Fostering hope, healing, & harmony

Jessica Houts has long dark hair and smiles kindly.

I’m glad you’re here. Seeking support often comes during times of significant stress or life transition. I work with adults navigating addiction recovery, family and custody-related challenges, and parents feeling overwhelmed by ongoing concerns with their children. My goal is to help you feel supported, grounded, and more capable as you move through difficult seasons.

About

Together, we can explore what is holding you back and work towards creating lasting, meaningful change in your life.

Jessica wears a white sheath dress and stands confidently.

Jessica Houts, LCSW

Hi, I’m Jessica,

the founder of Way Forward Counseling.

I help adults feel more stable, grounded, and capable during periods of ongoing stress and major life disruption. Therapy focuses on practical coping skills, emotional regulation, boundaries, and breaking patterns that keep you stuck.

I primarily work with adults navigating addiction recovery, divorce or custody-related stress, and parents who are overwhelmed by persistent behavioral or developmental challenges with their children.

My approach is collaborative and supportive, with an emphasis on real-life tools you can use outside of session. I earned my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Central Florida and am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida and Virginia. Throughout my career, I’ve supported adults facing addiction and recovery, family disruption, grief and loss, and long-standing emotional patterns that affect daily functioning.

My Approach

Therapeutic Approach

I take a holistic approach that considers the mind, body and emotional experience, helping you build awareness, stability and healthier patterns so you can navigate challenges more effectively and move forward with greater clarity.

Book an Appointment

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches patients how to confront negative thought patterns while minimizing unhelpful behaviors. CBT has been shown to be beneficial for treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. It can also help you cope with challenging life events like divorce, job loss, or relationship troubles.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a modality that assists people in overcoming their own doubts and fears in order to uncover the internal desire to change. It is a practical, empathic, and effective strategy that acknowledges the difficulty of making life changes.

Person-Centered Therapy

Person-centered therapy recognizes that every individual has the ability and desire for personal growth and transformation. This style of therapy involves the client doing the most of the talking, while the therapist supports the client in understanding their thoughts and feelings. This is a positive, supportive form of talk therapy.

Strengths-Based Therapy

Strength-based therapy is a positive counseling approach that emphasizes your unique abilities and skills instead of your faults, failures, and limitations. This fosters a positive mindset, allowing you to build on your best traits, discover your strengths, develop your resilience, and shift your perspective to one that is more optimistic.

*Insurances Accepted