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Mella Counseling
  • Home
  • About
    • About Jessica
    • The Counseling Journey
  • Services
  • FAQ
  • Contact

About Me

About Jessica

Hey there! My name is Jessica. I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC Associate) in Texas, supervised by Dr. Mee-Gaik Lim, LPC-S, and a National Certified Counselor™. I specialize in working with young adults and older adults navigating major life transitions, career changes, and identity shifts.  


But before I was a counselor, I lived many of the questions I now help clients explore.

My Story

I graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in biology. Like many college graduates, I rushed into a career path without much reflection; I became an environmental scientist and consultant. I was good at it. Really good. But as the years passed, I realized that being good at something and loving something are very different things.  


By my early 30s, I was burnt out. I'd been successful on paper, but I felt disconnected from myself and my life and exhausted by work that didn't align with what actually mattered to me. I remember feeling anxious, stressed, and completely lost. I knew something had to change, but I didn't know what.  


That's when I met a spiritual coach who introduced me to a more integrated approach to wellness; one that honored the mind, body, and spirit. That introduction sparked an awakening. I realized I wanted to pursue work that was aligned with my values, that felt meaningful, and that helped others navigate their own transitions and awakenings.  


I completed training in holistic health and wellness coaching and opened my own coaching business in 2018. After years of working with my clients, I realized I wanted to deepen my ability to support them; not just through wellness strategies, but through the emotional, existential, and identity work that transformation so often requires of us.   


I retired from environmental consulting in 2021, and continued my coaching business. In 2023, I went back to graduate school to pursue my Master's degree in Professional Counseling at Texas State University. During my internships, I received training in career counseling and grief counseling, which helped me to recognize that career transitions and life changes always involve some form of loss, growth, and identity shift.

Why This Work Matters

My own experience with burnout, existential questioning, and intentional career rebuilding taught me something important: When you're in the middle of a major life transition, you need more than advice. You need someone who understands the emotional weight of those big decision, who honors the grief that comes with endings, and who can help you reconnect with what actually matters to you.  


I bring both professional training and lived experience to this work. I've had to ask the hard questions about whether my path was truly mine. I've grieved the loss of an identity I'd built around achievement. And I've experienced the clarity and relief that comes from rebuilding your life around your actual values.  


Whether you're a young adult figuring out your first real career move, a mid-career professional wondering "Is this it?", or an older adult approaching retirement and asking bigger questions about meaning and purpose, I understand the territory and I'm here to walk alongside you as you navigate it.

My Approach

I believe that meaningful relationships, including the counseling relationship, are where real growth happens. My work is relational, reflective, and grounded. We'll slow things down, explore what you're thinking and feeling, notice the patterns and experiences that have shaped your choices, and clarify what actually matters to you. I'm direct, warm, and genuinely interested in who you are and where you're heading.


I also believe in meeting clients where they are. Your goals might shift as we work together, and that's okay. If mindfulness or breathwork practices help you access deeper insight, I can certainly integrate those. If you need practical support with career exploration or decision-making, I'll offer that, too. What we do in sessions is always collaborative and always driven by what you actually need.

Mella Counseling

220 Opportunity Blvd, Ste 3033, San Marcos, TX 78666

(512) 612-9889

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