meet Jessica backus

jessica’s credentials and philosophy

Licensed professional counselor (LPC) - 178.018663 - pronouns (she/they) - English - individuals & couples

I’m a warmhearted therapist dedicated to fostering deep connections and emotional safety. My approach will empower you to embrace your authentic self, navigate diverse emotions, and face challenges with courage and compassion. I’ll create a comfortable environment for us to work collaboratively, empowering you to make lasting changes aligned with your values and principles, leading to a more fulfilling life.

My therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, empathetic, radically compassionate, playful, strength-based and non-judgmental. You can anticipate not only receiving guidance and support in our sessions, but also experiencing my interactive approach that combines a sense of light-heartedness with unwavering attentiveness, infused with a sense of humor. 

When it comes to my approach in working with couples, I firmly believe that embracing each other's flaws and vulnerabilities is a key ingredient in a thriving relationship. I support couples to recognize that perfection is not the goal; instead, it's about acknowledging imperfections and working together to grow and evolve. I am sex and body-positive

Some of my intersecting identities are:

Queer - in an interracial relationship - sober - disability justice advocate - daughter of a parent with a disability - daughter of a veteran - cat mom

specialization

jessica’s areas of focus:

Depression - anxiety - trauma - substance use - sobriety journey - grief and loss - sexual and gender identity exploration and affirmation-couples - relational issues

jessica’s approach:

Acceptance and commitment therapy(act) - intersectional- psychodynamic - dialectical behavioral therapy(dbt) -relational - eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (emdr) - critical incident desensitization (cid) - gottman

education

Alder University - estimated 2026

doctoral candidate in counselor education and supervision 

Purdue University - 2022

masters of science in clinical mental health counseling and addictions counseling

Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis - 2023 

first year fellow

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor - 2022

in progress 

EMDRIA - 2023

basic emdr certification progress

contact

jessica@balancepsychotherapy.com