Jessica Elder

With two decades of experience supporting grieving adults and children, Jessica Elder, LCSW, brings a wealth of expertise to her role as a therapist, social worker, and children's book author. Specializing in guiding individuals through life's challenges and transitions, Jessica offers a unique blend of professional knowledge and personal insight.

Jessica's approach is rooted in her extensive education and training. She holds a degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree in social work from Columbia University. Further enhancing her skills, Jessica completed a five-year post-graduate program at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, earning a certificate in child and adolescent psychotherapy. This comprehensive background allows her to provide an individualized approach tailored to each client's unique needs.

As a specialist in supporting children, teens, and adults, Jessica's areas of expertise are diverse and comprehensive. She assists parents in navigating the complexities of parenthood and strengthening parent-child connections. For children, she offers support with adjustment issues, anxiety, and stress management. Adult clients benefit from her experience in addressing relationship challenges, trauma, physical illness and cancer, substance use disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Jessica's therapeutic toolkit is as varied as her clientele. She values her psychoanalytic training for its ability to help clients understand the influences of their strengths, internal challenges, thoughts, emotions, and triggers. As a certified trauma clinical professional, she incorporates techniques to reduce stress and anxiety, including breathing exercises, mindfulness, CBT techniques, and creative expression. For her younger clients, Jessica employs play therapy, yoga and meditation, art, music, and other creative modalities.

At the heart of Jessica's practice is a belief in the transformative power of therapy. She views it as an opportunity for self-exploration and growth, stress reduction, improved mental and physical health, and increased confidence in decision-making. Jessica emphasizes a collaborative approach, working together with clients as a team to achieve effective and fulfilling results. Her non-judgmental stance creates a safe space where clients feel accepted and heard, allowing for open exploration of their feelings and experiences.