“Sometimes when you fall, you fly”
Jessica Maroun, LPC
Assistant Clinical Director
Hi, I’m Jessica (Pronouns: She/Her/Hers) and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and the Assistant Clinical Director at Well Life Therapy. I believe in the strengths that we all possess and how these strengths can be used to help us all overcome the challenges we face. My hope is to help you learn ways to cope, accept and find peace with everything that life throws at you. Therapy is a partnership, and while the journey isn’t always easy, I believe we can work together to achieve your goals. My aim is for you to feel understood and valued as this will create a place where change and growth can be fostered. Over the past ten years I have worked in residential and community settings with teenagers, couples and families. My focus has been on trauma recovery, PTSD, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and family transitions. My work with teens and young adults has been especially helpful in my professional growth and I look forward to extending my help in this area to the Central Connecticut community.
I also specialize in treating and supporting the LGBTQ community. I provide assessments for gender-affirming surgical procedures and hormone replacement therapy. I have been trained in Gender ASSET and I utilize the WPATH Standards of Care. There is no requirement or expectation that you engage in long-term therapy. You can come just for the assessment and letter. Since each case is different there is no set number of sessions to complete the assessment. The out-of-pocket expense for clients not utilizing insurance is $165 per session. My goal is to help everyone access the care that they need to be their authentic selves. I work from a place of collaboration and I want to help bridge clients with quality care.
As part of my leadership role, I will be involved in expanding the LGBTQ programming at Well Life Therapy. We recently started two group therapy options: one for parents and caregivers of trans and gender nonconforming youth and a support group for LGBTQ teens. Please stay tuned for more LGBTQ services in the future!
I earned my Master’s Degree in Human Services – Clinical Counseling from Post University. I have experience with care coordination, intensive in-home services, residential care, and outpatient levels of care. I specialize in teens, young adults, families, and adults experiencing more serious mental health concerns. I am also actively working on a specialization in working with gender-expansive populations and the LGBTQ community. This includes the Gender ASSET Training.
Jessica participates with Aetna, Anthem, Cigna/Evernorth, and Husky plans.
Jessica will be available for in-person sessions on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
LGBTQ Ally
Mental health care should be accessible to all and every human being has the right to high-quality and culturally-appropriate mental health care. I understand that the LGBTQ community experiences higher rates of mental health challenges and lower rates of access to care and that this reflects the impact of discrimination, victimization, and oppression at interpersonal, community, and structural levels.
As an ally I promise to:
- Educate myself
- Learn and use correct and inclusive language
- Listen to those within the community
- Speak up and intervene
Adolescent Aficionado
The teen years tend to be some of the most challenging. Adolescents are often struggling with gaining independence from parents and attaching more closely to peers. As a parent this can be a very scary time. Especially since teens don’t often open up to family. That is where I can come in. I have the unique ability to form strong therapeutic relationships with teenagers. I provide a safe space where they can express their feelings and explore their struggles. I use a combination of humor, validation and helpful honesty to strengthen these relationships. I work with the teen to develop confidence, an understanding of healthy relationships, positive coping skills and better communication with parents.
Trauma and Attachment Specialist
Do you struggle with forming positive attachments? Have you experienced traumatic events? Often people underestimate the impact that trauma, especially in childhood, has an impact on attachment style. Trauma is not something you can just “get over”. I work with clients to explore their traumatic experiences in a safe, secure environment and at their own pace. I take the time to form a therapeutic relationship as this will increase the sense of safety that is necessary in trauma work. I often start with grounding and mindfulness techniques before moving into trauma work. Mastering these skills will create a solid foundation of coping skills. I am trained in DBT, Seeking Safety, as well as Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC). I often integrate different aspects of trauma models and tailor the treatment to the individual. I specifically have experience working with individuals who struggle with self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideation and previous suicide attempts.
A Little More About Me
I am adjusting to life as a blended family. I have a 9 year old step-son and a toddler. As a family we love watching football, cooking, playing with our animals and laughing. My husband and I also work hard to spend time as a couple. When it is just the two of us we enjoy exploring new places during a long weekend and going to concerts.
As an individual I try to focus on my self-care. I am an avid reader and love nothing more than getting lost in a good story. Every so often I will splurge on a massage or pedicure. Each day I spend time with my animals. Nothing is better than cuddling with the two cats and our dog…although not at the same time. I love watching movies and TV although I don’t have as much time for this as I used to. I consider myself a lifetime student and take any opportunity to continue learning.
