Jessica Plate, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Orlando CBT Therapist
Specializing in CBT for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma
If you have a scheduled video session with Jessica Plate, click the button below to access her virtual waiting room from your device.
You’re probably here because you heard from a friend that Jessica is an amazing therapist. You heard right. Jessica Plate has helped numerous clients work through anxiety, find their way out of depression, and build healthier self-esteem. Many of the people she works with move forward feeling more grounded and confident and often recommend her to friends and family seeking thoughtful, effective support.
After relocating from New England to Florida, Jessica Plate, LCSW began her work as a therapist in Orlando in early 2020, just before the pandemic. During an especially challenging period for many people, she provided a steady, calming presence and thoughtful care to those navigating uncertainty and emotional overwhelm. Jessica is a cognitive behavioral therapist with years of experience working with adults struggling with anxiety and depression.
She began her career in an outpatient mental health center, where she facilitated weekly cognitive behavioral therapy groups for adults recovering from addiction, addressing women’s issues, and working toward improved overall wellness.
As her clinical work evolved, Jessica became increasingly interested in the growing body of research supporting the mental health benefits of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness—particularly in the treatment of anxiety and trauma. In 2017, alongside her therapy work, she pursued certification as a yoga instructor. She continues to integrate mindfulness, body awareness, and skills for tolerating discomfort into her therapy work today.
Jessica continued her professional growth in community mental health, working with adults living with severe and persistent mental illness, including schizophrenia. She now provides therapy services to adults seeking support for anxiety, depression, and related concerns.
Getting to Know Jessica Plate
What do you love most about being a therapist?
The best part about being a therapist is watching people make progress! I love witnessing my clients experience the fruits of their labor. The work can be difficult, so to see my clients experiencing peace and happiness is incredibly rewarding.
In what ways has being a therapist helped you to grow as a person in your own life?
Being a therapist has forced me to practice what I preach! Because I emphasize the importance of doing so for my clients, I have allowed myself to prioritize self-care and emotional exploration on a regular basis.
What are the core skills that you believe all people deserve to learn, that you see as necessary for living a mentally healthy and fulfilling life?
I believe the most important skills are self-care skills and boundary setting skills. Basic self-care is more difficult than you would think, so spending time building a self-care routine is something everyone should work on. Knowing how to tune in to your physical and emotional needs and tend to them ensures you can feel your best as often as possible. Boundary setting skills are incredibly important as well because it is critical to our self-care. Whether we are dealing with difficult relationships, poor work-life balance, or pushing ourselves too hard, knowing our limits is an important skill to have.
What do you believe helps people to get better?
So many things can help people get better, but the thing that comes up most often as a critical element to change is self-compassion. The belief that you are worthy and deserving of change, peace, love, and/or happiness is a major factor in whether or not someone can truly get better.
Do you believe a person can change and if so, how?
I believe people are capable of deep, powerful change with energy, belief, and patience. Change is always possible if you believe you are capable of it!
What are some of the hardest symptoms you’ve seen clients recover from over the course of your career?
I started my journey as a therapist in community mental health outside of Philadelphia, PA working with people living with severe and persistent mental illness. I saw clients recover from daily hallucinations, manic and depressive episodes, and suicidal ideations. Some of my clients were able to reduce their reliance on medications and significantly reduce their frequency of hospitalizations. I also saw some of my clients return to the workforce and independent living after being disabled by their symptoms for many years.
Education & Credentials
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of Florida, #15903
Jessica Plate graduated with her Master of Social Work from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Completed Trainings
Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma from the Medical University of South Carolina
Crisis Prevention and Protocols for Teletherapy Counseling
