Jessie Whittley, Graduate Associate
Supervised by Lauren Masciarelli, MA, LPC-S, LMFT-S
I found my way to counseling after years of career development and self exploration, supported by my family and closest friends. I believe in the inherent power of each individual to know themselves and do hard work in partnership with a network of loved ones. While I am drawn to various theories of change in the humanistic experiential realm, the client is my primary source of inspiration in understanding how unique life experience has impacted one's worldview and desire for growth.
I am joining AFI in my final year of Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling at St. Edward's University, where I completed practicum in the Community Counseling Clinic and a local elementary extension site. For the past two years, I have also acted as project assistant for the Access to Treatment Initiative at the After Violence Project, which prepares clinicians to work with death row family members; a specialized training that has broad implications for recognizing marginalized groups.
My varied background in nonprofit education and advocacy, collaborative project management, and parenting two school-aged children has fueled my continued interest in this work and given me a deeper level of empathy for all of the challenges these stages can bring. When I am not in class or therapy, I love spending time and sharing meals with my family, particularly outdoors when the Texas weather permits. I look forward to meeting new clients, hearing their stories, and witnessing their evolving strengths.
