Jessica Kumar, PhD
“This is an amazing experience. Jessica is excellent at bringing me back to the crux of an issue- how to get past the stuck point. She knows when we need to spend extra time on a topic-when I need to talk something through for a deeper understanding. She is helping me redefine my vision to see my worth, creativity and power today. ”
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Training: Dr. Jessica Kumar earned her degree in Clinical-Community Psychology from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center and her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Genesee Valley Institute of Psychology specializing in PTSD and OCD treatment.
Clinical Expertise: Dr. Kumar has trained in multiple clinical settings (e.g., hospitals, university clinics, intensive outpatient programs, veterans affairs centers), which provided opportunities to work with people with a wide range of intersecting identities and presenting concerns. Trauma is Dr. Kumar’s primary clinical interest; she has advanced training in several evidence-based treatments for PTSD including Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Written Exposure Therapy (WET). Dr. Kumar also has several years of expertise in treating OCD using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Additionally, she has experience working with a variety of other issues including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders.
At Meridian, Dr. Kumar provides Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for PTSD; Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD); and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression. Dr. Kumar recognizes that these conditions often intersect with one another and it is important to her to draw from multiple therapeutic approaches to support people who struggle with any combination of trauma symptoms, obsessions and compulsions, anxiety, and mood concerns. She also offers supportive talk therapy to help clients process any past or current life challenges that they would like to bring to the therapy room.
Approach: Dr. Kumar is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients to help them move toward the things that matter most to them. She values adapting evidence-based treatments to fit each client’s personal goals. Dr. Kumar strives to create a supportive environment in the therapy room to facilitate vulnerability and authentic connection. She considers it a privilege to both sit with clients in their pain and walk alongside them in their healing.
Diversity & Inclusion: Dr. Kumar recognizes that every client exists in a variety of contexts outside the therapy room and that these contexts often impact their mental health and how they experience therapy. She seeks to understand each person’s intersecting identities and prioritizes listening to clients’ perspectives. Dr. Kumar acknowledges that lifelong learning is essential to do these things effectively; she engages in ongoing self-reflection to increase awareness of her privilege and unconscious bias while simultaneously seeking to learn from others with identities different from her own.
Ages: Dr. Kumar treats adults.