Jessica McDaniel
With 17 years of experience in diverse therapeutic settings, I bring both depth and perspective to my work as a psychotherapist. My training is rooted in evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with additional expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
I focus on helping patients develop assertive communication & boundaries with themselves and those around them that can help improve their quality of life.
Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of helping individuals navigate depression, anxiety, stress, and the complexities of relationships. I have a particular interest in supporting women’s mental health, drawing on my clinical knowledge and life experience to create a therapeutic space that is both compassionate and effective. I offer a mature, steady presence—one that balances warmth with skill—to guide clients toward growth, resilience, and meaningful change.
First session
Together, we will identify your challenges and goals - where you want your life to be a month, six months, a year from now. Then, we'll identify options and strategies you can use to get there. You'll leave the session with a better understanding of what you're facing with an "actions I can take right now" approach, often involving homework. There will always be room for suggestions concerning our work together, including keeping each other accountable.
Strengths
I strive to create a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment that allows you to explore obstacles with concerns related to anxiety, depression, and/or self-care. I focus on helping patients develop assertive communication & boundaries with themselves and those around them that can help improve their quality of life. I also encourage you to take care of yourself in all ways, as we are one system built in layers, so changing one area often affects the others positively.
Ideal clients
Let's take a moment to remember that starting therapy can be empowering, confusing, or scary, all at the same time. We are nuanced individuals who can feel different things simultaneously. If that's you, know that it's entirely normal, and that we are all works in progress. Psychotherapy can foster personal development and improvement in whatever way you may be seeking ,and help build the life you so deeply deserve. If that's what you're looking for, I'm here when you're ready to share.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I practice cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which looks at how your thoughts are related to your feelings. Sometimes we have negative thoughts running in the background that we may not even be aware of, that trigger negative feelings. We feel the feelings, but don’t really notice the thoughts, or just get used to them. For example, you might see someone you know and wave hi. That person completely ignores you. The situation causes the automatic thought: "That person doesn't like me. I'm unlovable". The feeling that follows is negative, like shame, and/or guilt. CBTs goal is to help you increase awareness of those thoughts, examine them for accuracy and realism, and then go on to possibly change them, resulting in a change of emotions. In my example, you would notice that negative assumption thought, examine it, and adjust the wording to make it more realistic and rational. "What evidence do I have that the person doesn’t like me? Is that true? She probably didn't even see me, that happens all the time. I'll text her later". You can see that the emotion tied to this modified thought is a lot less negative and more neutral. It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it, that makes the difference!
Location
Virtual sessions