Jamie Stevens Counseling Group LLC

01/28/2026

We are delighted to announce that Annie Freeman has joined Jamie Stevens Counseling Group as a Clinical Intern for spring 2026!

Annie Freeman (she/her) is a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Illinois Springfield. Annie is beginning her first clinical internship experience and is excited for the opportunity to work directly with clients from diverse backgrounds while continuing to grow as a developing counselor.

During her undergraduate studies at Illinois State University, Annie gained hands-on experience through the Body Project (Eating Disorder Prevention Team) where she facilitated groups focused on body positivity and fostering healthier relationships with food. These experiences contributed to her passion for helping others and promoting self-worth, identity development, and emotional well-being.

Annie has a strong interest in working with neurodivergent clients and has recently completed her Autism and Trauma Training for Neurodiversity.

Annie strives to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, respected, and valued. She approaches counseling with openness and a collaborative mindset and looks forward to building meaningful therapeutic relationships while working alongside clients as they explore their experiences, strengths, and goals.

If you are interested in working with Annie, please email grace@jamiestevenscounseling.com for appointment times. We offer reduced-cost private pay options for both Annie and Peri Drury as they complete their internship programs.

01/22/2026

01/22/2026

We’re excited to announce FOUR new therapy groups launching this February at Jamie Stevens Counseling Group! These groups are designed to provide a safe, supportive space to connect, grow, and feel less alone.

We are in-network for AETNA and Blue Cross Blue Shield, and we can accept UIUC student UnitedHealthcare plans. Our private pay/out-of-network rate is $50 per session.

📩 Spots are limited. Email grace@jamiestevenscounseling.com today to learn more or to reserve your place.

12/11/2025

New Clinical Intern Spotlight: Peri Drury will be joining the Jamie Stevens Counseling team in January 2026! Peri takes a trauma-informed approach to their work and enjoys working with issues such as grief, life transitions, LGBTQ-affirmative therapy, gender-identity exploration, disability and chronic pain, depression, anxiety, trauma processing, self-image, and relationship issues. They also love working with neurodivergent clients, particularly women and gender-diverse clients who have received a later-in-life diagnosis and are trying to figure out how to understand themselves more deeply and accommodate their needs, such as figuring out how to unmask, accommodating sensory needs, and figuring out how to better manage executive functioning without burning out. Peri will be certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS) prior to starting. To help make sessions with Peri more accessible, we are offering significantly discounted session rates during their internship period. This is a wonderful opportunity for high-quality, supportive care at a reduced cost. For more details about Peri and how you can schedule with them, contact our practice manager, Grace, at 217-840-2785 or grace@jamiestevenscounseling.com.

12/11/2025

New Therapist Spotlight: We are thrilled to announce that Avi Hessel, PLSW, MSW is joining our team! Avi (they/ them) has a strong background in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and community building. They primarily work with teens and adults. Being neurodivergent, nonbinary, and q***r themself, they are passionate about providing a sensory-friendly, trauma-informed, and safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals to explore their sexuality and/or gender. For more information about Avi and how they can support you on your mental health journey, reach out to our practice manager, Grace: 217-840-2785 or grace@jamiestevenscounseling.com.

12/11/2025

Great news! We have been nominated for a global healthcare award through GHP (Global Health & Pharma).

Global health and Pharma Mental Health Awards 2026 is a program dedicated to recognizing excellence, compassion, and innovation across one of the most vital areas of global healthcare. This award celebrates the individuals and organizations working tirelessly to improve mental well-being and transform the future of mental health services.

12/08/2025

We are currently experiencing technical issues with our main office phone line! Please email our practice manager with any urgent issues or questions: grace@jamiestevenscounseling.com. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we hope to have our phones back up and running by this evening.

11/06/2025

New: Neurodiversity Informed Couples Therapist

I am proud to announce that our therapist Jason Keist has just become certified as a Gottman/Kessler Couples Therapist - Healing Betrayal Trauma & Grief. He is also a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS). So if you are looking for a couples therapist that understands the complex dynamics of a home with autism and/or ADHD Jason would be a great fit!

