Gessica (pronounced “Jessica”) Presken is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Gessica received both her Bachelor’s degree (2013) and Master’s degree (2015) from the University of Pittsburgh. She has experience working with a wide range of populations including individuals, groups, and families. Gessica specializes in the following:
– People with Disabilities (Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury, Physical Disabilities)
– Mental Health concerns (Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder)
– Substance Abuse/Addiction
– Career Counseling and employment-related issues
– Family Conflict
Gessica believes an eclectic and individualized counseling approach is important to meet clients’ unique needs and achieve high-level success. However, she utilizes solution-focused techniques from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered approaches, and Mindfulness.
As a counselor, Gessica is welcoming, genuine, and creates a non-judgmental, compassionate space for clients. Gessica believes clients are the expert of their subjective experiences and are the ones who truly know how an experience is felt and understood. Gessica is there to listen, support, and validate those experiences and feelings. In addition, Gessica empowers her clients to make decisions and changes in order to progress, reach self-acceptance, and achieve meaningful outcomes. Overall, she believes that the counseling relationship is a collaborative one, in which the counselor and client work together to reach the identified objectives and goals.
In her spare time, you can find Gessica spending time outdoors, exploring the diverse Miami food scene, reading, practicing Piltates, watching Bravo, and hanging out with family and friends.