Jahaira Sykes
Whether you are navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relational betrayal, or a major life transition you don’t have to process these emotions alone. Treating behavior alone doesn't heal the root cause because our bodies carry the stories our minds struggle to process. In our sessions, we slow down. I will guide you to notice where emotions are being held in your body, help you name them, and identify the 'story' and needs behind that feeling. Together, we learn to honor those needs, providing the relief and self-trust that talk therapy alone often misses.
I don’t just treat symptoms — I help you get to the root of what’s fueling your anxiety, depression, or relational struggles, so you can leave therapy with tools that create lasting change.
My path to becoming a therapist was shaped by my desire to help people heal beneath the surface and reclaim their sense of identity and authentic self. My approach to therapy is integrative and person-centered, meaning I blend evidence-based modalities like CBT, ACT, and Narrative therapy based on your unique needs. However, the core of my work is a somatic, 'bottom-up' approach. This is based on the belief that emotions and trauma are stored in the body and that treating behavior alone doesn't heal the root cause. The approaches used in session, help clients to manage overwhelming emotions, challenge negative thought patterns, and release the stress their bodies hold onto after trauma. These methods help clients find relief from anxiety, depression, grief, and relational betrayal in ways that last beyond the therapy room.
First session
In our first session, we’ll spend time exploring what brought you to therapy and what you’d like to change or heal. I’ll ask questions to get a clearer picture of your experiences, and together we’ll start shaping a plan for your goals. My approach is collaborative — you set the pace, and I provide guidance and support so you feel understood and hopeful about the journey ahead.
Strengths
Within the first few sessions, clients notice relief and change! Clients who work with me often learn how to regulate their emotions more effectively, experience greater peace and calm, and build healthier relationships. I don’t just treat symptoms — I help you get to the root of what’s fueling your anxiety, depression, or relational struggles, so you can leave therapy with tools that create lasting change.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have used CBT to treat a wide range of issues from anxiety to low self-esteem and unhelpful behaviors stemming from adverse childhood experiences. CBT has helped my clients recognize how certain situations and events trigger unhelpful thoughts, behavioral patterns, and emotions. With this information we have worked to become more self-aware, get to the root of why we're feeling the way we are, reduce and manage symptoms, and overall live a more empowered life. CBT has helped my clients to change their way of looking at previous problems and have allowed them to achieve goals they've always dreamed of.
Somatic
I use somatic therapy as a body-based techniques to help clients notice and release where stress or trauma is stored physically. By working with breath and awareness of sensations, clients learn to regulate their nervous system and restore a felt sense of safety.
Narrative
I have used narrative therapy to help clients identify and change the harmful stories they tell themselves. This method has allowed those who work with me to see themselves in a more empowering light. I work with my clients to retell their stories, discovering times when they were resilient, strong, or capable, offering new perspectives on their identity and experiences.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Using ACT as a treatment method, I help clients make space for difficult emotions without letting them take control. Through mindfulness and values-based work, clients learn to separate from unhelpful thoughts and take steps toward building a life that feels purposeful and authentic.
Psychodynamic
I have utilized Psychodynamic Therapy to increase self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on the present behavior and patterns of those I work with. With this approach we focus on how our early life experiences and unresolved conflicts influence present behavior and emotional states.
Location
Virtual sessions