Jessica Haywood , LCSW

Jessica Haywood is a California-licensed LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with 16 years of professional experience supporting people through major life challenges. She works with individuals facing grief and loss, low self esteem, career difficulties, depression, and the adjustments that come with changing life phases and health conditions. Her practice also addresses issues related to abandonment, chronic pain or illness, communication struggles, forgiveness, guilt and shame, isolation or loneliness, questions of life purpose, self-love, social anxiety, women's concerns, and workplace stress.

Jessica believes that each person is the expert on their own story and brings strengths that can be used to meet difficult moments with resilience and growth. Her approach centers on empowering clients to identify practical steps and inner resources that move them toward greater fulfillment and emotional balance. She combines evidence-informed methods with a compassionate, collaborative stance to tailor care to individual needs.

Jessica holds a Master of Social Work degree from The Florida State University College of Social Work, graduating in 2000. She prefers to conduct the initial session by video or audio and applies her training as an LCSW to guide people through transitions and healing.

Approaches and Online Support for Practical Change

Jessica integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy into her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop concrete skills to change behaviors and reduce symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and low self esteem. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills useful for managing intense emotions, relationship challenges, and persistent patterns that cause distress. Mindfulness Therapy emphasizes present-moment awareness and gentle self-observation to reduce rumination and increase emotional balance, which can support coping with grief, chronic illness, and life transitions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Jessica works with clients and licensed professionals to explore goals, preferences, and practical needs, and tailors interventions so the chosen methods fit the person rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy offers flexible access to care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and connect with a therapist from home or elsewhere, while preserving the therapeutic focus on progress and practical tools.