Jessica is the Program Development Director of Solid Minds Counselling Clinic. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from New York State and holds a Master of Science degree from Columbia University in Clinical Social Work, with extensive post-graduate training and examinations in psychotherapy and psychiatric disorders. Since joining the Solid Minds team in March of 2018, Jessica has worked with local and international organisations to develop assessments and programs to better understand and meet the mental health needs of those working in the organisations as well as improving services related to mental health and wellness. Such partnerships include the Solid Minds partnership with the Mastercard Scholars Program, developing the Student Wellness Center at CMU Africa, as well as employee assistance programs, and post-crisis-response interventions.
Before joining the Solid Minds team, she led a client-centered psychiatric rehabilitation program in New York City. Jessica was also part of the working group to redesign Medicaid services in the Bronx for better integration of mental and physical health for people living with chronic mental health concerns. She has a long history doing gender-based violence individual and programmatic work both in the USA and South Africa, including developing and implementing the first evidence-based domestic violence perpetrator intervention program funded by New York City Child and Family Services. Jessica started her leadership experience as a grassroots community organizer, and she continues to center the core values of centering lived experience and working toward greater equity and inclusion.
On a limited basis, Jessica also provides confidential individual, couples, family, and group therapy to children and adults, as well as supervision and training for other mental health professionals. Jessica’s expertise includes anxiety and stress management, anger management, grief, substance abuse, depression, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia. Jessica is a trauma specialist and is trained through the Childhood Violent Trauma Center at the Yale School of Medicine. Jessica uses many evidence-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, internal family systems, and solution-focused therapy.
Jessica works in English.