I'm Jessica, a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 20 years of experience in mental health care, professional training, and program leadership. I provide telehealth therapy for adults in Maryland, with a focus on anxiety, ADHD, and the challenges that can make everyday life feel overwhelming.

Throughout my career, I've worked with people from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. These experiences have shaped my belief that each person has a unique story, set of circumstances, strengths, and needs. I strive to create a welcoming, empathetic, and nonjudgmental space where you can explore your experiences and feel heard.

My approach to therapy is collaborative and practical. Together, we can identify the challenges you're experiencing, better understand the patterns that may be contributing to them, and develop coping strategies that support your daily functioning. I draw on evidence-informed approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychoeducation, solution-focused techniques, strengths-based strategies, and mindfulness practices.

I also recognize that our emotional experiences are connected to other aspects of our lives. Sleep, physical movement, daily routines, relationships, cultural experiences, and ongoing responsibilities can all influence how we feel and function. When relevant, we can explore these connections as part of your individualized therapeutic approach.

Therapy is a collaborative process. My role is to work alongside you, help you recognize your strengths, and support you in finding strategies that make sense for your life.

I offer services in English and Spanish.

My work beyond the therapy room

In addition to my clinical work, I'm the founder of StressRoot, a separate business focused on neuroscience-informed stress management, nervous system regulation, and professional capacity.

Through StressRoot, I help individuals and organizations better understand how stress can affect attention, emotional regulation, decision-making, and performance. My work includes developing practical approaches to managing stress, addressing workplace overwhelm, and supporting the capacity people need to navigate professional demands.

My work with StressRoot complements my broader interest in how the brain, body, environment, and daily demands influence the way we function. It also allows me to bring my background in mental health education, training, and program development to a wider professional audience.

Dove Counseling and Education and StressRoot serve different purposes. Dove Counseling and Education provides mental health therapy, while StressRoot focuses on stress management education and professional capacity. Both reflect my interest in helping people better understand themselves and apply practical, informed strategies in everyday life.

My professional background

My interest in helping others began early in my career, when I worked as a camp counselor, substitute teacher, and English as a Second Language instructor. These experiences introduced me to people with different backgrounds, learning styles, and needs and strengthened my interest in psychology, education, and human development.

I earned my bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, with a focus on psychology, Latin American culture, and creative expression. I later earned my master's degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Over the years, my work has included providing mental health services, conducting professional trainings, teaching social work as an adjunct professor, and serving as Director of Youth and Family Services for a nonprofit organization.

My clinical experience includes working with adolescents, college students, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, stress, grief, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and life transitions. I have used approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, solution-focused therapy, positive psychology, and mindfulness to help individuals build practical skills and better understand their experiences.

I have also conducted trainings on topics including motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, cultural competency, crisis management, and brain development and its relationship to youth and young adult success.

My additional training includes coaching, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mental Health First Aid facilitator training, and Youth Mental Health First Aid facilitator training.

These experiences have given me a broad perspective on mental health, learning, behavior, and the importance of adapting support to the person rather than expecting the person to fit a predetermined approach.

A little more about me

Outside of my professional work, I enjoy spending time outdoors, cooking, and traveling. I value opportunities to learn about different cultures, connect with others, and experience new places.

These interests reflect something I also value in my work: curiosity about people and an appreciation for the many experiences that shape who we are.

Let's connect

If you're looking for anxiety or ADHD therapy in Maryland, I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We can discuss what brings you to therapy, answer your initial questions, and explore whether working together may be a good fit.