About Jessica

My Journey To Becoming A Psychotherapist And Healer

I’ve always had a profound curiosity for human nature and a desire to understand why we interact the way we do. And in some ways, it seems I have been a healer and therapist my whole life.

Truth be told, I was the eldest of four children born to parents who, despite their best efforts, simply were not equipped to deal with the stressors of raising multiple children while healing from their own childhood traumas. So at a young age, I innocently found myself in the role of caregiver—and I was good at it. As I got older, I realized that I could put my curiosity and the natural healer in me to work helping teenagers, adults, and couples overcome a host of emotional and relational challenges.

That’s not to say I didn’t have other aspirations...

If I’m being completely honest, I initially wanted to be an animal trainer for the Barnum and Bailey circus, working with lions and tigers and bears—oh my! But as fate would have it, the only animals I would have likely trained were livestock and service dogs—a far cry from the three-ring adventure I imagined for myself. And truthfully, I’m terrible at math, and there was too much of that nonsense involved, so I stuck with becoming a psychotherapist and helping others realize their dreams.

A Little About Who I Can Help And Why

At one point in my life, I was married and involved in a heterosexual relationship, and we had a wonderful child who I adore. It wasn’t until I divorced that I began to understand the notion of “otherness” and just how underrepresented certain populations are in the US. As a result, I gained a unique insight and deep empathy for marginalized peoples, which is why I am particularly fond of serving the LGBTQIA community.

In addition to providing therapy for anxiety, depression, and trauma in teens and adults, I also love working with couples and the distinctive dynamics each person brings to the relationship. I enjoy giving couples the freedom to reveal truths they have never spoken out loud without feeling ashamed or judged. I promise, I won’t shy away from anything. Whether it involves secrecy, betrayal, or deeper, darker emotions, I thrive in what some consider the soft, vulnerable underbelly of human nature and behavior.

With that in mind, I meet all of my clients with unconditional positive regard for who they are, the problems they are experiencing, and what they want out of life. I provide a space in which everyone can feel heard, validated, and supported without being told how to “fix” themselves. In fact, I believe that people have within them the strength and tools necessary to facilitate their own healing and growth. My job is to empower each person to tap into those inner resources so they can answer questions themselves and find their own solutions to problems.

Realizing that everyone’s experiences in life are different, I provide an eclectic, client-centered approach to therapy that allows me to tailor a healing strategy unique to each individual. One of the tools I use is psychodynamic psychotherapy, a comprehensive form of talk therapy that enables me to identify and understand the source of suffering through compassionate discussion. It gives me a chance to get beneath the surface of the issue and develop a healing strategy that works from the inside out.

I am also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which is a powerful intervention for addressing trauma, PTSD, and various issues related to anxiety and depression. EMDR helps clients minimize the emotional impact of a traumatic memory or experience so it no longer is a controlling factor in their behavior or their daily life.

Who I Am Behind The Scenes

As a single mother who experienced childhood trauma and a lack of emotional attachment early in life, I feel I bring a unique quality to my practice that lets me understand and connect with others. I have been a licensed marriage and family therapist since 2011; however, I have always considered myself to be a healer and caregiver who is deeply empathic and understanding.

I’ve also had a life outside of therapy—aside from Barnum and Bailey—as a small business owner. So I know the stress of trying to balance multiple roles of being a mother, partner, and professional while working long hours and navigating the uncertainty of the future. And as a member of the LGBTQIA community, I am not interested in scrutinizing people because I know what it’s like to be a stranger in a strange land. After all, I’m a progressive in rural Georgia, living in the middle of a cotton field.

When I’m not helping individuals and couples heal through counseling, I help nurture and foster rescue animals. I’m also a lover of nature and gardening—the alchemy of saving plants and transforming their wilt and yellow into new life. Not surprisingly, I’m a moon baby who loves the stars and the infinite question marks behind them. And I relish times when I get to go camping, horseback riding, kayaking, or exploring the forest with my son.

At the end of most days, I like to sit on my porch, sip a cup of black coffee, and admire my banana trees, pretending I am vacationing in the treehouse villages of the Dominican Republic.

Jessica Wheeler has an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in psychology as well as a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. She is also trained in EMDR therapy and certified in LGBTQIA-affirmative affairs with experience working with gay, trans, and bisexual populations. Jessica currently hosts an internship site for Valdosta University students seeking degrees in family therapy and social work.