Jessa Mohaddess, PsyD

What is your philosophy in psychotherapy?

My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe environment where people can comfortably explore their longstanding, repetitive patterns, work through past trauma, integrate previously disowned parts of self, and discover their inner strengths.

What approaches do you use to help your clients?

My approach to therapy is holistic, integrative, and grounded in psychodynamic theory. I practice from a relational frame, integrating internal family systems (IFS), mindfulness-based, and somatic interventions to work collaboratively with my clients to identify the source of their symptoms, develop healthier lifestyle choices, and more meaningful, adaptive relationships. Using the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for change, I am committed to helping my patients gain insight and self-awareness, as well as feel empowered to alter their present experience by making intentional decisions that align with their values.

What are your areas of expertise and clients you work well with?

I work well with adolescents and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, complex trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorders, life transitions, grief/loss, interpersonal difficulties, and boundary issues. I enjoy working across all types of diversity, as well as intersecting sexual and gender identities.

What’s your therapeutic style with your clients?

My therapeutic style is relational, collaborative, compassionate, non-pathologizing, and insight-oriented. I believe in the transformative potential of the therapeutic relationship and aim to form strong emphatic connections with my clients where they feel valued, seen, and heard.

What languages do you speak?

English and Armenian

Past Experience and Education

Dr. Jessa Mohaddess completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, Sacramento. Her dissertation explored the relationship between attachment styles, perceived social support, and fear. Dr. Mohaddess completed her predoctoral internship at Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance, an APPIC-accredited site, providing outpatient therapy services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. During her practicum training, Dr. Mohaddess received extensive training in conducting brief and long-term psychotherapy, forensic evaluations for worker’s compensation and personal injury cases, comprehensive psychological assessments, and immigration evaluations.

Dr. Mohaddess’s interests in psychology developed during her time at UC Davis, where she integrated her Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology and Statistics with plant medicine and holistic wellness. As a postpartum doula with specialized training in pre and perinatal psychology, Dr. Mohaddess is passionate about providing support to caregivers, children, and families of marginalized and underserved backgrounds.

Supervised by Dr. Katie Polsky, Licensed Clinical Psychologist #PSY23342