LICSW, 3 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi, I’m Jacqueline Pickens, LICSW-S, PIP, a therapist dedicated to helping adults and couples find balance, peace, and purpose. I specialize in supporting working women, parents, and professionals who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, burnout, or the pressure to do it all. My approach is compassionate, practical, and rooted in evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based practices. I also offer faith-based counseling for those who wish to integrate Christian principles into their healing journey. For couples, I use Prepare/Enrich tools to help strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and deepen connection. In every session, I aim to create a safe, judgment-free space where you can explore challenges, gain clarity, and develop skills that bring lasting peace and confidence to your life. Together, we’ll work toward helping you live your best days—one step at a time.
Your first session is all about you — your story, your goals, and what you hope to gain from therapy. I know that opening up can feel a little nerve-wracking, so my first priority is to help you feel comfortable and at ease. There’s no pressure to have it all figured out or to say everything perfectly. We’ll take our time. We’ll start by talking about what’s been weighing on you, what’s working, and what isn’t. Together, we’ll identify the areas you’d like to focus on — whether that’s managing anxiety, improving relationships, finding balance, or rediscovering yourself. From there, we’ll set gentle, realistic goals that feel meaningful to you. My goal is for you to leave that first session feeling heard, understood, and hopeful — with a clearer sense of direction and the reassurance that you don’t have to walk this path alone. This is your space for growth, healing, and peace, one step at a time.
What sets me apart as a therapist is that I don’t just understand life’s challenges from a professional perspective — I’ve lived many of them myself. I’m a wife, a mom, and a proud advocate for my daughter, who has special needs. Those roles have shaped the way I show up in my work: with empathy, patience, and a deep understanding that life rarely goes as planned, yet it can still be meaningful and full of joy. Being a caregiver and advocate has taught me the importance of grace, balance, and resilience — lessons I bring into every session. I understand the exhaustion of doing it all, the quiet worries that come with parenting, and the longing to still have something left for yourself at the end of the day. My approach is real, compassionate, and grounded in both personal and professional experience. I strive to meet you where you are, honor your story, and help you rediscover peace, purpose, and strength — even in the midst of life’s most demanding seasons.
This time is for YOU If you’re feeling exhausted from trying to hold it all together — balancing work, family, and everything in between — you’re not alone. Many of the clients I work with are high-achieving women, wives, and mothers who look like they have it all together on the outside, but inside feel overwhelmed, anxious, or simply tired. You give so much to everyone else, and sometimes forget to pour back into yourself. In our sessions, you’ll find a space where you don’t have to be “on.” You can show up as you are — messy, uncertain, emotional, or hopeful — and know that you’ll be met with compassion, understanding, and a plan to move forward. We’ll work together to help you find balance, manage stress, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that often get lost in the chaos of daily life. My goal is to help you breathe easier, rediscover peace, and remember that you’re worthy of the same care and grace you give others. You deserve to feel grounded, fulfilled, and at peace — and I’m here to walk that journey with you.
As a Christian therapist, I integrate faith and evidence-based clinical practices to support healing of the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. My approach invites clients to explore how their beliefs, values, and relationship with God can serve as sources of strength, purpose, and resilience. Faith-based therapy with me is not about preaching or judgment—it’s about meeting you where you are spiritually and emotionally. I may incorporate prayer, scripture reflection, or faith-centered mindfulness when appropriate and aligned with your comfort level. Whether you are seeking to strengthen your spiritual walk, find peace through life’s challenges, or reconnect your faith with your mental wellness, we work together to create a safe, compassionate space for growth and restoration.
In my work with clients, I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help individuals build psychological flexibility and live a life aligned with their values. Through ACT, I guide clients in learning how to accept difficult emotions and thoughts without judgment, rather than struggling against them. Together, we explore what truly matters to you—your personal values—and use those as a compass to make meaningful choices, even in the face of challenges. Sessions often include mindfulness practices, values clarification, and skill-building to help you respond to life’s stressors with greater self-compassion, balance, and purpose. My goal is to help you move from feeling “stuck” to living more fully and intentionally, guided by what truly matters most to you.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we identify unhelpful thinking patterns that may contribute to stress, anxiety, or low mood and replace them with more balanced and empowering perspectives. In sessions, I help clients develop practical tools to challenge negative thoughts, regulate emotions, and build healthier coping skills. My goal is to help you gain insight into how your mindset impacts your daily life while equipping you with strategies to make lasting, positive changes. CBT sessions with me are collaborative, supportive, and focused on helping you build confidence and clarity as you work toward your goals.
I specialize in helping couples strengthen their emotional connection, improve communication, and navigate challenges with greater understanding and teamwork. In sessions, I create a supportive space where both partners can express themselves openly and learn tools to resolve conflict in healthy, respectful ways. As a Prepare/Enrich Certified Facilitator, I use evidence-based assessments and exercises to help couples identify their strengths and areas for growth. Whether you’re dating, engaged, or married, this approach helps you gain deeper insight into relationship dynamics, build shared goals, and develop practical skills for lasting connection. My work with couples focuses on fostering empathy, trust, and emotional safety—helping each partner feel heard, valued, and equipped to create the relationship they truly desire.
In my work with clients, I integrate mindfulness-based therapy to help you slow down, reconnect with the present moment, and develop greater awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and body. This approach encourages noticing experiences without judgment—creating space to respond to life’s challenges with clarity and compassion rather than stress or reactivity. Together, we may practice simple mindfulness exercises such as grounding techniques, guided breathing, or mindful reflection to help reduce anxiety, manage overwhelming emotions, and increase calm and focus. My goal is to help you cultivate a sense of peace, balance, and emotional resilience that extends beyond our sessions and into your daily life.