About
Hi, I'm Jessica.
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in San Francisco.
Presently, my practice is accepting new clients for remote work.
I am licensed to provide therapy to individuals throughout the states of California and Michigan.
Please reach out to me through my Contact Form if you think we would work well together.
My core values are creativity and inclusion, and I strive to reflect these in my life, both personally and professionally.
Those close to me have described my personality as a combination of a wise elder and a playful kid. My "old soul" and "young heart" work together to bring empathy, intelligence, and openness to my work as a therapist.
I'm a therapy geek; I absolutely love the work I do with clients. It excites me and lights me up!
I am thrilled that I get to use my skills and sensitivity to help others know, be, and love themselves in a full and integrated way. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness my clients on their paths of compassion, acceptance, growth, and change.
Prior to my career as a therapist, I worked as a public school teacher and in the restaurant industry for over a decade. When I’m not working, I enjoy creative writing, going to the theatre, and spending quality time with friends and family.
I identify as a white, lesbian/queer, cisgender woman. My pronouns are she/her.
my practice
I named my practice Fog City Counseling to reflect my love for San Francisco, (nicknamed Fog City) and to honor the experience many people have of feeling like they are living "in a fog". Fogginess can be a catalyst for seeking counseling. Feeling stuck, lost, or confused can all be clues that something is out of alignment, and therapy can help support a more thorough investigation of the signs and signals our bodies and brains send us.
As a therapist, I strive to create a comforting space for my clients to process what they're going through. Everyone deserves a space to feel cared for. I listen for themes, beliefs, and patterns, and I point them out for further exploration. I believe we are all impacted by our environments including the families we grew up in, our relationship histories, our identities, and society at large. My challenge to my clients is to practice patience with themselves as we work together to untangle layers of conditioning in order for them to know and be themselves more fully.
As my clients pull back more and more layers, they can experience pain in a way they may not have been able to tolerate in the past. Upon processing old wounds that they've been carrying around, my clients can feel a greater sense of freedom, spaciousness, and ease.
My wish for clients is that they open up to themselves in a way that leads to balance and fulfillment. From this place, foggy days will still come, but clients now have the confidence and tools to navigate these times and successfully make it through to the other side.
If you're ready for more clarity, I would be happy to accompany you on your path.
Experience
In addition to my private practice, I have worked in counseling centers, schools, and non-profits providing therapy to adults, teens, couples, and groups. I’m committed to keeping my clinical skills sharp by seeking out and participating in specialized trainings and workshops, (I’m always learning something new to add to my repertoire,) and I’m dedicated to my own personal growth work.
QUALIFICATIONS
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences #117122
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with the State of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing #4101007305
Master of Arts degree in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)
Graduated in May 2016
Affiliations
Bay Area Open Minds
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Center for Mindful Psychotherapy, San Francisco, CA
Gaylesta Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity
Golden Gate Integral Counseling Center
San Francisco Unified School District's Student Intervention Team
Post-Grad Trainings
Minding the Heart Program 2024
Conscious Girlfriend Academy Coach Training 2024
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Group for Therapists 2024
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Immersive 2024
Relationship Recovery Process (RRP) 2020-2023
Hakomi Institute of California Professional Training Levels 1 & 2 2019-2023
Motivational Interviewing 2023
Integrating Experiential Therapies 2022
Improv for Therapists with Improv Therapy Group 2020-2021
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 2020
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: Embodying the Healing Wisdom 2018
If you're curious about the possibility of us working together, you're invited to get in touch with me.