I have been delayed in introducing this particular clinician to the world because when she came to The Mental Wellness Center, Jessica Pippin, LCPC was absolutely bombarded with child and adolescent clients. I will admit, initially I was confused about what was happening because we hadn’t even added her to the website. Then I observed her clinical skills and saw what phenomenal work she does with the clients she partners with and it all came together for me. 

Now that the excitement has calmed down a bit about Jessica Pippin, LCPC returning to private practice, I want to give you a bit of an introduction to her. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did, she’s a very skilled clinician and a wonderful human being. 

Jessica Pippin, LCPC seriously has great therapeutic skills and is able to really help children and adolescents. As a group practice owner, I can’t tell you how much my heart loves hearing and seeing how much she changes the lives of her clients and their families. Jessica has an ability to connect with her clients like I have rarely observed.

I hope you all are ready to learn more about Jessica Pippin LCPC because you are going to love this! Let’s get started:

Jenn:  Jessica where did you get your Master’s Degree from and what is it in?

Jessica: I have a Masters Degree in Counseling from Eastern Illinois University. 

Jenn: What is your official license?

Jessica: The license I hold is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), I am also a Nationally Board Certified Counselor (NCC).  

Jenn: Jessica, what is your title at The Mental Wellness Center?

Jessica: Lead Clinical Child and Adolescent Therapist

Jenn: OOH! That sounds super fancy. I love it! But what does that really mean?

Jessica: It is fancy!  It means that I work with kids and their families in a counseling setting on whatever they may be struggling.  Some examples include anxiety, depression, OCD, symptoms related to ADHD, Autism, learning challenges and social struggles.  I also oversee other clinicians on staff and manage our Child and Adolescent programming.

Jenn: Jessica, can you tell me what made you want to be a therapist?

Jessica: I have always been a helper, helping my friends with all of their problems in my childhood.  After I finished my Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Illinois I took a break and worked in a low income daycare.  While I was there I worked with many children that had stigma already applied to them at such a young age based on their behaviors.  After advocating for some of them, I decided to go to graduate school to get my Counseling Degree.

Jenn: Jessica, you really are naturally helpful. One of the things I admire about you is how easily you just jump in and become a part of situations and help people. Tell me the people you thrive on working with.

Jessica: The more complicated the child, the more I approach the situation with a "challenge accepted" mindset!  I really enjoy working with kids that are hard to understand and really need a voice in the world.

Jenn: Jessica Pippin, I could easily answer this question for HOURS… But let me ask you this. What makes you different from every other therapist out there?

Jessica: I work exclusively with kids and teens, I have some young adults but most of them were teens when I started to work with them.  I am very straight-forward with both my clients and their families and enjoy collaborating with anyone involved in the child's life, including schools.  I also start with where the child is, rather than the social standards set by their grade or age, this allows the child to be seen for who they are in the moment and be able to plant and grow from there.

Jenn: Jessica one of the things I’m so impressed with is how much experience and knowledge you have. How did you gain so much of this experience and knowledge working with children and adolescents?

Jessica: I have worked with kids and teens in various environments, from daycare to schools to private practice. I have had a lot of great supervisors that have filled my brain with as much information as I could soak up. I have been in group practice in Bloomington Normal since 2015, which has allowed me to work with so many kids and their families who are teaching me new things every week.  I have also completed a pile of continuing education to stay on top of the latest information in the field.

Jenn:  Can you tell me how you best connect with your clients, Jessica Pippin? 

Jessica: Most often it is providing them space to be themselves and working hard to understand them.  I am not often shocked or surprised by any experience or behavior that my clients share, which allows them to be as open as possible. I also have no problem with playing in the sand, coloring, or finding alternative ways for them to communicate with me.

Jenn: Here’s a question everyone always wants to know. How do you take care of yourself at the end of a full day of clients? What do you do for self-care and what do you do to decompress?

Jessica: My family and I love movies, so it is the most common.  I also love to spend time reading, snuggling with our dog, hanging out with my friends, and home improvement projects. My favorite way for me to reset though is traveling!     

I hope you all enjoyed learning a bit more about Jessica Pippin, LCPC.  If you know a child or adolescent who’s struggling with some mental health issues feel free to have them reach out to schedule an appointment. They can schedule an appointment with Jessica at 309-807-5077 or email to schedule an appointment at info@TheMentalWellnessCenter.com.

If you would like to learn even more about Jessica please read her clinician bio here: https://www.thementalwellnesscenter.com/providers