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My Background

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I graduated in June 2019 from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) with a Masters in Counseling Psychology. During the course of my program I trained at Church Street Integral Counseling Center, a Gestalt sliding-scale clinic in San Francisco. I also completed a clinical internship at St. James Infirmary, a peer-based occupational health and safety clinic for sex workers of all genders. I have been working with Grateful Heart since August 2019 and have been fully licensed since August 2023.

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As a lesbian therapist with substantial background in queer spaces, I am committed to and enjoy working with the LGBTQ+ community. While at the University of Connecticut from 2008-2012, I demonstrated for the legalization of same-sex marriage, held leadership roles within queer organizations, participated on speaker's bureaus and created and presented a workshop about queer women's representation in film at the True Colors Conference. I am currently a member of Gaylesta, a psychotherapist organization for the LGBTQ+ community, and Bay Area Open Minds, which includes professionals knowledgable in kink practices, sex work professions, and consensual nonmonogamy/polyamory.

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Modalities

The modalities in which I have been trained and which inform my work include:

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Gestalt (Experiential/Existential)

Psychodynamic

Cognitive-behavioral

Humanistic/Client-Centered

Integral/Holistic

Trauma-Focused

California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

LMFT# 140776 

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Michigan Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

LMFT# 4101007465

© 2025 Jessica Gioia

All art on site is by Keith Haring

Practicing through the auspices of Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center, a nonprofit organization providing affordable counseling and psychotherapy services to children, teens, couples, families, and groups throughout San Francisco, the East Bay, and Contra Costa County.

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