Jessica Smith (she/her)

I believe in meeting people where they are at on their journey of life. We all want to be seen and heard; and when we truly feel that from another person, we can exhale in relief. Our main purpose as humans is to connect with others, and that has become more challenging in today's times. Therapists are like a good pair of shoes: sometimes you have to try a few on to see if they fit.

Adolescence is a difficult time with both challenges and successes to navigate. With navigating peer relationships, family dynamics, society, social media, etc. teens are in a pendulum swing, and having a person they can vibe with and come as they are is key in successful adolescent development. Teens crave being seen, heard and valued, and I will walk alongside them to support developing their true authentic self.

All families have conflict, this is a part of life, however just because conflict is normal doesn't mean we succumb to the challenges and ghosts of our families past. I believe all families are able to be successful, and define success unique to their family system. By acknowledging all members of the family, their roles and impacts on family dynamics, we will work on strengthening family bonds, navigating communication and develop a sense of self.

All families have conflict, this is a part of life; however, just because conflict is normal doesn't mean we succumb to the challenges and ghosts of our families' past. I believe all families are able to be successful, and define success unique to their family system. Identifying all family members including their familial role and impact on the family is the beginning of strengthening familial bonds, communication and a sense of self within the family unit.

Self-esteem is misconstrued and often misused in today's time. Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves internally and is a true subjective nature for the individual. We often mistake self-esteem with self-confidence and other "self" statements. I value identifying and uncovering one's true authentic self, and supporting people in finding a self-love. When we no longer need the approval of others and can feel proud about our choices, that's healthy called self-esteem.

We all are influenced by culture, it unites people and unfortunately divide people. I find culture to be an essential component into understanding who we are. There are many forms of culture one can identify with and understanding the uniqueness it brings to your life is what makes you. I value getting to know the person, their culture, values and beliefs and incorporate those aspects into our work together.

We all are influenced by culture, it unites people and unfortunately divide people. I find culture to be an essential component into understanding who we are. There are many forms of culture one can identify with and understanding the uniqueness it brings to your life is what makes you. I value getting to know the person, their culture, values and beliefs and incorporate those aspects into our work together.

We all come from a family, and some have more challenges than others; however no family is exempt from challenges. Within our families we can become entangled within dynamics, patterns and roles, which impacts the individual and the family as a whole. I value getting to know each member of the family, their strengths, dynamics and roles and how that impacts the family as a unit. Communication is key within any relationship; by giving each person a voice, families can begin to thrive.

We all are influenced by culture, it unites people and unfortunately divides people. I find culture to be an essential component to understanding who we are. There are many forms of culture one can identify with and understanding the uniqueness it brings to your life is what makes you. Getting to know you as a person along with your culture, values and beliefs is crucial in our work together.