Email for an appointment: grace@jamiestevenscounseling.com

10/01/2025

We are very excited to announce that we now have a therapist that specializes in men with neurodiversity. Jason Keist MSW, LSW, PhD ABD has worked with many young men and men in a college setting and clinical setting providing support and tackling issues specific to men with autism / ADHD. He specializes in helping fellow community members attend to challenges related to autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, self-worth, belonging, parenting, and grief/loss. He is also working towards earning his Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS) certification. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Jason please email our practice manager at jess@jamiestevenscounseling.com or checkout our website at jamiestevenscounseling.com

07/31/2025

Here are some journaling prompts specifically created for people with autism and ADHD

Self-Awareness & Identity
1. How would I describe myself beyond my diagnoses? What parts of me feel most “me”?
2. What do I wish others understood about how my brain and body work?
3. What parts of my identity have I had to mask or hide to be accepted? How does that affect me?
________________________________________
ADHD & Executive Functioning
4. When do I feel most focused or in a flow state? What helps me get there?
5. What are some common frustrations I have with my attention or memory? How do I usually respond to those moments?
6. What routines or tools have actually worked for me (even if they’re unconventional)? Why do they work?
________________________________________
Autistic Experience & Sensory Processing
7. What are some sensory experiences I crave or find soothing? What do I avoid and why?
8. When do I feel overloaded or overstimulated? What are early warning signs I can watch for?
9. How do I express affection, empathy, or connection differently from neurotypical norms? How can I embrace that?
________________________________________
Chronic Pain & Physical Health
10. What does my pain want me to know today? If it had a voice, what would it say?
11. How do I respond emotionally to my pain—do I feel angry, resigned, anxious, numb? Why?
12. What small daily actions help me feel like I have some control or agency over my body?
________________________________________
Trauma & Emotional Safety
13. When did I first learn it wasn’t safe to be myself? What would I tell that younger version of me now?
14. What helps me feel safe—physically, emotionally, socially? Can I create more of that in my environment?
15. How do I react when I’m triggered? Can I describe what happens in my body and mind during those moments?
________________________________________
Healing, Hope, and Growth
16. What parts of me have survived despite everything? What strengths have carried me through?
17. What does healing mean to me—not what others say it is, but what I want it to look and feel like?
18. Who in my life (past or present) made me feel seen or understood? What did they do that mattered?
________________________________________
Creative Reflection & Self-Compassion
19. Draw or describe what your brain feels like on a hard day vs. a good day. What do you notice?
20. Write a compassionate letter to your nervous system, your inner child, or your body. What would you say to comfort or support them?

07/14/2025

Jamie Stevens Counseling group is proud to sponsor the Cenntenial High School golf outing. This fun community event is the annual fundraiser that supports the high school program. We believe in contributing to our community to make difference.

06/04/2025

Meet Our Team!
Lexia Swope-Hassan MSW, PLCSW

Lexia is a dedicated child and adolescent therapist with over 8 years of experience supporting young people through her work as a School Social Worker. She has worked with a diverse range of children and teens, including those who are neurodivergent and those living with disabilities.

Lexia provides both individual and group counseling focused on helping children and adolescents build self-regulation skills, improve their mental health, gain psychoeducation, and strengthen social skills. She has extensive experience working with children diagnosed with ADHD, autism, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety, and depression, as well as those who have experienced trauma.

Lexia’s approach is grounded in empathy, inclusivity, and respect. She believes that building a strong, trusting relationship is the foundation for effective therapy. She uses evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing, while always tailoring her methods to meet each child’s unique needs.

Lexia values collaboration with caregivers and sees them as essential partners in a child’s progress. She is also trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation, ensuring safety and support even in difficult moments.

Above all, Lexia is committed to providing ethical, client-centered, and culturally responsive care. She honors each client’s dignity, autonomy, and potential for growth.