Jess Benston

I'm a queer, nonbinary, licensed creative arts therapist and clinical supervisor (LCAT, ATR-BC, ATCS) based in Brooklyn with over 17 years of clinical experience supporting children, teens, and adults navigating depression, trauma, burnout, identity exploration, and life transitions. Creativity, novelty, and finding new ways of being are central to not only the way that I work but also the way that I live.

I hold a Master of Professional Studies in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts and a certificate in LGBTQIA+ Family Therapy from LIFT at The Center. I recently completed a four-year clinical fellowship at the Gestalt Associates for Psychotherapy and am a Certified Gestalt Therapist.

My approach integrates Gestalt therapy, psychodynamic insight, and the creative process to support deep, embodied change. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ clients and others who’ve felt unseen or misunderstood in traditional spaces.

Therapy with me is relational and rooted in curiosity. Whether we use words, images, or the body, I meet you where you are and support your growth with warmth, honesty, and imagination. I bring a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive lens to my work and hold space for both complexity and possibility.

In our first few meetings, we'll discuss your history, what is bringing you to therapy, and what you would like to see change with the support of therapy.

With regular weekly sessions, we’ll create a supportive space to explore what’s emerging in your life and what may be ready to shift or transform. Our work will be collaborative and creative, grounded in curiosity, care, and a bit of humor.