Welcome to Free Bird Counseling Center
About Me and Free Bird
Counseling
Hi, my name is Jessica Smith! I am a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) born, raised, and based in Maryland and I am the founder of Free Bird Counseling Center. I have a Master’s degree in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling and I am trained in the Gottman Method to couples counseling.
The Gottman Method provides a framework for couples counseling that focuses on developing the skills and understanding necessary for partners to maintain fondness and admiration, turn toward each other to get their needs met, manage conflict, and respond and repair relations when they hurt each other. The goals of the Gottman Method include increasing closeness and friendship behaviors, addressing conflict productively, and building a life of shared meaning together.
I am passionate about helping individuals and couples improve communication, strengthen connections (with self and others), heal from past traumas, and learn healthier ways of being. My goal is to support couples who may be struggling with communication, connection, intimacy, managing conflict, or recovering from infidelity and I am experienced in helping individuals who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues, grief and loss, or processing traumatic events.
I understand these things can be difficult to face alone. I am dedicated to creating a calm and non-judgmental environment where individuals and couples can share openly and honestly.
Together, we will begin exploring the parts of you that need healing.
Journey to Free Bird
My commitment to creating Free Bird Counseling was inspired by my own therapeutic journey. When I was thinking of a name for my practice, I was encouraged by a colleague to explore this from a personal perspective, versus an intellectual one. I reflected on my own therapeutic experience and how I felt as a client. For the first time in my life, I felt supported and heard in a different way. However, what stood out to me most was I felt “free”……free to tell my story; free to make sense of my experiences; free to explore my emotions; free to identify things about myself that I wanted to change; free to unpack and heal from trauma; and free to connect with myself and learn to love myself in ways that I never had before.
A few of my closest friends lovingly refer to me as “Bird” or “Birdie” and I thought, “what is freer, than a bird?”
At Free Bird Counseling, you will be welcomed into a safe, compassionate, non-judgmental space where you can also feel “free” to start (or continue) your therapeutic journey. If you are ready to receive support in navigating life’s challenges and think we may be a good fit, let’s connect!
More About Me
My husband and I have a beautifully blended family of four adult children, one young granddaughter, and two dogs; Khaleesi and Kash. In my free time, I love being outside in nature, going for walks or hikes. I also enjoy spending quality time at home with my family, dancing with my granddaughter, exercising, traveling with my husband, watching documentaries, and eating tacos (who doesn’t love a good taco!).
Education and Certifications
Walden University | Graduated 2020
Masters in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Gottman Method | Trained
The Gottman Method is a research-based couples therapy that aims to strengthen relationships. The Gottman Method is based on the Sound Relationship House theory, which identifies nine elements of a healthy relationship. The Gottman Method focuses not only on providing practical skills for managing relationships, but on delivering deeper insight into how the relationship dynamics developed.
