A licensed professional counselor (LPC) is a mental health provider who holds a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling and who has met all requirements set forth by the state licensure board to provide quality mental health care.
The second “C” (LPC“C”) denotes advanced clinical experience and knowledge as required by the state licensure board that allows for independent practice (meaning, without the need for supervision).
The “S” (LPCC-“S”) denotes advanced experience and knowledge in clinical supervision as required by the state licensure board that allows for supervision of LPCs and counselors-in-training.
A certified perinatal mental health provider (PMH-C) has met all the requirements and passed examination in order to become specialized in providing advanced treatment and services for mothers and fathers who experience struggles that occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child, as well as pregnancy loss and infertility struggles.
Dr. Jessica Headley (pronouns: she/her) is an experienced licensed professional clinical counselor supervisor and certified specialist in perinatal mental health who works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Her specialty interests include: girls’ and women’s issues, gender issues, career development, gerontology, and integrating creativity and positive psychology into counseling practice. She utilizes treatment approaches that are evidence-based and uniquely tailored to each client.
Dr. Headley completed her advanced education at The University of Akron, earning a dual bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology, a master’s degree in community counseling, and a doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision. She also earned a graduate certificate in gerontology and took specialized coursework in women’s studies. She has a strong love of lifetime learning.
Prior to private practice, Dr. Headley worked with diverse clients in hospital, college, and community mental health settings. Over the last 10 years, she has had many unique opportunities – from developing wellness support groups, to serving as a counselor during brain surgery, to being provider on interdisciplinary treatment teams –
that have contributed to her passion for helping others and her clinical approach. Dr. Headley currently holds certifications in perinatal mental health, clinical anxiety treatment, and clinical telemental health.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Headley has served as a counselor educator in numerous counseling programs in Ohio and has been part of the training experience for hundreds of professional counselors. Her last academic appointment was Assistant Professor in the Counseling and Art Therapy Department at Ursuline College where she also held a dual role as Co-Director of the Women’s Center. Her continued involvement with teaching and the Women’s Center as Co-Director Emerita fulfill her calling to educate and inspire.
Dr. Headley’s approach to counseling is relational and emotion-focused because she believes that personal growth is the result of empowering connections that are rooted in safety, authenticity, vulnerability, and mutual respect. In addition to being a non-judgmental, compassionate listener she is a collaborative strength-builder and problem-solver. She is known for using humor, psychoeducation, metaphors, and the creative arts in sessions.
Her strengths include: kindness, love of learning, social intelligence, and the ability to see the bigger picture in life.
Dr. Headley’s supervision training includes advanced doctoral coursework in supervision theory and practice, multiple years of supervised supervision from seasoned counseling experts, and ongoing trainings to maintain her designation and grow in her work. She has experience supervising counselors at all levels of development in community mental health, hospital, college, and private practice settings. Additionally, she has provided trainings and workshops on various supervision topics at local, regional, state, and national levels.
Her approach to supervision is strongly rooted in feminist and relational-cultural theory, a love for counseling research and creativity, and the belief that supervision makes counselors better at what they do – and who they are.