Dr. Jillian Graves , LMSW

Dr. Jillian Graves is a licensed clinical social worker (LMSW) based in Michigan with more than two decades of clinical experience. She holds a Master of Social Work from Smith College and a Ph.D. in social work from Bryn Mawr College, where her dissertation examined the experiences of emerging adult siblings of people with schizophrenia. The LMSW credential indicates she is a licensed master social worker in the state of Michigan and has training to work with diverse client needs.

She has provided both individual and group therapy to adults, adolescents, and families, with particular experience in anger management, trauma and abuse, anxiety, parenting concerns, mood disorders, and workplace-related issues. Her work also attends to sibling relationships, adolescent and young adult development, and the ways family history influences current functioning. Dr. Graves emphasizes building a trusting therapeutic relationship as the foundation for meaningful change.

Using an eclectic, evidence-informed approach, she draws on psychodynamic perspectives including attachment theory, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, solution-focused strategies, and narrative techniques. Her practice focuses on improving communication, making sense of personal history, and collaborating with clients to set goals and develop practical skills. Beginning therapy can be challenging, and Dr. Graves aims to support clients through each step of the process.

Approaches for Online Work and Practical Benefits

Dr. Jillian Graves often integrates psychodynamic approaches, including attachment theory, which explore how early relationships shape current emotions and patterns. This approach can help clients understand long-standing relational and emotional themes and how they influence present-day behavior and relationships.

She also uses Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, a practical, skills-focused method that identifies unhelpful beliefs and teaches strategies to reframe thinking and manage strong emotions. This approach can be useful for anxiety, anger, and mood-related concerns. Additionally, solution-focused techniques concentrate on identifying strengths and small, achievable steps to move toward goals, making them well suited for clients seeking practical change.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. Dr. Graves works with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and adjusts methods as the work evolves so the chosen strategies fit the person and the issue at hand.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging provide flexibility and make it easier to fit therapy into varied schedules and life demands. These options allow clients to engage in consistent care from different locations while working with licensed professionals and therapists who tailor the approach to each client’s situation.