BEGINNING JANUARY 15, 2024 JESSICA’S PRACTICE Has Moved TO FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.
Jessica Witmer MA, MS.Ed.,CHt, LMHC-A
Jessica is passionate about serving her clients at Isch Counseling Services, LLC, a counseling center in Fort Wayne, Indiana where she works through an attachment-theory lens as a holistic psychotherapist. Holding a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Purdue University and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Bethel College, Jessica works as an associate licensed therapist under the clinical supervision of Greg Isch, MA, LMHC. In 2017, Jessica completed training in Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy™ at the Cleveland Clinic through the Wellness Institute of Seattle, WA. She is also a trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist and is currently working toward EMDR certification. Jessica is credentialed as a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP) through Dr. Leslie Korn's Institute for Integrative Medicine, and has received advanced training in the treatment of PPD (Psychophysiologic Disorders) through the Psychophysiologic Disorders Association. She has been trained in several healing modalities in association with her ministerial work over the past 17 years, and integrates the best of these components into her therapeutic work, to serve clients in their healing.
Jessica is a proud member of the Heart-Centered Therapies Association, the American Holistic Health Association, and the Alliance for Self-Directed Education.
When Jessica isn't working, she can be found with her nose in a book, exploring various aspects of the human experience such as the healing arts, ancient religion, evolutionary spirituality, consciousness studies, and mystical Christianity. Sometimes, you will find her on the front porch of her home writing a folk song on her guitar or her Native American flute. In fact, she is also a published and award winning singer-songwriter, who in her younger years opened for various artists including Sixpence None the Richer.
Jessica lives in the lake country of northeast Indiana with her husband of 20 years, their 3 eclectically-educated teens, and their english-creme Golden Retriever named Queso.
HOLISTIC EMDR THERAPIST
While Jessica uses a number of different counseling methods in her practice, she has found herself specializing as a holistic EMDR therapist which she uses in both in-person sessions as well as virtually via teletherapy.
EMDR is a popular form of mental health therapy used to help heal from traumatic events. Known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR provides a structured process where a patient focuses on a traumatic event while experiencing “bilateral stimulation”, which just means that both the left and the right hemispheres of the body/brain are stimulated in a rhythmic fashion, usually using a technique like the butterfly hug.
This technique, using bilateral stimulation while focusing on a traumatic memory, has several wonderful effects. One, it helps the brain stay distracted long enough to be able to focus on a trauma without being overwhelmed, and two, by helping the client stay anchored in the present moment, it helps the brain recognize that the event was in the past - and that the event is truly over once and for all! This is great news for clients who have had the miserable experiencing of feeling like they are reliving a traumatic experience, or of being constantly “triggered” by reminders of hurtful events.
If you are motivated to make big changes in your life, Jessica would love to meet with you. You can discuss your symptoms and together decide on a game-plan to tackle the trauma that may be contributing to your suffering. Jessica is forthright with every client: therapy can be a time-consuming, expensive, and emotional experience; but the results of doing the work are so, so worth it.
