My name is Dr. Jessica Roy (she/her) and I am a depth-oriented therapist, researcher, and writer based in California. My aim as a therapist is to create a space where you feel seen and supported, helping you to navigate growth, healing, and a deeper understanding of the self. I bring warmth, empathy, and a grounded presence to our work, and am committed to being a compassionate partner on the journey.
WELCOME
Therapeutic services
As a Psychological Associate at Santa Barbara Psychoanalytic Group, I provide depth-oriented therapy for individuals and couples under the supervision of Charles Eckhart, PhD. While I see and treat all sorts of people and presentations, I specialize in working with adolescents and adults who are navigating the intersection of identity, life transition, purpose, and mental health. I have specific expertise in working with women and mothers struggling with the feeling of burnout associated with carrying the mental, relational, and domestic loads within their lives and families.
A depth-oriented approach to therapy focuses on exploring the underlying emotional, psychological, and unconscious processes that shape a person’s thoughts, behaviors, and experiences. We spend time considering the context of your lived experience and current situation, and explore how you think about, reflect on, and make meaning of both your inner and outer worlds.
While I utilize various modalities based on each person's needs, I approach my work from a psychoanalytically-informed, existential perspective. I am a feminist, inclusive therapist dedicated to providing a safe and supportive space for all individuals, where respect, understanding, and acceptance of diverse identities and experiences are at the core of our work together.
Identity & Purpose
Life Change & Transitions
Burnout & Exhaustion
Relationship Issues
Motherhood & Parenting
Mood & Emotional Issues
Anxiety & Depression
If you are interested in working with me, I encourage you to reach out to schedule a free consultation. I am happy to connect with you, hear more about what you are looking for in regards to therapeutic support, and answer any questions you may have about working together.
My Approach
What does depth-oriented mean?
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My research centers around the experience of American motherhood, patriarchal motherhood, and maternal burnout. I enjoy connecting with other psychologists, researchers, and writers exploring these themes. If you are interested in connecting or would like to read my doctoral research, please send me a message below.
Roy, J. (2024) Mother as Village: A Hermeneutic Investigation of the Normalization of Maternal Burnout
current research
Abstract: In contemporary American society the experience of becoming a mother, mothering children, and navigating the experience and institution of motherhood has a significant impact on women, often resulting in the deterioration of maternal mental health and the rise of maternal burnout. The aim of this study was to examine maternal burnout within the context of socio-cultural-historical expectations of mothers in post-WWII contemporary American society. This study was rooted in a qualitative, human science hermeneutic orientation, and employed a social constructivist approach. It analyzed maternal burnout as a cultural artifact within the larger cultural matrix and interpreted it through the lens of feminist epistemology. Productions and reproductions of motherhood both within psychological (scholarly and popular) and public (literature, film, and television) discourses were considered. Four significant themes of sense-making emerged, categorized as distinct socially constructed versions of the mother: the idealized angel, the demonized witch, the infantilized baby, and the dissenting speaker. The findings of this examination reveal complex and multilayered ideologies in a constant state of flux that reflect and reproduce the cultural matrix. Understanding the complexity of maternal burnout as a cultural artifact attests to the dissonance experienced by mothers as they perform the contradictory roles of motherhood, highlights the significance of socio-historical-political factors that impact maternal burnout, and provides clinicians with a richer cultural competence as they seek to support the maternal population.
Contact
Phone: (805) 250-4330
Email: hello@jess-roy.com
If you are interested in scheduling a free consultation, have a question about my research, or would like to connect for another reason, I invite you to reach out via phone, email, or the contact form below.
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Jessica Roy, PhD | All Rights Reserved | 2025