Jessica Barton-Grimley

My name is Jessica Barton-Grimley and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing therapy in the state of California. I began working in the field of social work, specifically in homeless services, in 2014, earned a Master of Social Worker degree in 2018, and transitioned to overseeing a clinical team in 2021.

I have experience working with adults between the ages of 18 and 86 living with hoarding disorder, anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, life transitions, low self-esteem, and interpersonal challenges. Additionally, I have experience working with formerly unhoused individuals, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, veterans, and individuals with unique abilities.

I was drawn to a career in therapy to support individuals in coping with the emotional toll of societal expectations, norms, values, and stressors of everyday life. My goal as a therapist is to provide a space to explore the distress you experience, deepen your self-awareness and self-compassion to lead a life that is meaningful to you.

I utilize an eclectic therapy approach that combines various evidence-based practices and interventions that is tailored to each individual client’s needs. My approach includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused Therapy, and some elements of Psychodynamic Therapy.

In my practice, I utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to assist you in uncovering and prioritizing your core values, helping you to integrate values-based actions while becoming more self-aware and accepting of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. This involves acknowledging and accepting difficult thoughts and feelings, choosing your value direction, and taking action in a way that aligns with your values. Together, we will work on gaining distance from your thoughts and cognitions by utilizing defusion techniques. The overall goal is to guide you to live a life according to your core values.

I incorporate a Solution Focused Approach by shifting the conversation toward solution talk and emphasizing your preferred future. This involves collaborative discussions that explore your desired outcome; exploring the history of the outcome; identifying your resources and strengths to achieve that outcome; and setting small, attainable goals.

In my practice, I may incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by using cognitive restructuring to challenge unhelpful thoughts. While I tend to rely more on acceptance (ACT), I have encountered clients with a preference for challenging negative thoughts and discovering strategies to help moderate their emotional reactions.

I strive to create a welcoming, accepting, and collaborative space where clients feel valued, understood, and empowered to actively participate in their growth. I am committed to fostering a trusting environment where you can freely explore your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions at a pace that feels comfortable to you.

During our first session, we will have an opportunity to get to know one another, with a primary focus on hearing your story. I am interested in exploring your strengths, values, social supports, and symptoms impacting your daily life. My goal for this session is to understand what motivated you to seek therapy, explore your best hopes for therapy, and determine whether my therapeutic approach aligns with your needs. Together, we will explore where you are in your journey, what is important to you, we will identify your needs, and utilize coping skills to leverage your resilience.