Jessica Yoon
Psychotherapist, LMSW
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
My path to becoming a therapist was long and unexpected. Actually, in my undergraduate BSW studies, I wanted absolutely nothing to do with clinical work/therapy work. It wasn’t until I began working with youth that I realized there is power in being a safe space for the hurting, and a freedom gifted in being someone that genuinely listened. I love hearing the stories of people, and I love hope. Hope is the thing that led me to the path of therapy work. Experiencing the humbling privilege of holding space for others’ pain and vulnerability and watching it bloom into hope marked me in a profound way. That is why I love this work. We get to see the growth and potential of a life, and we do it by restoring and empowering individuals to wholeness and it all starts with hearing their stories. We partner with individuals to do the hard work of holding onto hope.
What should someone know about working with you?
I am gentle, empathetic, and am sensitive to the reality of trauma and pain in our lives. This is why I make it a priority to approach therapy and clients as my whole and human self–as me! When I begin work with a client, I am committing to believing in them, rooting for them, and to seeing the best in them. We are going to work towards active healing and self-discovery which means we’re going to do the hard stuff together too–the hard questions, the hard emotions, so long as we are willing to commit to this together!
How does collaboration with other providers inform your work?
Collaboration is essential in the therapeutic process, whether it’s with other therapists or clinicians that are referrals. Different providers have perspectives and see from angles that we’re not privy to seeing. A multi-disciplinary team is a multi-faceted team, which means our clients are covered not just by their therapist or single clinician but have more protection and scaffolding to learn, grow, challenge themselves and be brave.
What advice would you give to someone who is hesitant to try therapy?
Anything new or unfamiliar that we try feels uncomfortable at first, and because there’s so much information about what therapy is – it can be overwhelming! You get to decide why you’re in therapy and how you’ll approach it. If you know something is needed for change, maybe you want to process and heal, or just want to know yourself better – therapy is a safe and covered place to do so. Initiating the therapeutic journey may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but it is one of the first steps you can take to empower and grow hope and confidence in yourself. You don’t need to commit to a year’s worth of therapy from the start – try once! You never know until you try.
Contact
(646) 883-5911
jkouame@jkcounseling.com
Virtually throughout New York state.