Jessica Banford

Hello, and welcome. My name is Jessica Banford, and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker / Clinical Social Worker with experience providing support in both emergency and outpatient mental health settings. I am passionate about helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with compassion, understanding, and practical tools for change. I earned my Master’s degree in Social Work from Indiana Wesleyan University and my professional background includes working in hospital emergency departments, where I have completed behavioral health assessments, crisis intervention, and care coordination for individuals experiencing acute mental health concerns. This experience has strengthened my ability to remain calm, supportive, and solution-focused during difficult moments. I specialize in working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, emotional dysregulation, and life stressors such as relationship difficulties, financial stress, and transitions. I also worked a outpatient community health center providing therapy to all populations including all ages. I also have experience supporting adolescents and young adults, as well as collaborating with families and support systems. My approach to therapy is client-centered and strengths-based. I often incorporate techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), focusing on building coping skills, improving emotional regulation, and increasing overall resilience. I strive to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, respected, and supported. I look forward to working together to help you reach your goals and improve your overall well-being.

I take a collaborative, client-centered approach to therapy, focusing on meeting each individual where they are and building a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship. My style is warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental, while also being goal-oriented and practical. I strive to create a space where clients feel comfortable being open and honest, even when discussing difficult or sensitive topics.

I work with adolescents and adults experiencing a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, emotional dysregulation, and life stressors such as relationship challenges, financial strain, and major life transitions. I also have experience supporting individuals in crisis and helping them stabilize, process their experiences, and connect with ongoing supports.

In sessions, I often incorporate evidence-based approaches such as and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I focus on helping clients build coping skills, improve emotional regulation, and develop healthier patterns of thinking and behavior. I also emphasize strengths-based work, helping clients recognize their resilience and build on the skills they already have.

During your first session, you can expect a supportive, welcoming, and nonjudgmental environment where we begin getting to know each other. My goal is to help you feel as comfortable as possible while we talk about what brings you to therapy and what you’re hoping to get out of the process.

We’ll spend time discussing your current concerns, any relevant background information, and what has or hasn’t worked for you in the past. You can share as much or as little as you feel ready to there’s no pressure to go into everything right away. I’ll also ask some questions to better understand your experiences, strengths, and goals.

Together, we’ll begin identifying what you would like to focus on in therapy and outline some initial goals. These might include improving coping skills, managing anxiety or depression, increasing emotional regulation, or navigating specific life stressors. We’ll also talk about what therapy might look like moving forward and how we can tailor the process to best meet your needs.