LCSW, 10 years of experience
New to Grow
Jessica C. Lief, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, body image, Borderline Personality Disorder, self-harm, and substance use. Jessica completed psychoanalytic training through the William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis, and Psychology in the Eating Disorders, Compulsions, and Addictions (EDCAS) Program. She also completed the advanced clinical supervision training program through Smith College School for Social Work. Her approach is primarily psychodynamic but combines aspects of self-psychology, feminist/womanist theories, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, mindful self-compassion, and mindfulness. She is particularly interested in the treatment of eating disorders as a social justice issue, as they relate to people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. She is also adept at treating individuals diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Her grief and loss work is broad but focuses on motherless daughters, maternal grief and wounding, and emotional abandonment. Jessica also works with individuals who have experienced miscarriage, fertility-related issues, post-partum depression, anxiety, and psychosis, as well as post-partum PTSD. She also works with individuals undergoing IVF and who have struggled with women’s health issues, such as Endometriosis and PCOS, as well as individuals who are pregnant and struggling with an eating disorder. Jessica’s favorite part of being a therapist is guiding each client in their transformation and witnessing each step as it is achieved. Jessica will work with the client to identify what is deeply meaningful and important in that person’s life. The client will develop concrete skills to get their needs met directly. Jessica will help the client to develop powerful, inner resources, including self-compassion, emotion regulation techniques, radical self-acceptance, and confidence. “Jessica’s style has been described as nurturing, empathetic, and empowering. She is direct, authentic and will never blame you for your suffering. She enjoys using humor in psychotherapy.”
During our first session, we will explore goals that you would like to work on, as well as identify support and connection and discuss issues that are causing pain in your life.
My approach is to connect with you first and build a relationship. My clients appreciate my unfettered dedication to my clients, my knowledge and training, as well as my ability to be available to them, tune in, and get their needs met.
I have been practicing social work and working as a psychotherapist since 2014. I support individuals who are recovering from eating disorders, body image issues, substance use, trauma, self harm, prenatal and postpartum issues, miscarriage and fertility issues. I work with adults of all ages. My style has been described as nurturing, empathic, and empowering. I am direct and authentic; I will never blame you for your suffering. My approach is primarily psychodynamic but combines aspects of feminist and social justice perspectives, mindful self-compassion, dialectical behavior therapy, Seeking Safety, and mindfulness. My work involves authentic client connection, honesty, and creative solutions to help you pursue autonomy and clarity. In my practice, I treat Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and Atypical and mixed-diagnosis eating disorders. I look forward to meeting you and guiding you in your personal transformation. I will help you identify what is deeply meaningful and important in your life and can share concrete skills you need to get your needs met directly. I will support you in developing powerful, research supported, inner resources, (compassion, radical self-acceptance, confidence).
I value client connectinon first and from there we will develop resources and creative solutions for you to pursue autonomy and clarity.
I will help you develop emotion regulation techniques, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness skills
I use trauma informed care in all areas of my work; I use Seeking safety and am also trained in EMDR; we can use the Post Traumatic Stress Index to measure affective states associated with trauma
I use a feminist/Womanist and social justice framework in all areas of my work.
We can use narrative approaches, including bibliotherapy to assist in healing and symptom reduction.