Jessie Boekhoff, intern

"Be the light." Those three words are my personal mission statement - my why. I want to be the light in someone's darkness - the person who believed in them when no one else did.

Maybe anxiety or depression has taken over more of daily life than you'd like to admit. Maybe ADHD has you or your child spinning without traction, or life has thrown enough at you lately that stress management feels like a full-time job. Here's what I want you to know: those patterns have an expiration date. They don't have to keep running your life. Whether it be ADHD, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or even just stress management, I am here to tackle it alongside you.

I work with kids, teens, and adults - ages 6 and up - to help them get out from under what's been holding them back and start actually moving forward. I have a particular passion for working with older kids, teens, and adults who are struggling in ways that don't always get recognized or understood.

I don't use a one-size-fits-all approach because your situation isn't one-size-fits-all. For younger kids, Play Therapy gives them a way to work through what's hard without needing the words for it. For older kids, teens, and adults, I draw from Psychodynamic Therapy, Adlerian Therapy, CBT, and Solution-Focused approaches, depending on what fits.

I treat therapy as a real conversation - not a clinical checklist. I'm warm, I'm honest, and I don't take myself too seriously. But I show up ready to work, and I expect the same from you. I'm direct and won't sugarcoat it. I'm not going to sit across from you and nod while nothing changes. You deserve a therapist who actually engages - who will challenge you when it helps, support you when you need it, and give you tools that work in your real life, not just in theory.

My goal is to create a space where everyone feels safe enough to be themselves - not perform, not people-please, not hold it together. Just show up as they are and get the support they need. You don't have to pretend that you have it all figured out with me. Life is hard, I'll be the first to admit it. I'm here to show you that even as adults, we can't tackle everything on our own. I went into this work because I genuinely believe the right support at the right time can change the trajectory of someone's life. Nobody should have to face life alone - and with me, you won't have to.

I'm a Cedar Rapids native - born and raised right here in Iowa. In my free time, I like to keep busy with painting, puzzles, coloring, and spending time with those that mean the most to me (my dog included). I LOVE the sunshine and try to get outside to soak up the warmth as much as I can. On cold days, you'll likely find me inside, snuggled up watching movies, probably with a coffee in my hand.

I received my Bachelor's of Science in Child, Adult, and Family Services and also expanded my knowledge further into Criminal Justice Studies - from Iowa State University. Before entering Graduate school, I worked as a Behavioral Health Specialist at a Community Non-profit. There, I had valuable experiences and learned so much, which eventually led me to my true passion of counseling. I graduated with my Master's of Science from Walden University. Following those studies, I was fortunate enough to complete my internship at Guiding Light, and I cannot wait to see where my career takes me in this amazing organization.