Jessica believes that human persons are mind-body-soul composites and health or dysfunction in any of these three realms affects the other two. She views health and dysfunction as two ends of the same continuum, on which all people lie. Counseling is a journey that client and counselor embark on together, clinician holding a lamp to light the way and a mirror to reflect back to the client both himself and his progress. The stronger the rapport between client and counselor, the brighter this light and clearer this mirror will be. Genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard help the clinician to grow this rapport (Carl Rogers’ Core Conditions). To measure progress, counselor and client collaborate on specific, achievable goals. Clinicians may also administer objective, validated tests to compare clients’ wellbeing throughout the therapeutic process. The process toward growth and change requires hard work from the client as well as consistent attunement from the counselor. Counselors teach their clients’ self-efficacy, coping skills, and techniques to help them remain regulated regardless of external circumstances and overcome this learned helplessness. Counselors shed light on clients’ past, presents, and potential futures, allowing clients to engage with these realities more fully. Symptoms might temporarily get worse as therapy forces the client to look at his woundedness; symptoms are often the expression of unmet needs and therefore a source of valuable information. As the therapeutic process progresses and the client practices all he has learned in session, greater healing can be found than if these wounds were never addressed. Since every person holds their own unique way of seeing and being in the world, counselors should tailor their therapeutic approach to the client using technical eclecticism to create a bespoke and affective therapy.
She specializes in and has previously worked with students age 18-29 on various mental health concerns, ranging from depression and anxiety to borderline and schizophrenia. During that time, she co-led a twenty-week program for women struggling to overcome porn and masturbation addiction. Prior to working with students, she worked in a drug and alcohol rehab center with both those in recovery and their children on sobriety goals and emotional regulation.
She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Dallas; a MA in clinical mental health counseling from Franciscan University of Steubenville; she has also completed Gottman level one training and is in the process of completing level two. Jessica is also a member of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, National Board for Certified Counselors and was previously secretary of Psi Alpha Tau chapter of Chi Sigma Iota.
When asked what Jessica believes she is awesome at, Jessica replied, “I bake quality sourdough bread and am slightly better than average at keeping plants alive.”
