ABOUT JESSICA

I'm Glad You're Here

Before we talk about credentials, I want you to know something more important: this is a space where you get to just be yourself.

Hi, I'm Jessica Unger, LCPC, NCC

I've spent over 10 years in the mental health field, working with clients ranging from 5 to 65 years old. That range has taught me something important: everyone deserves care that's shaped around who they actually are, not a one-size-fits-all script.

My path here wasn't a straight line into private practice. I've counseled students in high school settings, served as a case manager for foster youth preparing for emancipation, spent three years as a 24/7 on-call resident advisor for college students with varying neurodiversity, and worked as Clinical Manager for a psychiatric rehabilitation program at an outpatient mental health clinic in Prince George's County. Each of those roles showed me a different way people carry hard things — and a different way to show up for them.

Clients often describe me as engaging, helpful, quirky, direct, but kind. Many have also shared that they value the collaborative nature of our work together and the progress they've made toward their goals.

Why I Became A Therapist And Launched My Private Practice

Although I deeply value my previous work experiences and the individuals I had the privilege of supporting along the way, becoming a licensed counselor felt like the role I was meant to step into. With a passion for individualized, trauma-informed care, I help people process their wounds, find healing, and feel empowered to move beyond barriers they once thought were impossible to overcome.

Therapy isn't about fixing what's "wrong" with you. It's about understanding yourself more deeply, building tools that actually work in your real life, and remembering that you were never broken to begin with.

"My goal is to empower my clients to develop the skills to manage their symptoms and be successful in their goals — this is your time, and your treatment."

My Philosophy

I operate from a trauma informed and client centered approach. That means you lead the sessions and decide what's most important in the moment, while I provide structure, feedback, and a listening ear. You are the expert on your own life — I bring clinical training and evidence-based tools, and together we figure out what actually helps.

I tailor each session to the individual because therapy is not one-size-fits-all. No two sessions look exactly the same. I’m also not a “sit back and listen” type of therapist. I’ll be engaged, offer feedback, ask questions, and show up authentically as myself — just as I’m asking you to do.

I hold space for the full range of human experience. Whatever you're carrying — anxiety, trauma, grief, chronic illness, self-esteem, or something you can't quite name yet — you deserve compassionate, individualized care.

My Approach

My style is dynamic and eclectic, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, Somatic Therapy, and other evidence-based methods. I meet teens through honesty and respect, and adults through practical, real-world strategies that fit their actual lives.

I've also received specialized training in: