Jessica McMillan

I decided to study psychology while working with children and adolescents in a psychiatric hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was in my first year of undergraduate study, trying to figure out how to make a difference in the world. The children had often been abandoned by their parents, and society. This is where I got my first taste of what holding the space, and listening without judgement, did to start healing the distrust and pain.

Several years later I was back in Australia, had my degree, and I had begun working with children with Autism. I realised that relating to the parents and children was much more rewarding, for me, than anything diagnostic that I was doing. I felt that a lot of the therapeutic work that I had been asked to do wasn’t actually HEALING anyone and I was completely drained at the end of each day. Thus began my search for a Master’s program where I could learn a more holistic approach.

Back to the US, and three more years of studying. This time the program was integrative, holistic and mindfulness inspired. I worked with adults with eating disorders, addictions, young mothers and an array of individuals living in poverty. I added in equine assisted psychotherapy to my training, and started to hone in on how to help people FEEL their feelings in order to work through what was going on for them and come to a sense of peace.

I have learned that through being present with what arises in this moment, we can connect to whatever needs to be heard. We can all heal…given time, energy and the desire. My life experiences have shown this to be the case. We are incredible beings, capable of incredible things. Once we release the pain and unlock our potential, amazing things begin to unfold.

I use Gestalt therapy, somatic experiencing and mindfulness.  I am also a level 3 trained Internal Family Systems therapist.  

I do not come from the view point that people are broken, or that they fit into a one size fits all diagnosis. We are all different, with different stories; however, we also all have parts of us that have been hurt along the way. This, in turn, is why our system creates protective strategies & beliefs – to keep us from feeling those feelings, or being hurt again (ie. polishing off a bottle of wine in order to keep away the anxiety associated with another stressful day at work). My job is to help you get in touch with these parts so that we can help to release their pain.

Session options:

Office – a more traditional session where we sit on couches within the office

Zoom – Sometimes getting into an office is just too much on top of everything else. I am more than happy to meet you half way and have online sessions. I also work with international clients so this is the platform that I work off of if you are far away. 

Walk and talk – There are beautiful ocean front walks in town if you prefer to move while talking.