About
Jillian Bayley, LCSW
I am a licensed clinical social worker offering services in New York State. I have almost two decades of experience providing therapy across the lifespan – from children, youths, emerging adults to older adults, as well as in relationships, families and in group settings. I’ve had the privilege to work in a variety of community behavioral health settings, most extensively providing services to those who have directly experienced, or been impacted by, trauma, grief/loss and behavioral health concerns. In addition to providing direct therapeutic services, I’ve provided clinical supervision and consultation to other therapists individually and in group settings, guided and mentored clinicians in training and provided skill development opportunities for other professionals. While my education and training have equipped me with a strong clinical foundation, my innate characteristics of empathy, humor, curiosity, humility, respect and hope are what guide my every interaction. I bring both professional expertise and personal authenticity to every service I offer.
Top Specialties
-Trauma
-Grief/Loss and Bereavement
-Personality Disorders
Issues Treated
-Family and Intimate Partner Violence
-Traumatic Loss
-Child Abuse/Neglect
-Community Violence
-Mental Health Challenges
-Interpersonal Difficulties
-Substance Use
-Anger Management
-Mood Disorders
-Life Transitions
-Chronic Illness
-Chronic Pain/Physical Ailments/Physical Decline
-Cognitive Disabilities/Decline
-Dementia Related Disorders
-Traumatic Brain Injuries
Populations
-Emerging Adults
-Adults
-Older Adults
-Caregivers
-2SLGBTQIA+
-Immigrants and Refugees
-Sex Workers
Approach
As a therapist, I am committed to helping individuals move through life’s challenges with greater clarity, strength and self-compassion. You are the expert of your own life—my role is to guide and support you as you move toward a life that feels more intentional and fulfilling, with an enhanced ability to manage emotional experiences. My therapeutic style is direct yet gentle, always infused with warmth and thoughtful humor. I believe therapy is most powerful when it feels safe to explore and reflect, is collaborative in nature and deeply human.
While therapy can be difficult, I intentionally work to create a space where both your struggles and your strengths are honored, the smallest concerns are given space and significance, and even the most painful moments can be explored with courage and hope. I approach each session with genuine compassion and curiosity, aiming to foster a deep, shared understanding of your reality. I continually strive to engage in culturally responsive practices with those impacted by systemic racism and oppression. Above all, I work to build a therapeutic relationship rooted in trust, respect and authenticity—one where all parts of you are welcome, where healing not only feels possible, but deeply supported and where real, meaningful change can take place.
My clients often describe feeling truly seen, understood and accepted in a way that honors all dimensions of who they are, without judgment or expectation. I believe there is no greater privilege than to be invited into the lives of others and allowed to walk alongside them in their moments of pain, transformation and healing. Together, we’ll explore what’s been holding you back, what’s calling you forward and how you can live in a way that feels more aligned with your values and hopes.
Treatment
I value treatment models that seek to deeply understand your unique experiences—so that everything you think, feel and do begins to make sense. While I draw from many therapeutic models, my practice is always trauma informed and strengths based. I have the expertise and skill to provide you with highly customized treatment, specifically designed to meet your individual needs. By incorporating techniques from the models below, you’ll have opportunities to consider new perspectives, reinforce current skills and learn new tools and strategies.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
A structured, goal-oriented approach that explores how our thoughts, emotions and behaviors are interconnected. The aim is to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop more balanced, adaptive ways of thinking and behaving.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Combines acceptance and change strategies to support people who struggle with intense emotions and impulsive behaviors. Individuals learn to create a more stable and fulfilling life through skills training in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.
Internal Family Systems
Based on the idea that the mind is made up of different “parts,” each with its own perspective and role. This approach helps clients connect with their core Self to heal wounded parts and reduce internal conflict through compassionate internal dialogue.
Attachment-Based Therapy
Explores how early attachment relationships affect present-day connections and emotional patterns. This approach seeks to heal relational wounds and support clients in building secure, healthy relationships.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Explore how past experiences—especially early relationships and unconscious processes—influence current emotions and behaviors. The goal is to foster deep insight and emotional healing by bringing unconscious material into conscious awareness.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
A trauma-focused treatment that helps individuals identify and shift unhelpful thoughts related to their traumatic experiences. By challenging these “stuck points,” clients can reduce PTSD symptoms, gain clarity and develop a more balanced and compassionate view of themselves and the world.
Somatic Experiencing
A body-focused therapy that addresses how trauma is stored in the nervous system. The goal is to help clients gently release physical tension and restore the body’s natural capacity for regulation and resilience.
Schema-Focused Therapy
Helps individuals identify and change deeply rooted patterns—or “schemas”—formed early in life that continue to impact thoughts, emotions and relationships. Through a combination of cognitive, experiential, and relational techniques, the goal is to heal unmet emotional needs and break long-standing, self-defeating cycles.
Motivational Interviewing
A collaborative, person-centered approach that helps clients explore and resolve ambivalence about change. By evoking intrinsic motivation, it supports individuals in making decisions that align with their goals and values.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Encourages people to accept difficult internal experiences while committing to actions that align with their values. The goal is to increase psychological flexibility, so clients can live more meaning full lives, even in the presence of pain or discomfort.
Gestalt Therapy
Emphasizes present-moment awareness and the integration of thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations. Clients are invited to explore unfinished business and internal conflicts through experiential techniques, often bringing new insight and resolution.
Culturally Responsive Therapy
Purposefully integrating an understanding of clients’ cultural backgrounds, values and identities into the therapeutic process. The goal is to provide affirming, respectful care that honors each person’s lived experience and worldview.
Narrative Therapy
Grounded in the belief that we make sense of our lives through the stories we tell, this approach helps clients externalize problems, explore alternative narratives and rewrite their personal stories in ways that promote empowerment and possibility.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
A short-term, goal-directed approach that emphasizes strengths, resources and small steps toward meaningful change, by focusing on what’s already working rather than what’s going wrong.
