- Social anxiety support
- Cognitive behavioral work
- Mindfulness practice
About Jessica
Jessica Drennen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in North Carolina with 14 years of experience. She lists social anxiety and phobia among the concerns she works with and commonly supports people facing anxiety, stress, depression, grief, addiction, relationship strain, parenting stress, and ADHD. Jessica works with adults, adolescents, and children as indicated by her background and stated focus areas.
Her approach is practical and conversational. She uses Client-Centered Therapy to follow what matters to the person, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and mindfulness to help regulate strong emotions. Motivational Interviewing is part of her toolbox for addressing change around substance use and other goals.
In sessions she is direct about difficult topics and willing to name issues people often avoid. She addresses things like race, gender, LGBTQIA concerns, and trauma when they are relevant to the work. Meetings focus on what the client wants to change and on skills or steps that can be tried between visits.
Jessica has particular experience with abandonment, attachment and adoption-related concerns, body image, caregiver stress, codependency, and communication problems. She also lists family conflict, intimacy issues, eating and food-related concerns, and coping after disasters among her areas of focus.
People coming to work with her can expect clear conversation about goals, practical tools to try, and check-ins on progress. To begin, the usual steps are completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling an initial session.
How her approaches adapt to online work
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the client's priorities and helps shape each session around what the person wants to address. This approach supports discussing social fears or relationship concerns in a way that follows the person's pace and goals.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and changing thoughts and behaviors that keep anxiety going. Online sessions can include practicing exposure tasks, thought records, and behavioral experiments between meetings to reduce avoidance in social situations.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers concrete skills for managing overwhelming emotions and improving interpersonal interactions. Mindfulness techniques that reduce reactivity are also taught in short exercises that can be practiced between sessions.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Jessica will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and preferences, adjusting strategies as progress is reviewed.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Many people find online sessions fit into busy days more easily, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and make it simpler to practice skills between meetings without travel time. Ask about the available formats and scheduling when you complete the matching questionnaire.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
North Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She lists social anxiety and phobia plus stress, depression, addiction, trauma, self-esteem, relationship and parenting issues among her focus areas.
How would she approach sessions with someone who fears social situations?
She uses Client-Centered methods to follow what matters to the client and CBT techniques to identify thoughts and behaviors that maintain anxiety. Mindfulness and DBT skills are used to manage intense feelings in social settings.
How much experience does she have?
She has 14 years of professional experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in clinical settings.
What are her credentials and location?
She is an LCSW licensed in North Carolina and practices there.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What is the cost structure for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.