Jessica Drennen (She/Her), LCSW | Therapist in North Carolina

Client-centered approach
CBT and mindfulness
Addiction-informed care

About Jessica

Jessica Drennen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, low self-esteem, and relationship concerns. She also supports people dealing with grief, parenting strain, ADHD, codependency, and life transitions. Jessica writes in a straightforward way and invites clients to lead conversations about what matters most to them.

She has 14 years of clinical experience and practices in North Carolina. Jessica welcomes direct talk about difficult topics including substance use, sexual orientation and gender issues, race and privilege, and other sensitive matters. She aims to make space for whatever a person brings to the room and follows the client's pace for change.

Jessica uses a mix of approaches to match each person's needs. She draws on client-centered work to create an accepting environment. She uses cognitive behavioral ideas to help people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior. She also includes mindfulness and skills from dialectical behavior work when helpful.

Sessions focus on practical steps and clearer thinking. Conversations often include goal-setting, skill practice, and checking what works between meetings. Jessica can talk about addiction and coping strategies and helps people untangle patterns like people-pleasing and codependency.

Her style is direct but respectful. She encourages honest discussion and priorities set by the client. If someone wants help figuring out next steps, she helps plan small, manageable changes and tracks progress together.

How her approaches translate to online work

Jessica commonly uses client-centered methods to create an open, nonjudgmental space where people set the agenda and decide priorities. This approach helps people feel heard and guides the focus of online sessions.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers concrete exercises to change unhelpful patterns. CBT can help with anxiety, depression, addiction-related thinking, and codependency patterns.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy elements are used when emotion regulation or distress tolerance skills are needed. These skills teach practical ways to manage strong emotions and reduce impulsive behavior.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and comfort with different methods and then adapt the plan. Clients and the therapist decide collaboratively which tools to try and how to practice them between meetings.

Session format options are not listed here. Please confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and let people continue work during transitions or relocation. Licensed professionals can adapt home practice, mindfulness exercises, and skill coaching to an online setting so clients keep making progress between sessions.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuse Self esteem Depression

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGrief Intimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stress Codependency Communication problems Control issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separation Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

14+ years

Credentials

North Carolina

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Jessica help with?

She supports people with stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, self-esteem, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, grief, ADHD, and related concerns such as codependency and body image.

What is her therapy style like?

Jessica takes a direct but respectful style and follows a client-centered approach. Sessions focus on practical steps, skill practice, and goals chosen by the client.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She brings 14 years of professional experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in clinical settings.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in North Carolina.

Which languages are supported in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with her?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

How are fees and billing handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with Jessica?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.