Jess Ryan
LCMHC | (she/hers)

Self-Pay only
Virtual & in-person (Durham office)

Hello!

Welcome! I offer a warm, genuine, and intentional environment for us to connect and collaborate with counseling in Durham. I utilize a whole-person approach rooted in somatic therapy, touch-based modalities, hypnotherapy, EMDR, parts work, sound, and movement. My approach to trauma is guided by my love for music, dance, and the creative arts, offering me a deep appreciation of the somatic body and direct witnessing of its innate capacity to heal under conditions of support and safety.

I have a somewhat insatiable desire to learn and have enjoyed extensive ongoing study in Transforming Touch (Stephen Terrell and the Transforming the Experience-based Brain protocol), Applied Polyvagal Theory of the Autonomic Nervous System (Dr. Stephen Porges) resulting in my training in the Safe and Sound (SSP) Protocol, Trauma-informed Hypnotherapy (Courtney Armstrong), Dynamic Attachment Repatterning (Diane Poole Heller), EMDR-specific protocols for addressing traumatic loss (Dr. Graham Maxey and IADC protocol from the center for traumatic grief), Internal Family Systems-informed parts work and the Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) protocol.

I sometimes utilize singing bowls and sound bath instruments to offer autonomic state regulation, attunement and integration. I utilize movement and yoga-based poses to help move energy and inform new neuromuscular patterning in the body as it learns new truths. I have been teaching yoga and meditation for over 10 years in my community (currently, you can catch me at Yoga Off East on Saturday mornings!), and I have the honor of incorporating yoga, tarot, and its philosophies into my sessions with aligned clients.

What to Expect with Jess Ryan

Let's schedule a session!

You and I might work well together if trying to think differently about your problems has not worked for you, or if talking through your emotions is not helping you to feel better overall. You and I will work well together if you’re interested in exploring your somatic body and autonomic nervous system in order to heal, repair, and integrate to live more in your body and less in your head.

Maybe you have tried to understand your struggles by naming them, discovering their origin, and even practicing all of the right skills, but you’re still anxious, disconnected, numb, or repeating unhealthy patterns. I want you to know that there is nothing wrong with you. Some wounds simply imprint themselves in the body beyond the reach of insight or logic.

We will work with the energy of your subtle body and nervous system to help you sense into support from which you may then process, release, and integrate stressful or traumatic experiences in the way that works best for you. We will gently reconnect with consistency, predictability, safety, support and compassion in order to offer it to the parts of you that have been holding fear, tension, or old survival responses.

Through practices like Transforming Touch, EMDR, Parts work, hypnotherapy, shaking/tremoring, somatic embodiment/attunement practices, breath work, mindfulness, bilateral stimulation (BLS), movement, sound, and nervous-system repair/integration, we will help you slow down, listen inward, and begin to soften the places that have been bracing and holding. When we stop pushing and create an environment of presence, compassion, and connection, the body will feel safe to initiate the natural process of letting go.

It is from this foundation of groundedness within yourself that we will build new patterns, emotional pathways, relationships, and beliefs. You have been whole all along, and I hope to reconnect you to this truth if we work together.

I am a naturally warm, open, and curious person, so I find the art and practice of therapy to be personally rewarding— I can show up authentically, connect with others, and offer to support them in meaningful ways. I also have a personal interest in supporting clients with processing and integrating Near Death Experiences (NDEs), Out of Body Experiences (OBEs) and Spiritually Transformative Experiences (STEs) and would love to support you or another loved one who has gone through these experiences, no matter how long ago it was!

When not engaging in therapeutic work, you can find me spending time with friends and family, hiking, birding, dancing, playing piano/guitar, or attending music/arts events in the community!

Investment

My Therapy Session Costs

I am an advanced clinician and see clients at rates consistent with my expertise, experience, and education (see rates below) and utilize session lengths and modalities that are appropriate for self-pay clients only. I can provide you with a Superbill to send to your insurance company to seek out-of-network reimbursement. All sessions can be offered either virtually or in person in the South Durham office.

Trauma and Mental Health Therapy (multiple modalities, including talk therapy and skills-based therapy infused with somatic practices):

  • 75 minutes: $250

  • 90 minutes: $300

Transforming Touch (attunement/massage table, includes aromatherapy, crystal bowl sound healing)

  • 45 minutes: $150

  • 60 minutes: $200

Somatic Attunement + Hypnotherapy Sessions (relaxation-based, nervous system-repair sessions including somatic embodiment practices, sound bath, movement, and aromatherapy):

  • 90 minutes: $300

  • 2 hours: $400

  • 3 hours: $600

Safe and Sound (5-hour listening therapy designed to gently reset the nervous system. By using specially filtered music, it stimulates the vagus nerve to reduce auditory sensitivity, lower anxiety, and improve emotional regulation and social engagement)

  • 60 minutes: $150 (virtual or at-home self-led listening combined with office visits)

Intensives (4-6 hour sessions or multi-day weekend trauma sessions using multiple modalities based on unique need/goal/desired outcome)

  • $250/hour; investment may vary based on session length, treatment goals, and frequency of session(s); inquire with Jess

Yoga/Yoga Therapy (60 minutes):

  • $150/individual or $250/group at the South Durham office or other agreed-upon location

Birding/Forest Therapy (therapy sessions at forests or walking-friendly birding locations in the Durham, NC, area). We exchange sitting indoors for the healing, mindful energy of nature and birds to support nervous system attunement, grounding, ventral vagal activation (connection with self and others), and your unique therapeutic goals, all while walking and observing.

  • 75 minutes: $250

Consulting (presentations/training, private events, corporate events/training):

  • $250/hour, please inquire with Jess via email to info@nourishcarolinacounseling with subject line: CONSULTING REQUEST

Jessica’s Favorite Quotes

“Within each of us, there is an intense need to feel that we belong. This feeling of unity and togetherness comes through the warmth of a smile, a handshake, or a hug, through laughter and unspoken demonstrations of love. It comes in the quiet, reverent moments of soft conversation and in listening.”

- William Bradford

“The attempt to escape from pain is what creates more pain.”

-Gabor Maté

“It is not so much the meaning of life that we seek but our aliveness. When we have that, the meaning of life is obvious.”

- Anodea Judith, Eastern Body Western Mind