ABOUT JACKIE

Biography

Jackie Small is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Connecticut. Her professional experience spans over nearly 20 years as a clinician in school, agency and private practice settings. Jackie holds a BA in Psychology from The University of Central Florida; 1999 and an MA in Counseling from Manhattan College; 2004.

Jackie’s practice is centered around supporting women. Prior to entering graduate school, Jackie was an advocate with the Mt. Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI) in New York City. She became passionate about supporting women who were victims of abuse. After Jackie graduated from Manhattan College with a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling she began her career as a domestic violence counselor and advocate at The Northern Westchester Shelter, now Hope’s Door. Jackie went on to continue supporting women and teen girls through her work as the Coordinator of the Domestic Violence Intervention and Education Program (DVEP) at My Sister’s Place (MSP) in White Plains, NY. During her time at MSP, Jackie served as co-founder of the Pet Safety Program which provided women seeking shelter with a safe place to keep their beloved pets.

After becoming a mother, Jackie’s focus shifted to supporting women struggling with postpartum mood disorders and difficulty breastfeeding. She completed training in the treatment of perinatal mood disorders with Karen Kleiman, LCSW founder of The Postpartum Stress Center in PA. Additionally, Jackie is a trained Labor and Postpartum Doula through Doulas of North America (DONA) and a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). Jackie served as the lactation specialist for Valley Pediatrics in Greenwich, CT, as well as a La Leche Leader in Fairfield, CT from 2014 to 2016. In 2014, Jackie opened up a private practice serving mothers and babies in Fairfield County.

Jackie continues to support postpartum mothers both individually and in group settings. She offers consultation to new perinatal therapists as well. In addition to group and individual work, Jackie is trained in trauma treatment and AF-EMDR therapy. She offers EMDR treatment to mothers who have experienced a traumatic birth or postpartum experience.

Her work supporting women currently includes a focus on divorced or divorcing women navigating the legal system. Jackie has a particular interest in treating women who have experienced coercive control in their interpersonal relationships extending to legal abuse following separation. Research shows that EMDR treatment can be particularly effective in helping women regulate their nervous system while going through the extreme stress of single parenting and divorce.

In her current practice, Jackie works with teens and adults.

Post Graduate Trainings:

Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Personality Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment

Certified Lactation Counselor through Healthy Children

DONA labor and postpartum doula trainings

PSI (Postpartum Support International) training for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety treatment

PSI Advanced clinical training for clinicians

The Postpartum Stress Center postpartum depression training for mental health clinicians

Psychopharmacology for clinicians

Attachment Focused EMDR training with The Parnell Institute

Trauma treatment with Janina Fisher

Intimate Partner Violence trainings