About Me
Welcome, I am Dr. Jess Coleman (she/her). I joined the field of clinical psychology to support the well-being of people with experiences that have historically been misunderstood, silenced, or stigmatized in society, such as: reproductive mental health concerns, reproductive decision-making, LGBTQ+ family building, sexual violence, and medical trauma.
Through lines in my career have been providing affirming psychological services and promoting patient-centered care in medical systems. I aim to be part of a culture shift in which reproductive experiences and trauma are unburdened from cultural shame and stigma.
It is fulfilling for me to serve as a trusted therapist and to bear witness to my clients’ dreams, joys, hardships, and transformations. I strive to be experienced as warm, open-minded, and validating. I aim for my clients to feel truly seen and supported for who they are, what they have experienced, and what they are working toward.
Walking alongside my clients and noticing changes occur during the course of therapy, such as cultivating a deep connection to their values and greater self-acceptance, are some of the most precious parts of this work to me. It is an honor to be part of each clients’ journey of self-exploration, growth, and tending to their well-being.
Tending and being tender are some of my strengths and central parts of how I define myself as a human. Definitions of tending are “to pay attention; to apply oneself to the care of; to cultivate; to foster”. Being tender can be defined as “kind; loving; gentle; sensitive; showing care; expressing softer emotions”. These qualities are integral parts of how I innately and intentionally show up in my life in and out of work.
When not working, I enjoy: building community, dancing, walking outside, quality time with my partner and cats, reading, visiting the redwoods and the ocean, and enjoying art and music. I grew up in northern California and have been living in North Carolina for the last 8 years.
Brief Biography
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Completed postdoctoral training within the Veterans Affairs healthcare system, with a focus on 1) process improvements in an integrated health system, and 2) specialized reproductive mental health care.
Completed training in data driven approaches to quality assessment and rapid improvement of health services.
Provided psychotherapy in the Women’s Health-Mental Health Clinic for pregnant and postpartum veterans with a focus on PTSD, OCD, anxiety, adjustment to parenthood, and infertility.
Worked within Women’s Health Integrated Primary Care-Mental Health, proving therapy to women-identifying veterans presenting with concerns across the reproductive lifespan. Developed and facilitated a perinatal mental health group with staff.
Completed the Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) with Postpartum Support International.
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*Received the UNC Wallach Award for exceptional work as a clinician.
Completed specialized training in assessment and treatment of various mental health concerns occurring across the reproductive lifespan. Provided evidence-based psychotherapy in the:
Perinatal Behavioral Health and Psychotherapy Program
Full Model Perinatal Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Program
Perinatal Inpatient Unit (one of three units specifically for pregnant and postpartum people in the U.S.)
Menopause Consultation and Therapy Clinic
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Provided evidence-based psychotherapy approaches for adults, with a focus on third-wave cognitive behavioral therapies. Led and collaborated on program development and research projects.
Worked in Duke clinics including:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Clinic
Stress, Trauma, and Recovery Treatment Clinic
Duke Cancer Institute
Duke Psychology Clinic
Received the Steiner Young Investigator Award from the North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2024.
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Research coordinator for two years at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Behavioral Medicine Program. Contributed to NIH-funded behavioral intervention trials with a focus on perinatal health and HIV prevention in low-resource settings.
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Graduated Summa Cum Laude with minors in Women’s Studies and English
Experience and Credentials
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North Carolina Psychologist and Health Service Provider License #6736
Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (PSYPACT): E.Passport #21926
National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
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I am a clinical psychologist with expertise in assessment and therapy for the full-spectrum of reproductive mental health concerns, reproductive transitions, and reproductive stressors. I have generalist and specialized health psychology training in evidence-based assessment, psychotherapy, and consultation in outpatient, inpatient and residential settings. I enjoy providing short-term and longer-term psychotherapy using cognitive behavioral therapies.
I primarily work with clients seeking therapy related to anxiety and mood concerns, traumatic stress symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder, grief, adjusting to parenthood, stressors related to navigating reproductive health care, and preparing for medical procedures.
I am a member of national and state organizations, through which I stay connected to licensed professionals and engage in ongoing learning to enhance my care. These organizations include:
North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynecology
Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
North Carolina Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
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Prolonged Exposure by the Durham VA
Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) by Postpartum Support International
Perinatal Grief and Loss by the Seleni Institute
Fertility, Treatment Interventions and Counseling for Contemporary Family Building by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine
Circle of Security Parenting by Circle of Security International
*This list is not comprehensive
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I am passionate about creating synergy between my clinical work, research, and healthcare improvement work - so that each informs the others.
My research centers on developing, implementing and evaluating practices and protocols to improve health outcomes and experiences in medical care. My areas of focus are: 1) obstetric and gynecologic health care 2) and trauma-informed and gender-sensitive practices in medical care.
I led several research projects during my PhD, which focused on creating and testing interventions to help patients cope with reproductive and sexual health concerns and distress related to OB/GYN procedures. For my doctoral dissertation, I developed and piloted a trauma-informed CBT skills intervention for anxiety related to pelvic exams to detect cancer recurrence after gynecologic cancer treatment.
I have published peer-reviewed scholarly articles and book chapters. To read more, follow this link
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I am passionate about improving healthcare using my expertise in patient care and health services data collection and analysis. Types of improvements that culminate in improved healthcare include patient-centeredness, equity, effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness and safety.
My quality improvement work focuses on improving mental health screening processes, trauma-informed care, and team communication in medical clinics without disrupting workflows and efficiency. During my VA fellowship, I led and contributed to local and national VA initiatives to improve quality and access to care for women Veterans.
I have deep gratitude for the privilege of having a career that I love. I am honored to work with people during challenging and transformative times of their lives.
I am grateful to the individuals that have supported me personally and professionally. Thank you to family, friends, community, clinician colleagues, and mentors for supporting me on my journey of growth, coming into myself, and trying to make a gentle and loving mark on the world.