Ms. Jess Stern, LPC
(she/her/hers)
About Me
You've done talk therapy before, and maybe it helped — but the same patterns keep showing up in your relationships, in how you handle stress, and in the walls that keep you safe but also keep you alone. Often those patterns started in the family you grew up in. I work with adults navigating family-of-origin trauma, complex PTSD, and the relational patterns that follow, including LGBTQ+ folks whose families didn't make room for who they are.
I use Somatic EMDR, Flash, IFS, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) as an integrated approach. Somatic EMDR and Flash help your nervous system process what it's still holding. IFS works with the protective parts running the show. KAP can open things up when talk therapy has gone as far as it can.
My approach is relational and real. I'm not a blank-slate therapist; I show up as my full self so you can do the same. As a queer, ADHD therapist, I bring lived experience to this work alongside clinical training, especially with LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent clients.
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor practicing virtually in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania; all sessions are via telehealth. Outside the therapy room, I'm an animal lover, traveler, and rock climber who's called D.C. home for over 11 years. I live on Capitol Hill with my partner and dog.
Education & Experience
M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling — The George Washington University ('22)
M.A., Secondary Special Education and Transition Services — The George Washington University ('18)
B.A., Psychology, and B.S., Education and Human Development — University of Miami ('14)
I completed my clinical internship at Whitman-Walker Health, where I worked closely with the LGBTQ+ community and began my training in EMDR. Since then, I've built my practice around Somatic EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma-focused work with LGBTQ+ clients and adults living with complex PTSD. I'm an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and trained in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) through Journey Clinical. I don't prescribe; I help KAP clients find a prescriber and coordinate care with them.
Professional & Volunteer Affiliations
EMDRIA
Specialty Area
- Abuse/Neglect
- Anxiety/Panic Attacks
- Depression
- Dissociative Disorders
- Domestic Violence
- Family Issues
- Gender Identity
- Marriage/Relationship Issues
- Phobias
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Sexual Abuse
- Traumatic Incident
Population Served
- Adults
- First Responders
- LGBTQ+
Language
- English
Insurance
- Sliding Scale