Linda Jessie
I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and hold a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. I work with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, emotional challenges, life transitions, and experiences that can leave us feeling stuck. I bring both professional and life experience to my work and strive to create a space that feels comfortable, genuine, and free of judgment. My approach is collaborative and practical, and I tailor therapy to each person rather than expecting everyone to fit into the same approach. I am trained in EMDR and also incorporate CBT, DBT, solution-focused strategies, and trauma-informed care based on each client's needs. I value helping people better understand themselves, build on their strengths, and make meaningful changes in their lives.
First session
Our first session is an opportunity for me to get to know you beyond the reason that brought you to therapy. We'll talk about what has been happening, what you would like to be different, and what you hope to gain from our work together. I also want you to have an opportunity to get to know me and ask questions, because finding a therapist who feels like a good fit matters. You won't be expected to tell your entire story or discuss difficult experiences before you're ready. Together, we'll begin identifying your goals and discussing the approaches that may be most helpful for you. My hope is that you leave the first session feeling heard, comfortable, and hopeful about the work ahead.
Strengths
I bring warmth, honesty, compassion, and both professional and life experience to my work with clients. I believe therapy should be a place where you feel heard and accepted, but I also believe it should help you move forward. I will sit with you when you need support, but I am also comfortable asking questions, gently challenging patterns, and helping you see things from a different perspective. I adapt my approach to the person in front of me, drawing from EMDR, CBT, DBT, and solution-focused strategies based on what you need and what we are working toward together.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is an adult who may be struggling with anxiety, trauma, difficult past experiences, emotional regulation, life transitions, relationships, parenting, or simply feeling stuck. You may understand where some of your patterns come from but still find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change. You might be functioning well in many areas of your life while recognizing that something is getting in the way of feeling the way you want to feel. I especially enjoy helping clients use EMDR to address experiences, triggers, or negative beliefs that continue to affect them in the present. You don't need to have experienced a single major trauma to benefit from exploring how past experiences may be influencing you today. When EMDR is appropriate, we will take the time to prepare and make sure you feel comfortable and ready before beginning that work. I also incorporate CBT, DBT, and solution-focused strategies based on your individual needs and goals. You don't have to know exactly what you need from therapy, we can figure that out together.
Treatment methods
EMDR
I use EMDR to help adults work through experiences that continue to affect how they feel, think, or respond in the present. Sometimes we understand why something bothers us, but that understanding alone does not change the emotional response. EMDR can help the brain process distressing experiences so they feel less intense and have less influence on everyday life. I work collaboratively with clients and take time to build coping and emotional regulation skills to ensure they feel prepared before beginning EMDR processing. Depending on your needs, I may incorporate strategies from CBT, DBT, solution-focused therapy, and other approaches as part of preparation and throughout treatment. EMDR may be helpful for trauma and PTSD, anxiety, panic, phobias, grief and loss, difficult childhood experiences, relationship or attachment wounds, low self-esteem, and distressing experiences that continue to feel emotionally “stuck.” It can also be helpful when past experiences contribute to present-day triggers, negative beliefs about yourself, or patterns that seem difficult to change.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients recognize connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we identify patterns that may be contributing to anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, or feeling stuck and develop practical ways to respond differently. CBT can be especially helpful for challenging unhelpful thought patterns, developing coping skills, improving emotional well-being, and making meaningful changes in everyday life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I incorporate DBT skills to help clients better understand and manage strong emotions, cope with stressful situations, improve relationships, and respond rather than react when emotions become overwhelming. We may work on mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, communication, and healthy boundaries. I tailor these skills to the individual rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy to help clients identify what they want to be different in their lives and build on strengths and resources they already have. Rather than focusing only on what is wrong, we look at what is working, what has helped before, and what small, realistic changes can move you toward your goals. This approach can be especially helpful with life transitions, relationships, stress, parenting concerns, and times when you simply feel stuck and aren't sure what to do next.
Trauma Informed Care
I approach therapy from a trauma-informed perspective, recognizing that past experiences can influence how we see ourselves, relate to others, and respond to situations in the present. My goal is to create a therapeutic environment where you feel safe, respected, heard, and in control of the pace of your treatment. We work collaboratively to understand patterns without judgment, build on your strengths, and develop the skills and resources needed before addressing difficult experiences more directly.
Location
Virtual sessions
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 16108