Due to the COVID19 Pandemic Outbreak in the U.S. all coaching and support group sessions are now online through Doxy.me and HIPPA compliant Zoom with encryption. Jessica is now working through Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, a non-profit collective that offers sliding scale reduced rate 30-60.00 per session) therapy memberships for Colorado residents only. We offer free recovery coaching in addictions, trauma and grief to those without insurance who are in need.
Jessica holds a master's degree in psychology with specific training and certifications as a clinical trauma specialist for adults, children/adolescents, families and addictions, compassion fatigue, grief counseling, mindfulness and meditation, trauma informed expressive arts therapy, anger management, mood and depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and ADHD in children and in addiction treatment and recovery. Jessica is also a certified trainer and facilitator for the California State University's Palliative Care Program - Healing Through Art in Palliative Care that assists individuals going through the end of life process through the use of therapeutic art. She's received additional training in Health Through Art and Healing with Art through the University of Florida. She is a certified Grief Counseling and Trauma Specialist and completed special training at the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia University. Additionally, Jessica has extensive training in substance use disorders including co-occurring disorders from Hazelden, special study in the neurology and trauma in relationship to addiction and mindfulness based relapse prevention as well as alternative support groups. Jessica has completed expressive arts therapy training from Dr. Cathy Malchiodi's institute and transpersonal creative arts counseling from Sophia University. She is licensed in various substance use areas and provides life coaching as well and is a mental health integrative medicine practitioner focusing on mindfulness based, trauma informed center methods including accessible yoga, various forms of breathwork and expressive arts.
She is an advocate for mental health affordability, strengthening mental health practices in schools and a dedicated mindfulness and breathwork practitioner and teachers specifically for wellness, anxiety and trauma. She is a yogi who is completing her RYT-200 with additional certifications in Kids Yoga, Chair Yoga, Accessible, Integral, Iyangar and Restorative Yoga. Her practice specializes in children's and women's issues, particularly those who are plus and supersized.
Here is what her clients have to say:
"Here is a woman who understands deep suffering with its sorrows and joys. She gets it. She resonates with people in pain."
"I learned something from her every session and applied it to my classroom and my life."
"Her kindness, compassion and faith filled spirit leave me open to the spirit of God."
The purpose of my custom designed programs for individuals and support groups are to help you stabilize, restore, and optimize your physical, mental and emotional health. Therapeutic and Expressive Arts, wellness counseling, lifestyle coaching, nutrition, psycho education and the development of coping strategies are offered as we work together to create a path through life for you that is meaningful and healthy.
You are not a one size fits all being.
Sliding scale and payment plans available.
Not covered by insurance.
MBTI Therapeutic Art and Expressive Arts Facilitation Coaching for Personal and Spiritual Growth.
MBTI Expressive Arts Facilitation Coaching combines psychology and the creative process to promote emotional and spiritual growth and healing. This multi-arts, or intermodal, approach to psychotherapy
and counseling uses our inborn desire to create—be it music, theater, poetry, dance, film her artistic form—as a tool to help initiate change.
What happens during a Coaching session?
Of course it's different for everyone, but topics often include:
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New loss and all the big changes that go with it.
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Adjustment issues with big life changes.
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Lifestyle modification and the development of positive lifestyle habits.
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Self-esteem, and the challenge of rebuilding self confidence.
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Every day stressors like work, childcare, and managing a household.
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Identifying triggers, coping mechanisms and mindfulness based coping skills.
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Difficulties with decision-making, from the every day to the big life decisions that many grievers are facing alone after loss.
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Identifying support and improving communication with family and friends.
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Dealing with complicated emotions like anger, guilt and shame.
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Lifestyle support and mindfulness coping skill development for any mental health issue.
We have excellent organizations and practices to refer you to in case you may need more assistance with a specific issue or a desire to try medication in tandem with therapy and coaching.
What is Integrated Medicine for Mental Health?
Mental Health Integrated Medicine is the process of evaluating and providing suggestions for lifestyle modifications that directly impact mental health. I am trained by Harvard trained traumatologist and former clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School's Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Leslie Korn. Dr. Korn has studied indigenous medicine and the impact of nutrition, movement, supplements and sleep on mental wellness specifically in the treatment of mental health disorders. Jessica has also completed her traditional medicine program from the Center for World Indigenous Studies. Jessica is currently completing training in Ayurveda.
Mindfulness Based Trauma Informed Classroom Coaching and SEL Integrated Arts
Looking to implement trauma informed classroom strategies and techniques into your school or classroom? Wanting to know more about mindfulness's role in schools and in your classroom and how it positively impacts behavior? I have assisted Title 1 schools with high trauma populations in training and implementing these very practices as well as have been a trauma informed, mindfulness based, SEL inclusive classroom teacher at the elementary level since 2001. That's right. After Columbine, I was apart of Colorado's violence prevention initiatives and studied trauma beginning in 2000 with Dr. Bruce Perry, developmental trauma expert and creator of the Child Trauma Academy. Since I have been trained in trauma practices and therapies with trauma specialists Dr. Janina Fischer, Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, Dr. Dan Seagal and many more. I have an extensive background in mindfulness, but school specific training from Mindful Schools. Please see my bio for all of the different experiences I have trained in and lived. I have used my methods in schools with 90% poverty, 23 different languages, refugee and homeless populations and multi-racial schools. I have seen amazing results in the classroom and with individual students when these practices are implemented and co-regulation occurs. First however, we have to learn to be regulated in high stress situations as well. I am available for 1:1 mentoring and coaching for teachers who want support implementing these practices. If you are not in the Kansas City area, let's talk about how we can work together through Zoom. Small groups can work this way as well. School site mentoring and training is available but currently limited due to scheduling.
Healing Through Art in Palliative Care
Healing Through Art in Palliative Care is a process of being with people who are dying and those who are grieving. I am a professionally certified Healing Through Art in Palliative Care facilitator and trainer and Certified Grief Counseling Specialist who helps in many ways to ease the process of dying, grieving, and acknowledging death as a sacred act. I provide grounded, loving, compassionate coaching and guidance and speak with one voice to provide a compassionate witness to both family and the dying person. Expressive Arts methods are used to assist in processing, coping and celebrating one's end of life.
How does all this work?
We start with a FREE 15-30 minute phone consultation. You'll speak with me, Jessica Waters, the founder of MBCAI aWe will work together to first get a sense of your needs. With our next appointment we will learn more about you and find the tools, perspective and strategy you need to begin the process of healing, working with you in the therapeutic process. Sessions can be done over a HIPPA compliant provider which means you can fit it into your day, without ever having to leave home. My hours are predominantly evenings and Saturday mornings. After the consult we will schedule a 1 hour session. Typically they are one time a week to start, but we can do it once or twice a month if that's better for you. There is no set or required schedule and no minimum number of sessions required to sign up. The cost is 40.00 per 1 hour session or 20.00 per 1/2 hour session. Typically we meet once a week but can meet more often or less often given the situation. Contact us at or 913-585-0532 to schedule your appointment.