Jessica Blakeley
Psychotherapy Services
Get to Know Me
Registered Psychotherapist
&
Clinical Supervisor
About Me
I am a Registered Psychotherapist in good standing with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and a Clinical Supervisor. I have over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults. I support individuals who present with anxiety, trauma, depression, and self-esteem concerns. My integrative approach views each client as an individual, places them as the expert in their lives, and creates a collaborative environment for healing and effective change.
I hold a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and an Honours Bachelor of Art in Psychology from York University. While much of my academic and work career have focused on counselling related roles, I have helped to create various mental health apps, completed research in the field contributing to various publications and conference presentations, and had the honour of working directly with children and youth at-risk. Prior to landing at Work in Progress, I provided direct support to children and youth in the foster care system, as well as to their families. Within this role, I have and continue to support varying populations and backgrounds including members of the LGBTQ2A+ community, BIPOC and those living with disabilities.
My Approach to Therapy
My practice is anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and client-centered with the goal of connecting you to your authentic self. I will encourage exploration of how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours influence your everyday life and provide the space needed to make meaningful changes that support your future. I draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as I believe helping my clients remember their core values through mindfulness and acceptance skills, will better their psychological response to uncontrollable experiences. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps to lessen the "fight" people have with themselves and their problems.
You can expect Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to come into our work together as these strategies can be helpful at challenging unhelpful thinking patterns. This therapy will help establish connections between our bodies, minds, and our emotions. Narrative Therapy practices are used in session to explore how the stories we tell ourselves and about ourselves may be trapping us in a problem-oriented view. I often use Narrative Therapy in creative and art-inspired ways with children and adolescents to help explore the problem stories in their life while uncovering the underlying or forgotten stories of skills, hope, and dreams.
With my integrative approach, while you are likely to encounter the above three therapeutic approaches, I may pull from others within the field based on your individual needs. I work collaboratively and will take into consideration your thoughts, ideas, and we will discuss which strategies work best for you throughout the therapeutic process. For younger populations requiring virtual therapy, I utilize a virtual playroom to support them accordingly.
My Areas of Focus
Populations
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Children and Adolescents
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Teens and Youth
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Young Adults
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Families
Presenting Topics
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Anxiety
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History or current abuse
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Trauma
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Stress
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Mood issues
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Behavioural difficulties
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Divorce
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Blended Families and Adoption
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Self-esteem and body image issues
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Family and relationship concerns
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Life transitions
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Suicidal ideation
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Parent Coaching
My Approach to Clinical Supervision
My approach to clinical supervision is grounded in compassion, kindness, and support, with a trauma-informed lens guiding all aspects of the supervisory relationship. I strive to create a reflective and collaborative space where openness and curiosity are encouraged, allowing students and clinicians to explore their work with honesty and self-compassion. Supervision is individualized to meet each person’s unique needs, strengths, and learning goals, ensuring that the experience is growth-oriented. I specialize in child and youth mental health, drawing from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, integrative behavioural therapies, mindfulness, and narrative practices. I value collaboration and will use supervision as a space to process client cases, deepen self-awareness, and gently challenge personal belief systems. My goal is to support supervisees in aligning their work with their personal and professional values, developing confidence in their clinical judgment, and cultivating their own authentic therapeutic style and practice