Jamie Edwards (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than 20 years in the field of social work and 14 years experience as a psychotherapist. Jamie uses a mind and body holistic approach to challenge clients and provide feedback.  As a relational therapist, Jamie believes herself - along with the client - are a part of the therapeutic process and together work towards making a therapeutic alliance to reach common goals and promote healing.

Jamie believes everyone has a natural resilience to heal from trauma, loss, and unexpected setbacks, however stories created about who we are can get in the way.  They tell us we are not good enough, that we will fail, that we are not safe.  They disconnect us from others, the world around us, and the goals we seek, they wreak havoc in our bodies.  Together, Jamie works to partner with a client to make sense of and transform these stories, allowing for growth and connection. She feels that even our adversities can be a source of strength and an opportunity to better ourselves.

Jamie’s specialties include trauma/survival states, working with the stress response, and loss and grief.  In addition she has a particular interest in working with those that identity as self- partnered/uncoupled/single. Her approach to psychotherapy centers around a caring, nurturing relationship coupled with a safe and non-judgmental environment. She has worked in child welfare, domestic and sexual violence, hospice, and long-term care settings.

Jamie is a body oriented therapist, utilizing training in and Somatic Experiencing and Transforming Touch along with a variety of therapy modalities.  Her holistic approach, working with the mind, body, and environment, promotes healing.  She is practical and conversational, giving feedback and hands-on tools you can use in your daily life.

Jamie’s Qualifications include:

• Marist College, dual degree B.A., Psychology and Criminal Justice

• Fordham University, MSW, Social Work with Clinical Concentration

• Currently training in Transforming Touch

• More than 300 hours of training and consultation in Somatic Experiencing 

• More than 40 hours of training and consultation in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) 

• 200 hour Certified yoga instructor 

• Illinois 40 hour Domestic Violence Training

• New York State Certified Rape Crisis Counselor

• Personal mindfulness/meditation practice including attending silent meditation retreats (vipassana practice)

Jamie uses bottom-up processing methods instead of top down processing such as talk therapy.  Talk therapy concentrates mostly on the prefrontal cortex part of the brain, which can be limiting as it processes information slower and also is the last part of the brain to develop in young adulthood. If you’d like more information, watch this video.

Jamie strives toward being an anti-racist, feminist, LGBTQ+ affirming, and inclusive therapist to all.