Meet Mackenzie Jerls, MA

Mackenzie Jerls
Naperville Virtual

Mackenzie Jerls earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from McKendree University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology. She works with children, adolescents, and adults navigating anxiety, stress, emotional dysregulation, relationship challenges, and life transitions. Mackenzie believes that creating a supportive, collaborative, and nonjudgmental environment allows clients to feel safe exploring their experiences while building the tools needed for meaningful and lasting growth.

Her clinical experience includes working in crisis counseling settings, where she supported individuals experiencing high-stress situations, emotional overwhelm, anxiety, and life challenges. These experiences strengthened her ability to provide compassionate, grounded, and empathetic care while helping clients build resilience and healthy coping strategies.

Mackenzie approaches treatment through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and a holistic theoretical framework that recognizes the connection between mental, emotional, physical, and relational well-being. She believes each client’s background, experiences, relationships, and personal strengths play an important role in the healing process. Her goal is to help clients better understand their patterns, increase self-awareness, strengthen emotional regulation, and develop healthier coping strategies that support lasting and meaningful change.

In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys going for walks with her dog, Wallace, and reading books from all genres.

I see improvement in myself after only 6 months.

— LOA Patient

Education:

McKendree University

Master of Arts in Clinical and Counseling

McKendree University

Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology

Clinical Interests:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Adolescent AnxietyChild AnxietyDepressionDialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)False Attraction OCDGeneralized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)Harm OCDHealth AnxietyLGBTQIA+ CommunityMind-Body TherapyMindfulnessMisophoniaMotivational InterviewingMulticultural CounselingObsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Panic DisorderPerinatal & Postpartum AnxietyPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Relationship OCDSocial AnxietySpiritualitySubstance MisuseWomen's Health

If you are looking for therapy, medication or combined mental health treatment, learn more about how Light On Anxiety can create a custom individual treatment plan to fit your goals.

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