LCSW, 18 years of experience
Hey there, I’m Jamie (she/her). If you struggle to feel "seen", if you experience stress with your identity or in your relationships, or maybe if you're new to therapy or you've had not-great encounters with therapists in the past, I hope you'll book a session and give me a try. I am a sex-positive, body-accepting, anti-racist, LGBTQ+ ally in all aspects of my life, and this open-hearted stance deeply informs my work as a clinical therapist. In 2018, I began a personal mindfulness/meditation practice, and find that these techniques can be really helpful in therapy as well. I have a lot of experience, but I am not the expert in *you* - let’s work together to help you discover and follow the path you choose. As far as credentials go: I'm a clinical social worker independently licensed in Virginia and West Virginia and have been practicing as a therapist since 2010. I have been trained and am experienced in the treatment of multiple conditions including PTSD, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, and chronic pain.
My approach is intuitive, collaborative, and conversational, and prioritizes a safe and inclusive experience for people from diverse and often marginalized backgrounds. While I have experience and training in a variety of evidence-based therapy modalities, and may recommend that some clients would benefit from a structured therapy protocol, I prefer to take a generalist or eclectic approach as this gives us room to explore what you need. Our first session will be structured as an "intake assessment" where we will talk about your symptoms, background, and reasons for starting therapy. It's also your opportunity to interview me for the job of being your therapist, so I'm open to your questions about my background, experience, and approach.
As a therapist I rely a lot on my sense of humor and my easygoing, accepting demeanor. My background and upbringing has been somewhat unusual and non-traditional, which I believe gives me a unique perspective on life and the ability to form connections with my clients and meet them where they are without judgements or expectations. If I had a "niche", I'd say that it's more about my holistic approach and focus on collaboration and building an effective working relationship with my clients as individuals, in order to develop trust to support our work together. Growth can be satisfying, but also challenging and even sometimes painful; I am here to be a compassionate partner and guide to you during that process.
I offer therapy services for adults of all ages, and my goal is to help clients who wish to develop self-regulation skills, improve communication, and cultivate compassion for self and others. I often use a cognitive behavioral model to help my clients recognize and better understand how their beliefs about themselves and the world influence their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Sometimes, just being able to name and explore your feelings with non-judgmental curiosity can be really helpful.