PLANTING COMPASSION, GROWING SELF

PLANTING COMPASSION, GROWING SELF

all are welcome here!

My name is Jilleen Gorham, MS LMHC. I am a central New York native, and provide online mental health to all of New York State, through a HIPAA compliant platform. My goal is to provide accessible mental health for anyone who is willing to do the work, to improve the relationship with themselves and others. The mission of Gorham Mental Health Counseling, PLLC is to support clients in CONNECTING to their whole self and HEAL their whole self. This method of treatment allows the client to unfold parts within them and I assist in this path to Self discovery. If you’d like to learn more about my personal story, continue to my About page. I feel so grateful and privileged to have this job and would love to guide you through this process.

The Approach

    The approach to gaining access to your system is through compassion, curiosity, and kindness. Internal Family Systems (IFS), is a model created to understand ourselves from a systems lens, so you can learn why the different parts in you, interact the way they do.  Have you ever felt like going to the gym, but also felt another part is telling you to lay on the couch to binge watch your favorite show? This is a simple example of the ways in which our parts communicate to us. Getting to know your parts, what they are protecting, and why they do what they do, is the key to unlocking the truth to behaviors.

Underneath the protective parts, we uncover Self. When Self is present, you feel connected, calm, clarity, courage, and compassion. Healing happens in IFS when Self forms a healthy relationship with these protective parts. Finding Self leadership and learning how to communicate to these parts, is one of the goals of IFS. You will learn how to be more Self-led, and ask those protective parts to step aside to allow you to make conscious choices.

what type of person does this work well for?

    This approach is helpful for people who are in constant conflict within themselves. Addiction to food, alcohol, or perfectionism are just a few examples of parts that can feel out of our control. If you would like to learn more about why you can’t stop the behavior, then this model could help you understand yourself better, and heal the parts that need healing.  The goal is to create a healthy relationship within yourself, so you feel less conflicted and more congruent overall.  Please read more on the Specialty Areas page, for more specific information about who would be a great fit for this type of therapy. 
     The impact this therapy has can be life-changing and transformative.  
    If you are ready to make a shift in your life, to feel truly connected, then please Contact me now!

  • * TESTIMONIALS *

    I have been a client since 2019. I had seen other therapists in the past for my anxiety, but I struggled to open up until I met with Jilleen. She is warm, understanding, and speaks without judgement. I look forward to our sessions, and I recommend her to my friends and family. She is a big part of my inspiration to pursue a career in psychology myself. I have a lot to thank her for in my mental health journey!

  • * TESTIMONIALS *

    I initially came to Jilleen looking for support in breaking the generational cycles that I have struggled with for most of my life. I have not only learned and applied tools to do so, but have also been empowered to continue to better myself into a person that I am happy to be. Jilleen has helped me identify patterns of behavior in myself and others around me that I had never noticed before. In therapy, I have found so many more outlets to living a more positive lifestyle, and I am always confident that I will leave every session with Jilleen as a better person than I was before.

  • * TESTIMONIALS *

    Jilleen has been counseling me for the past year and I’ve had what I perceive to be some major advancements in my mental health journey. I have been dealing with retirement, the illness of my sister with ALS and the recent untimely death of my brother. Jilleen has been a constant supporter and also guided me to accept those things I was not so willing to accept. I love her compassion and understanding and also her ability to give me the tools I need to reset my thought process. I understand I have things to work through and also understand that all families have some level of dysfunction. It’s okay to be strong and not support those who are not healthy. Thank you Jilleen for helping to see that I’m not responsible for everyone!

  • * TESTIMONIALS *

    After my first session with Jilleen I knew I wouldn't have to keep searching for a therapist. From the moment we met she made sure I felt comfortable and safe talking about everything I wanted to without any judgement. She would encourage but not push me to talk about certain things if I didn't feel like talking about it that day. Since starting therapy I've definitely noticed how much more confident I am in many aspects of my life, especially in knowing what I want out of a relationship. I have a very busy and chaotic schedule that is constantly changing and Jilleen is always so considerate and flexible and has a few night sessions which are very helpful for scheduling as well. Jilleen has always been my biggest supporter and genuinely cares for and wants the best for her clients and I'm so grateful to have found her!”

  • * TESTIMONIALS *

    I have spent YEARS searching for a therapist that made me feel welcome, listened to, understood and comfortable enough to be able to share my concerns. Working with Jilleen is exactly that way. She is very personable, genuine, has great availability, and has no issue working around my schedule. Working with Jilleen has certainly helped me understand my tendencies and why I behave the way I do. She has a way of putting things into perspective, and we are currently working on healing my inner child. I have felt subtle changes within myself, like not reacting to triggers like I used to. Therapy has meant that I don't have to be stuck in the past and has shown me that I am capable of change. Jilleen is one of a kind and I am beyond happy to be one of her clients.

  • * Testimonials *

    Jilleen gives me a space where I can be as comfortable as possible during uncomfortable discussions. She’s a great person to talk to with a kind demeanor and insightful questions. I can cope better under many situations that I previously struggled with by embracing IFS teachings that I wasn’t aware of before starting my sessions with Jilleen. I’ve seen great improvements in my overall well-being from having the tools she gives me and her support in my life.