I believe you can love someone deeply and still recognize that the way you're being treated is unfair. Hi there! I'm Dr. Jess Priode (pronounced "Pray-dee"), and with nearly two decades of experience in the mental health field, I help individuals navigate relationship challenges, anxiety, stress, depression, grief, family conflict, boundaries, self-esteem and life transitions. Together, we'll work toward greater understanding, clarity, and meaningful change.
I don't believe therapy should be a one-size-fits-all experience. I take the time to understand your individual story, relationships, values, strengths, and goals so that our work feels relevant to your life - not like a checklist.
As a mental health professional and a parent, I understand how challenging it can be to balance relationships, personal responsibilities, work, and the many demands of everyday life. This perspective allows me to connect with clients in a genuine and relatable way while recognizing that everyone's circumstances, experiences, and needs are different.
I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), and Solution-Focused approaches to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, behaviors and relationships. I translate these evidence-based strategies into practical tools you can actually use in your everyday life.
Most importantly, my approach is collaborative rather than prescriptive. I won't simply tell you what you should do. We'll work together to understand what's happening, explore your options, build on the strengths you already have, and identify changes that feel realistic and meaningful for you.
I believe therapy should be a space where you can show up as your authentic self without fear of judgment. My approach is warm, collaborative, and practical. Rather than simply telling you what to do, I work alongside you to understand what you're experiencing and identify meaningful steps forward.
Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin understanding what brought you to therapy. We'll talk about what you're currently experiencing, what has been weighing on you, what you would like to be different, and what you hope to gain from therapy. I'll ask questions to better understand your experiences, relationships, strengths, and current challenges, while giving you space to share at your own pace.
You don't need to have everything figured out before our first session, and you don't need to know exactly what to say. Simply come as you are. My goal is for you to leave feeling heard, understood, and with a clearer sense of where we can begin.
As we continue working together, we may explore boundaries, communication, anxiety and stress, unhelpful thinking patterns, relationships, coping strategies, self-esteem and confidence in your decisions. We'll build on strengths and skills you already have while developing new tools that fit your life and goals.
