Jess Firestone
Professional Counselor Associate
Pronouns: She/Her
Identities: Queer
Therapeutic Style: Warm, Playful, Connected
Works with:
- Individuals
- Child/Family
- Teens
- Couples
Who I am as a Therapist
I delight in supporting kids, teens, and adults who have overlapping and different identities and experiences from me. I believe that growth and healing happen when you are seen, supported, and cared for no matter how you feel or what is happening in your life. I love listening to you and helping you hear your own wisdom about the challenges you’re facing. Sometimes it’s helpful to hear me reframe the way you’re thinking that may come from being too hard on yourself. I can help you develop confidence in your ability to ride the waves of emotion that can be overwhelming. It is beautiful and painful to be a human and I want you to know you’re not alone. I use a strength-based approach, helping you re-write stories about yourself and your relationships. While we work together, we can do art, go for walks outside, or play with toys. That goes for kids and adults!
Before becoming a therapist, I worked in schools for almost 20 years. All that time in school communities prepared me to help you navigate issues you may be having as a current student, as an educator, or as an adult processing things that happened when you were younger. I am deeply familiar with the ways school systems can cause harm or fail to offer the support you need, especially for BIPOC, queer, and neurodiverse students. I am passionate about helping clients identify and advocate for what they need.
“You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.” – Mary Oliver
Specialty Areas
Mental Health Challenges
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Attachment & Relational Challenges
- Behavioral Challenges in Children
- Educator Burnout
- Gender Transitions
- Grief & Loss
- Identity Development
- Learning Disorders
- LGBTQIA+
- Life Transitions
- Managing Stress
- Mood Dysregulation
- Neurodiversity
- Parenting
- School Issues
- Women’s Issues
Therapeutic Approaches
- Creative Arts Interventions
- Ecotherapy
- Flash Technique
- Mindfulness
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Narrative Therapy
- Play Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Who I am when I’m not a Therapist
When I’m not being a therapist, you can find me in the pottery studio or outside somewhere beautiful. I love throwing on the wheel, even when my bowl collapses and I have to ball up the clay and start again. I love spending time with friends and by water, looking for agates on the beach and taking cold dips in rivers. I am a big fan of rainbow balloon arches, soft-serve ice cream, and my 5 nieces and nephews.
Education
- MAT and School Counseling Licensure from Lewis and Clark College, OR
- BA in Latin American Studies from Wesleyan University, CT
Training & Experience
- Past career as a bilingual teacher and school counselor
- Experience leading arts-based anxiety groups
- Experience supporting LGBTQ+ youth and their families