Jessica "J. Marie" Garrett, LICSW, MD, LCSW-C

About Jessica

Jessica "J. Marie" Garrett uses practical, goal-oriented therapy to help people manage everyday challenges. She brings 20 years of clinical experience and holds LICSW, MD, and LCSW-C credentials.

Jessica practices in Maryland and speaks English. She focuses on clear, respectful conversation so clients can start making changes right away. Her work often centers on stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship or family tensions.

She also addresses anger, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and intimacy concerns.

Background and approach

Jessica adapts her approach to each person rather than using one fixed method. In sessions she combines tools from cognitive behavioral therapy with solution-focused techniques and motivational interviewing. That means she helps identify unhelpful thoughts, set small practical goals, and find what motivates change.

The focus is on usable strategies people can try between meetings. Jessica also offers support with parenting, self-esteem, career transitions, bipolar mood management, coping with life changes, and ADHD-related difficulties. Additional focus areas include adoption and foster care, communication problems, divorce and separation, and financial stress.

She emphasizes listening first and then planning steps that fit each family's situation. Her background across community and clinical settings informs a straightforward style. The goal is to reduce overwhelm and build skills that help people move forward.

She encourages honest conversation and collaborative planning to reach realistic, concrete goals.

Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work

Jessica uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different actions to see what changes. CBT is practical and often focuses on small steps people can practice between sessions to reduce anxiety or low mood.

She also uses motivational interviewing to clarify what matters most to a person and to build motivation for change. This approach helps when someone feels stuck or unsure about making shifts in behavior, like addressing addictions or improving communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Jessica collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit best based on goals, preferences, and what feels doable. That plan can be adjusted as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These options make it easier to keep regular contact and to use brief check-ins or longer conversations as needed. The online format supports consistent follow-through on goals and allows practical tools and feedback to be shared between meetings.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Solution-Focused Therapy

Rather than examining the problem at length, this looks at what is already working and builds on it. Sessions tend to be practical and forward-looking, with small achievable steps, which translates readily to shorter online conversations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Jessica address?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family problems, anger, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting, self esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, coaching, and ADHD.

What style of therapy does she use?

Her sessions draw on cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy to set goals, examine thinking patterns, and build practical skills.

How long has she been practicing?

Jessica has 20 years of professional experience working in clinical and community settings.

What are her credentials and where does she practice?

She holds LICSW, MD, and LCSW-C credentials with license details DC LICSW LC302645 and MD LCSW-C 05736, and she practices in Maryland.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How are costs and scheduling handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time; to begin, use the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire then schedule based on therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Family conflicts

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 20 years
Licensed: Maryland, District of Columbia
Languages: English

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