Dr. Jillian Graves , LMSW

Dr. Jillian Graves is a licensed clinical social worker (LMSW) based in Michigan with more than two decades of direct practice experience. She holds a Master of Social Work from Smith College and a Ph.D. in social work from Bryn Mawr, where her dissertation examined emerging adult siblings of people with schizophrenia. Her clinical work spans individual and group settings and includes adults, adolescents, and families.

Her clinical focus includes anger management, trauma and abuse, anxiety, parenting concerns, mood disorders, and workplace-related stress. She also has specialized expertise in adolescent and young adult development and in working with siblings of people who have serious mental illness. Dr. Graves draws on an eclectic, evidence-informed toolkit, integrating psychodynamic perspectives - including attachment theory - with structured approaches such as Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy and solution-focused techniques, as well as narrative methods.

She emphasizes the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for change, prioritizing trust, clear communication, and collaborative goal setting. In sessions she aims to help clients make meaning of life events, improve communication, and understand how personal histories influence current patterns. Beginning therapy can feel challenging, and Dr. Graves approaches that process with steady support, clear guidance, and attention to each person’s goals and needs.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Therapy with Dr. Jillian Graves

Dr. Jillian Graves uses several well-established therapeutic approaches that translate effectively to online care. Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) is a structured cognitive-behavioral method that helps people identify and challenge unhelpful beliefs and develop more adaptive thinking patterns; it is often used for anxiety, anger, and stress-related concerns. Psychodynamic approaches, including attention to attachment patterns, explore how early relationships and life experiences shape current emotions and interpersonal behavior, which can help with mood disorders, trauma responses, and relationship difficulties. Solution-focused techniques emphasize clear, actionable goals and practical strategies to build strengths and small improvements in daily life.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Dr. Graves collaborates with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and to tailor methods accordingly. This collaborative stance helps clients find an approach that fits their situation and evolves as progress is made.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and different communication styles. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care across busy schedules and geographic distances while allowing therapists and clients to focus on meaningful clinical work together.