!

While I have training and experience to work with individuals across a variety of age groups, my areas of specialty are adolescent development and failure to launch. These groups are teens and young adults transitioning into more independent life roles, and I also work to provide support to the families experiencing this transition with them. This can range from teens adjusting to school, social changes, social pressures, parental relationship changes, self-esteem, and growing up to young adults facing independence, college, career, adult responsibilities, sense of self, and adult relationships.

As your sidekick, I’m here to help guide you through the transitional maze and develop the tools to become your best you!

For more information on Failure to Launch and our services, please check out our services page!

 I am a true animal lover, and my dogs come to work with me as often as they can! Raine, Jade, and Monk are trained to take part in my therapeutic work, and do so based on therapeutic needs and their needs. I have other animals at home (29!), and love to share their stories, too!

Animals were an important part of my own youth; my array of pets were my confidants, friends, and playmates. Working with my dogs, I hope to offer these many benefits of animal relationships to my clients.