Compassionate psychotherapy for meaningful life change.

I value the dignity and inherent worth of each person I work with and approach therapy with openness, kindness, and respect. These principles shape my treatment style and are grounded in both my educational background and life experience.

My approach to therapy is integrative and tailored to the individual, drawing from a range of evidence-based and insight-oriented frameworks, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), Interpersonal Process Therapy, Mindfulness-based approaches, Multicultural and Feminist Theory, and Psychodynamic Therapy. This allows our work together to be both practical and meaningful—supporting skill-building while also exploring deeper patterns, relationships, and lived experience.

Former clients have described my style as empathic, warm, “real,” and compassionate. I also incorporate humor when appropriate, helping to create a space that feels genuine, collaborative, and human.

If you’re interested in working together, you’re welcome to schedule a brief, 15-minute consultation to see if it feels like a good fit.

About Dr. Jesse Wingate

“Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us - and those around us - more effectively. Look for the learning.”

— Louisa May Alcott

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Professional Experience, Training, and Licensure

  • I bring a diverse background in clinical training, leadership, and health service psychology, with specialized experience in primary care behavioral health. I previously served as Director of Behavioral Health at a rural Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), where I led the development of integrated Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH), outpatient therapy, and psychiatric services.

    I completed an APA-accredited internship in Clinical Health Psychology with Cherokee Health Systems in Knoxville, Tennessee, where I gained focused experience treating serious mental illness and substance use disorders in both rural and urban settings. My broader clinical training includes work in residential treatment for substance and gambling disorders, hospital-based rehabilitation psychology, community mental health centers, and college counseling settings.

    Before transitioning to psychology, I worked in higher education administration, including roles as Assistant Director of Career Services at the University of Richmond and Dartmouth College. I remain actively engaged in research, consulting, and ongoing professional development. My research interests include work-related stress, burnout, personality, and vocational decision-making.

    • Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (2020)

    • M.S., Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA (2016)

    • M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT (2009)

    • B.S., Psychology; Minor: Religious Studies, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY (2007)

    • Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Virginia (#0810007314)

    • Licensed Psychologist, Washington, D.C. (#PSY200001443)

    • Licensed Psychologist, New York (#027939)

    • Psychologist - Doctorate, Vermont (#048.0134891)

    • Authority to Practice Interjurisdictionally, PSYPACT® (APIT; #7986)

    • International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2026 - Present)

    • D.C. Psychological Association (2023 - Present)

    • Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists (2020 - Present)

    • American Psychological Association (2015 - Present)

    • Vermont Psychological Association (2025 - 2026)

    • Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (2020 - 2023)