Jessica Wilkes
Passionately advocating for the value of empowered, embodied connection to self, others and nature, Jess is dedicated to offering genuine, non-judgemental spaces of deep listening in a whole-person sense.
Having spent most of her life engaged in the field of Art and Design, and as an educator in Tertiary, Secondary and Primary settings, Jess began to weave together her deep care for learning and growth, connected human experience, creative expression, and wellbeing to build the foundations of The Make It Well.
Supported by Masters (Counselling), Graduate Diplomas (Creative Arts Therapies/ Education), Honours (Visual Art/ Fine Art and design) and Pranayama (Breath-work in the Yogic tradition) Teacher qualifications, Jess is a registered Counsellor (ACA), Creative Arts Therapist (ANZACATA), a registered Teacher, and an Artist and design practitioner. Jess’ qualifications are directly informed by lifelong practices including yoga, breath-work and meditation, creative practice, self-reflection, and a deep affinity with nature.
Jess has experience working with individuals with diverse presentations and requirements, including stress management, anxiety, depression; Alcohol and Other Drug dependency, trauma; existential, life-stage and identity concerns; internal and relational disconnect and individuals who are seeking to clarify and move with greater intention on their life-path. Jess has been a volunteer for almost 4 years with Lifeline as a Community Visitor and more recently with their DBT teen group.
Moving with the needs and preferences of the individual, Jess’ practise is informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness Compassion based approaches. Jess works through a trauma informed lens and offers psychoeducation including body-based, practical emotional/ whole-system regulation tools and skills, to support the integration of clients’ therapeutic work into their daily lives.
“I am honoured and humbled to stand alongside those who seek counsel; witnessing their courage, strength, and vulnerability as they move towards and through discomfort, into the comfort of empowered, conscious, embodied presence. Every day I am deeply moved by the extraordinary capacity of individuals to reflect on their experiences, their stories… and to choose hope, and to choose change. In the face of the disconnect of this fast-paced world, choosing to connect is immensely powerful, and I am immensely grateful to bear witness to change that once seemed impossible”
Jess offers Embodied Counselling in Talk Therapy, Walk Therapy and Online Therapy formats and Creative Art Therapy.