Jessica Bloom

Meet Jessica

I find working with children and teens to be an incredibly rewarding experience.  I can teach them different skills to improve behavior and make good choices, how to cope during tough times, and how to get along with their family members and peers. Inevitably, though, each child and adolescent I work with teaches me something, too – about love, or forgiveness, or about the innocent joy of childhood experiences.  

Helping parents rediscover connection and meaning in their most difficult task (the 24/7 job of parenting) has been a delight.  I work with parents who have lost sight of themselves or who are looking to be the parent they'd always wished they could be, but haven't figured out how to get there.  Seeing these parents transform into the best versions of themselves and knowing the generational change that can happen is a real joy.

I treasure being along for these journeys and working collaboratively to support the whole family. It is truly the most rewarding work I could do and I wholeheartedly appreciate each child and each parent that I work with.

"When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary."

-Fred Rogers

More About Jessica's Work

I am a licensed psychotherapist specializing in children, adolescents, and parents. I work with individuals and families to address emotional difficulties using evidence-based practices and coach parents on the science behind their child's brain development and behavior. My approach to you and your family will always be warm and inviting, and free from judgment.

I received my Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and went on to complete my Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Rollins College. I'm licensed in Illinois as a Clinical Professional Counselor and credentialed as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) through the Association for Play Therapy.

I've spent much of my career working specifically with children and families. Before opening In Bloom Counseling in Deerfield in 2017, I worked in school-based mental health with children and adolescents from elementary through high school. Today, in addition to my clinical work, I provide supervision to counselors and play therapists-in-training and develop professional trainings focused on play therapy, child development, and evidence-based clinical practice.

Click here to learn more about Play Therapy!

Training Other Child & Play Therapists

One of the things I have grown increasingly passionate about is helping other therapists become better equipped to work with children. I currently serve as the Director of Training for the Illinois Association for Play Therapy, where I help support professional training and continuing education for play therapists throughout Illinois.

I have been invited to teach and speak about play therapy, child development, child and adolescent interventions, sandtray therapy, assessment, attachment, and interpersonal neurobiology. I've presented at the Illinois Association for Play Therapy Conference and the American Counseling Association Annual Conference and have provided guest lectures for counseling students at Northeastern Illinois University, National Louis University, and the University of Central Florida.

I also provide clinical supervision to counselors and play therapists-in-training. I really value being able to take what I've learned from years of working with kids and families and use it to help other clinicians feel more confident and intentional in their own work with children.

Featured & Interviewed

I've also had the opportunity to share my perspective on children, parenting, and mental health outside of the therapy room.

My professional commentary has been featured in Psychology Today, SheKnows, and Today's Parent. Locally, I was featured by The Law Office of Erin M. Wilson, where I discussed supporting children and protecting their relationships with both parents during divorce and other family-law matters.

I also contributed How to Pick a Therapist for Your Child: A Comprehensive Guide to Deerfield Neighbors, offering local families guidance on finding developmentally appropriate mental health care for their children.

Most recently, I joined Notes to My Nervous System as a podcast guest to talk about the Nervous System & Tantrums: Rethinking Child Meltdowns, and I continue to provide professional presentations and continuing education for other mental health clinicians.

Working With Me

I believe children do best when the adults around them are curious about their experience rather than simply trying to stop difficult behavior. Sometimes that means helping a child develop new skills. Sometimes it means helping parents see a situation differently. Often, it means doing both.

Whether I am sitting on the floor of the playroom with a child, talking with a parent who feels completely stuck, supervising another therapist, or teaching clinicians about play therapy, the goal is ultimately the same: helping adults understand children better so children can feel safe enough to grow.