Meet Jackie
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Hello! I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 15 years of experience providing compassionate and comprehensive mental health care to children and adolescents using evidence-based treatments located in Northeast Florida.
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I have been fortunate enough to work with children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, school-based, juvenile justice residential, and other community-based programs.
I create a warm and welcoming environment where children, teens, and parents feel empowered and supported. I utilize a mixture of books, worksheets, play, and art to keep therapy fun and engaging. I specialize in treating trauma, anxiety, ADHD, anger, depression, OCD, PTSD, stress management, parenting, and LGBTQ+ issues.
About therapy
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming. How do you know if your child is receiving quality mental health treatment? I utilize evidence-based treatment modalities which have been supported by scientific research to be effective at treating different mental health conditions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This approach helps children identify and change unhelpful thought processes and helps children develop coping skills to manage their symptoms. Trauma-Focused CBT is considered the "gold standard" for treating trauma in children and adolescents. It relies heavily on the principles of CBT with special trauma considerations in mind. I have received extensive training in this treatment specialty and am listed as a provider on the Program on Adolescent Traumatic Stress Network with the Medical University of South Carolina in addition to being a repeat guest lecturer on the topic for psychiatry residents with UF Health's Department of Psychiatry. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a short-term, goal oriented approach that assists children in being problem-solvers. I like to use this approach to identify what is contributing to dysfunction and conflict in the relationship between children and their parents. Motivational Interviewing is a short-term approach that acknowledges how difficult it is to change behavior. I like to use this approach with teens who are either ambivalent to change or are having a hard time finding the motivation to change their behavior.