Skip welcomes Jessica Cox, owner of Reflections Counseling Services, for a candid, myth-busting look at modern therapy that trades TV clichés for real tools that work. Jessica specializes in helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, healthy relationships, and major life transitions, and she explains why strength often looks like asking for help before life hits a breaking point.

We explore what it means to build an “invisible toolbox” of coping skills, starting with grounding techniques that bring anxiety down to something workable. From there, Jessica walks us through cognitive behavioral therapy in plain language—how to spot distorted thinking, test assumptions, and rewrite the inner script that keeps old patterns alive. She also shares why she focuses on individual therapy rather than couples work, creating a space where people can speak unfiltered and move faster toward clarity and change. Her current pursuit of certification in narcissistic abuse recovery offers vital perspective for survivors who need validation, language for what happened, and steps to rebuild agency and boundaries.

Beyond the clinical lens, we get to know Jessica’s love for nature, photography, and the office’s most popular teammate: Stevie, an English cream golden retriever who helps lower stress the moment clients walk in. Whether you’re a college student finding your footing or a midlife parent balancing everyone’s needs, you’ll find practical, compassionate guidance on how to navigate hard feelings without pretending they’ll vanish. Want to learn more or book a session—virtual or in-person with Stevie by your side? Visit www.reflectionscounseling.org. If this conversation helped you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the support they need.