Jess Williams
LCMHCA
Jessica Williams (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate. Jess received a bachelor's in education from Iowa State University, a master’s degree in clinical counseling with an emphasis in substance use from East Carolina University, and a master’s in special education with a focus on autism from Concordia University St. Paul. Prior to beginning her work as a therapist, Jess worked as a teacher of exceptional children ages 3 to 18 focusing on neurodivergent students and relationship building for eight years.
Growing up, Jess lived in a safe and loving home. She also lived with staggering anxiety, perfectionism, and fear of failure. Through experiences with her own mental health and a rebellious journey of self-discovery, she unearthed a love of advocating for those who don’t yet have the skills to advocate for themselves. As a mom and counselor, Jess lives out her passion for helping others become healthy humans in a world that is often experienced as inhospitable and chaotic. She recognizes that our society expects individuals to ‘fit in’ rather than adapting the systems and structures to include all people. Through her work in the counseling field, she hopes to shift that reality.
As a counselor, Jess’ first priority is to welcome her clients without scrutiny or judgment. She considers her clients as whole persons, creating space for their authenticity, autonomy, and self-advocacy. Through narrative therapy she encourages her clients to write, draw, and retell their own stories. She invites clients to examine the stories they tell themselves, asking “Whose voice do you hear?” Together, Jessica and her clients explore what tools might be useful as clients begin to consider the next chapters of their stories. One such tool is “parts” work, with the understanding that no one is just one thing. She also uses cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) as a teaching tool to investigate inner thoughts and thought patterns, as well as a stepping stone for discovering new patterns of thoughts and beliefs.
Jess works with adolescents and adults on a variety of concerns such as self-discovery, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and substance use and process disorders. She is especially skilled in work with neurodivergent clients and their families. Together they explore neurodivergence as each client experiences and defines it, consider recurring issues or challenges, express frustration and loss, and apply tools and resources. As a divorcee and coparent, Jessica welcomes clients with relationship difficulties - especially parenting, divorce, and coparenting. She is also an avid ally for the LGBTQIA2S+ community and welcomes clients to individual and family therapy who are exploring their sexuality, coming out, and processing with their families and community.
