hi, I’m jackie!
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social worker (LCSW) and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). I specialize in supporting individuals in their recovery from trauma, anxiety, and burnout. I am particularly passionate about working with those who consider themselves to be highly sensitive or deep feelers. I also love working with helpers and caregivers who are looking for support with navigating the complexity of those roles, whether that be personally or professionally.
I blend traditional talk therapy with somatic (body-centered) approaches, expressive arts, and mindfulness. My approach to therapy is warm, relational, and creative. I aim to show up with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to meet you where you are in your healing process. I pull from a range of modalities and approaches, including Somatic Experiencing, Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders (ERED), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
I believe that healing is almost always rooted in relationship with others and I treasure the ones I get to build with my clients. I continuously feel in awe of the power of human connection in overcoming life’s challenges. Although the therapeutic relationship is unique from most other relationships we form in life, I try to keep the human parts the same- we’ll be ourselves, feel real feelings, and hopefully laugh sometimes, too!
my background
Before starting my private practice, I spent several years working for local domestic violence and sexual violence agencies, which has provided me with a deep understanding of dynamics of power, control, and systemic oppression. I have provided therapy and other forms of community care in shelters, jails, schools, and other community settings. These experiences have influenced my desire to work with others in helping professions. I know first-hand what a challenge it can sometimes be to care for yourself while supporting others.
Prior to my studies in social work and mental health, I studied art, literature, and creative writing. These aspects of my background have undoubtedly shaped my therapy practice. I feel inspired by the value of stories, myth, metaphor, and words in the healing process. In my work with clients, I may sometimes recommend a story or poem, or reference archetypes and mythology.
My practice is rooted in social justice values and the idea that individual healing is not separate from the healing of larger harmful systems. I continue to seek education and training on racism, transphobia, homophobia, fat-phobia, and ableism. I believe this is a life-long learning process and am committed to turning my education into real action steps.
education & training
Being a therapist aligns with my natural curiosity and drive for learning new things! My interests sometimes feel never-ending and I stay busy with learning, both professional and personal. I hold a Masters of Social Work from Western Carolina University and am currently licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina.
These are some trainings and educational experiences that have informed my work with clients:
Somatic Experiencing Professional 3- Year Training Program, Earned my SEP Certificate in 2024
Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders, a somatic paradigm for treating disordered eating and trauma (Tier I and Tier II courses)
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy Training through Humanitarian Assistance Programs
Attachment Focused EMDR with Laurel Parnell
Dynamic Attachment Re-patterning experience (DARe), Level 1
Certificate in Herbal Medicine from the Terra Sylva School of Botanical Medicine
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Certification
Some other approaches I’m experienced in offering include expressive arts, dreamwork, therapeutic writing techniques, eco-therapy, and mindfulness approaches.
other bits…
Outside of my therapy practice, I love spending time in nature, reading all kinds of books, tedious baking projects, gardening, trashy reality tv, and spending time with my partner & our two dogs. I’m an avid learner and lover of tarot & astrology (scorpio sun, pisces moon, & taurus rising, here), an Enneagram 4, Swiftie, and fellow sensitive soul.
