Jessica Lief is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who brings over a decade of experience treating individuals struggling with eating disorders, body image issues, Borderline Personality Disorder, substance use, and trauma. She has completed psychoanalytic training through the William Alanson White Institute’s Eating Disorders, Compulsions, and Addictions (EDCAS) Program and advanced clinical supervision training through Smith College School for Social Work. Jessica currently serves as a faculty member at both Smith College and Sarah Lawrence College, where she teaches on the intersection of eating disorders and social justice. Her clinical approach integrates psychodynamic therapy with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Seeking Safety, and mindfulness-based interventions, emphasizing compassion, empowerment, and sustainable change.
n addition to her extensive clinical background, Jessica holds a Master of Studies in Law from UC Law San Francisco, where she graduated with high honors and concentrated in Health Law. This dual foundation in law and psychotherapy uniquely positions her to understand and address the emotional challenges faced by attorneys and other professionals in high-pressure environments. At Bayside Marin Treatment Center, she directed specialized programs for physicians, nurses, and lawyers in recovery, collaborating with professional support organizations such as Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and The Other Bar. Jessica’s combination of legal insight and therapeutic expertise allows her to help clients navigate perfectionism, shame, and identity conflicts often rooted in professional culture.
Jessica’s practice is grounded in authenticity, empathy, and respect for the complexity of human experience. She works with attorneys and high-level executives confronting burnout, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other maladaptive coping strategies that can emerge under chronic stress and self-imposed performance demands. Jessica’s nuanced understanding of both the legal profession and clinical practice enables her to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore vulnerability, regain balance, and cultivate inner resources for meaningful growth and recovery.
I offer psychotherapy in person and virtually. I work from a health at every size and social justice perspective in all areas of my work.
I have two master's degree in social work and the law. I am expected to graduate from a Doctor of Social Work program from Simmons University in Summer of 2026. I have also completed psychoanalytic training in eating disorders, as well as advanced clinical supervision training from Smith College.
I specialize in eating disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, addiction, self-harm, and trauma.
Feminist/Womanist, HAES, Social Justice, self-compassion, and narrative therapy.
