Jessica Wang, LCSW
Specializing in BIPOC & Interracial Relationships
EFT and IFS Therapist
Bilingual (Mandarin) Therapist
Hi, I'm Jessica. I help people find fulfillment.
My work centers on supporting people of color as they navigate life’s stressors , relationships, identity, and finding a sense of belonging. Whether you're seeking therapy for yourself or for your relationship, I offer culturally attuned care that honors your lived experience. Sometimes it feels easier to withdraw and suffer in silence. If so, you’re not alone, and counseling can help.
Your work with me will be emotionally attuned and grounded in relational integrity. I pay attention to the emotional currents that rise in session and help you explore what they may reveal about your needs, your fears , and your longings. I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy , Internal Family Systems Therapy, and mindfulness, along with other evidence-based approaches to support your overall wellbeing.
While I focus my practice on BIPOC individuals and BIPOC and interracial relationships, I also work with white individuals and couples who are intentionally examining how power, privilege, and cultural dynamics show up in their lives and relationships. If you and your partner are interested in self-exploration, actively unlearning harmful patterns, and committed to growth that supports liberation for all people, I welcome the opportunity to support your healing and your relational work.
For Individuals
If you're coping with stress or anxiety, we will take time to understand how these experiences show up in your body and your daily life. We will explore what your stress may be trying to communicate to you, and we will incorporate mindfulness into session to help you notice your internal state and return more easily to the present moment.
For Couples
I help couples strengthen their connection and feel closer to one another. Together, we will identify the patterns that create distance and misunderstanding, explore the emotions and attachment needs underneath those patterns, and practice new ways of reaching out and responding that support trust, closeness, and emotional safety.
What Our Work Can Open Up
Therapy offers a space to clarify who you want to be and what you want for your life and relationships. We'll examine the choices in front of you, the risks and the possibilities, and the steps that can move you toward the future you want. Along the way, you'll build strategies that support your resilience. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and you don't have to walk toward it alone.
If you’re interested in working with me, book a free 15-minute therapist matching call with our intake team. You can share what you’re looking for, ask about my current availability, and get a sense of whether I might be a good fit.
On Being a Counselor
People describe me as warm and approachable, and I have a knack for providing accountable feedback with love. I advocate for your right to feel joyfully alive - to experience the fulfillment of all life offers. Our work will center on identifying how you can feel inspired, purposeful, and satisfied with your life.
While it can be hard to put names to certain feelings, I often sense what others might feel. I will always check with you first on what you’re noticing. This joint inquiry approach supports your inherent worth and potential to change. You can expect a collaborative and respectful relationship in our work together.
Practitioner Background
Before becoming a therapist, I was a certified public accountant. I worked as an auditor at a “big four” accounting firm and then as a senior accountant at a financial services firm in Chicago. I was driven and wanted to find a job and life that had “stability”. I worked hard to be liked and successful at work, but it was never enough. I realized my pursuit of “stability” was driven by fear and survival. Through counseling, I was able to look inward and identify what brought me joy and moved towards that.
Today, I bring my background experience living in two countries and having different careers and my counseling training to my work with individuals and couples seeking fulfillment. Whether you are seeking to alleviate emotional pain or looking for a path toward greater satisfaction, I am here to help.
More About Jessica
Key Philosophical Beliefs
- The greatest gift a parent has to give a child – and a lover has to give a lover - is emotionally attuned attention and timely responsiveness. - Sue Johnson
- It takes strength to seek help and to make a change
- Healthy and supportive relationships help us heal from past trauma
- The more honest we are with ourselves, the better our chances for living a satisfying life. - Nancy McWilliams
- You are the undisputed expert of your own life.
- You deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.
- You deserve to feel safe.
- You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. - Jon Kabat-Zinn
Counseling Training
- Clinical Master of Social Work, the University of Chicago
- Externship in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Training
- Trauma-Focused CBT (TFCBT) Training
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Training
- Motivational Interviewing (MI) Training
- Psychodynamic Therapy Training
- Relational Therapy Training
- Mindfulness Training
- LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Practice
- Anti-racist Practice
- Mental Health First Aid Certificate
- Illinois 40-hour Domestic Violence Training Certificate
Specializations and Experience
- BIPOC individuals and couples
- Interracial relationships and cross-cultural partnership dynamics
- Relationship patterns, attachment needs, and cultivating emotional safety
- Complex trauma, identity wounds, and intergenerational healing
- Anxiety, depression, and supporting nervous system regulation
- Racialized stress, discrimination, and experiences of institutional trauma
- Immigration, acculturation, and living between cultures or identities
- Burnout related to school/work, code-switching, caregiving, and emotional labor
- Life transitions, identity exploration, and reclaiming authenticity
- Bilingual therapy in Mandarin and English
Jessica as a Person
I grew up in China and moved to Chicago after college. I have been living in the Chicago area since 2014 and I love it! In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my partner and friends, being in nature, and looking after my houseplants.
