Hello! I am Dr. Jillian (Jay) Watts! I am a Ph.D.-prepared behavioral health practitioner, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, substance use counselor, and certified sexologist committed to creating a safe, respectful, and nonjudgmental space for healing, recovery, and self-understanding. My work is grounded in compassion, accountability, confidentiality, and the belief that every person deserves care that honors their dignity, lived experience, culture, and personal values.

I support clients navigating substance use, recovery, life transitions, sexual health, relationships, identity, grief, stress, and emotional wellness. I have experience working across residential, community-based, psychiatric, virtual care, and recovery-centered settings, including with individuals impacted by housing instability, justice involvement, disability, family stress, and complex behavioral health needs.

My approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, person-centered, and recovery-oriented. I integrate psychoeducation, coping skills development, relapse prevention, crisis-informed communication, harm reduction, SMART Recovery principles, emotional regulation strategies, and practical goal setting. I believe counseling should be collaborative and tailored to each client’s needs, goals, and lived realities.

As an intersectional woman with several intricacies that shape how I experience and understand the world around me, I deeply value the inherent dignity and infinite worth of every individual. I understand the importance of being seen, heard, and supported without shame or judgment, especially for those healing from experiences that have impacted their self-worth, belonging, identity, relationships, recovery, or connection to themselves and others.

My goal is to help clients build insight, strengthen coping skills, restore self-trust, and move toward lives that feel more stable, meaningful, and aligned with their values. I bring a grounded, direct, and compassionate presence to the counseling relationship, with deep respect for each person’s capacity to heal, grow, and reclaim their story.

Oh…I love cats!