JESSICA BUDYKA, LPC, NCC

Jessi Budyka (she/they) is an experienced licensed professional counselor and nationally certified counselor who works with children, adolescents, and adults. Her specialty interests include trauma healing as well as empowerment and connection. She utilizes treatment approaches that include creative and innovative counseling techniques.

Jessi earned her bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology from Ohio University. Realizing she wanted to be able to do more for her clients, she earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from John Carroll University. Her love of learning and passion for her work inspired her to continue her education and is currently a doctoral candidate in counselor education and supervision at Kent State University.

Prior to Wellness Grove, Jessi worked in a myriad of settings with clients across the lifespan who had experienced various presenting concerns. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she began providing direct care and behavioral interventions with children and adults with moderate to severe autism and other co-occurring mental health and developmental disorders in a residential setting. During her master’s studies, Jessi provided direct care and co-facilitated group counseling in a gerontological psychiatric unit of the Cleveland Clinic for patients 55+, and frequently aided crisis calls and picked up shifts in the adult psychiatric units. As part of her master’s internship, Jessi provided counseling for individuals and couples at a private practice that specialized in sexual health and wellness.

Most recently, Jessi has provided individual, family, group, and multi-family group counseling in a mental and behavioral health residential facility, serving adolescents (12-17 years old) presenting with severe trauma, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Beyond her clinical work, Jessi is an adjunct professor in the graduate counseling departments at Kent State, Cleveland State, and the University of Louisiana Monroe. She teaches a variety of courses including groups, theories, ethics, career, and internship coursework. Jessi also engages in social research to empower groups to solve problems and co-create their communities in their vision.

Jessi believes that the power of counseling exists in the relationship between counselor and client. This relationship requires genuine authenticity, as well as mutual trust and respect. Jessi honors the courage of her clients to trust her to be with them in their deepest fears, pain, shame, and anger. She understands this must be earned and is committed to being worthy. Jessi’s approach to counseling is rooted in the healing powers of growth fostering relationships. She also recognizes every person is unique and complex, and so she pulls from a variety of techniques and interventions customized to the person in front of her. Jessi believes that people are not defined by their problems or shortcomings. Rather, by how challenges are met with integrity as well as the willingness and courage to learn from experiences, even when it hurts.

Her strengths include: thoughtfulness, compassion, being understanding and empathetic, and promoting empowerment.