ABOUT JESS

Hi, I’m Jess,
a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Play Therapist, and Endorsed Infant, Family, and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Reflective Practitioner.

I’m also an Infant Massage Educator, a Clinical Supervisor in a Birth to 5 Program at a Community Mental Health Agency in Los Angeles, and a private practice clinician working with young children, their families, and parents navigating the beautiful, brutal transformation of new parenthood.

But beyond all that—I’m a mom of three, including one child with special needs.
I know what it’s like to feel stretched thin and to crave a place where you can be both informed and supported. Where people talk about how deeply hard it can be to parent, and how much unspoken stuff gets stirred up—across generations, across relationships, and within ourselves.

That’s why I created Playfully Connected.

🤍 What I Believe:

That connection is the foundation of healing—for parents, children, and clinicians alike

That therapists and parents alike deserve tools that are rooted in science and empathy

That play isn’t optional in early childhood—it’s the language of growth

That new parenthood is one of the biggest transitions a person can face—and it deserves honest, non-judgmental support

And that it’s okay (and very human) to feel like you’re doing great one minute and completely underwater the next

What You’ll Find Here:

For Parents:
→ The Mindful Family blog — educational, validating, and real
→ Encouragement for the hard days (because there are so many)
→ Tools to strengthen attachment and support emotional development
→ Upcoming trainings in infant massage, mindful connection, and play-based parenting

For Professionals:
→ Intervention tools, worksheets, and digital resources for therapy with young children
→ Clinical insights through a birth–5 lens
→ Support for reflective practice and supervision
→ A growing community of like-minded professionals who believe in early intervention and authenticity
→ Trainings in play therapy and infant mental health

This space is for the therapists doing the deeply emotional work of early childhood.
It’s for the parents crying in the pantry between snack times.
It’s for anyone who believes we can build healthier relationships by starting small, staying present, and yes—sometimes laughing about how freaking hard it all is.

Welcome to Playfully Connected.
I’m so glad you’re here.

If you're also building a business or creating a brand in the wellness or mental health space, you can find my digital products, content tools, and faceless marketing resources over at Jesstful Digital — my second home for creative strategy, passive income, and content without burnout.