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In a bright, welcoming office off Highway 66 in Kernersville, Jessica Beckman and her team at JPB Counseling are working to change the way people experience mental health care. What began as a solo practice in Greensboro has blossomed into a five-clinician group practice dedicated to helping individuals, couples and families find joy, purpose and balance in their lives.

The practice's name itself tells a story. JPB stands for joy, purpose and balance, three elements that form the foundation of the care provided here. "We try to focus on the whole person," Jessica explains. "We're focusing on bringing their life back into some sort of vision that allows them to experience joy in their life or create a sense of purpose if they feel like they've lost that, maybe create some balance."

This holistic approach means that clinicians at JPB Counseling don't just treat symptoms or diagnoses. They work with each client to understand what matters most in their life, where they want to set their goals and what feels sustainable for their circumstances. Whether someone is struggling with anxiety and feeling overwhelmed, searching for meaning after a major life transition or working through family stress, the framework remains the same: reconnecting people with what brings them joy, helping them clarify their purpose and finding balance that works for their unique situation.

JPB Counseling specializes in mental health, substance abuse and trauma therapy, serving clients from age 7 through 65 and older. The practice's five fully licensed clinicians each bring their own specialty to the table, yet all are equipped to handle most general mental health conditions. That combination of specialized expertise and broad capability means families can often find the right fit for multiple members under one roof.

"The clinicians will see individuals, couples, families, all ages," Jessica notes. What brings people through the door varies widely. "It could be anything. It could be a stage of life, a stressor. It could be related to school stress if they're a younger person who's a child and adolescent. Could be some family stress. Really, it just varies depending on what's going on for that individual."

This flexibility allows JPB Counseling to meet people wherever they are in life's journey. A teenager struggling with social pressures at school receives the same thoughtful, individualized care as an adult navigating career burnout or a couple working to strengthen their relationship. The common thread is the practice's commitment to tailoring support to each person's specific circumstances and needs.

Jessica's journey with JPB Counseling began in 2022, when she stepped out on her own after building her caseload while working for another group. Many of her clients made the transition with her, a testament to the relationships she had built. For the first few years, she operated as a solo clinician in Greensboro, steadily growing her practice and refining her approach.

The pivotal moment came in fall 2025, when Jessica moved the practice, along with one other clinician, to Kernersville. As a local resident herself, the move brought her practice home. But the location offered more than personal convenience. "I moved the practice to Kernersville to be closer to Kernersville, but also to be in the center of the Triad, so we had more access to Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Kernersville, just be the heart of the Triad area," she explains.

That relocation opened doors for significant expansion. What had been a solo practice with one additional clinician quickly grew to a team of five. The growth represents more than just numbers to Jessica. "I think the recent growth is something I'm extremely proud of, but if I were to add to that, I'd say it's the quality of care that we provide our clients," she reflects.

A few of the clinicians on the JPB Counseling team. (Photos courtesy of JPB Counseling)

Step into JPB Counseling's office near the Cone Urgent Care on Highway 66, and you'll immediately notice something different. This isn't the sterile, clinical environment many people associate with medical appointments. Jessica and her team have intentionally created something warmer and more welcoming.

"We're making sure that they don't feel like they're walking into a stuffy doctor's office, but that they feel greeted by warmth and comfort, and they're just in a safe space to share about whatever the hardest thing that they might be working through right now," Jessica says. "We build a sense of security and safety in the environment that we create with our clients, and I'm really proud of that."

This emphasis on a secure, comfortable setting reflects the practice's broader philosophy. Mental health care requires vulnerability, and vulnerability requires safety. By removing the intimidation factor and replacing it with genuine warmth, JPB Counseling helps clients feel ready to engage in the difficult but rewarding work of therapy.

Not content to rest on their recent growth, JPB Counseling is adding a new dimension to its services: group programs. Josh May, LCSW, one of the practice's therapists, is facilitating a teen social skills group on Saturdays this October, followed by an internet safety workshop for kids, teens and parents in November.

"Groups are a great way to build a sense of community and learn skills at the same time, and just learn more about themselves as individuals while they learn about other people," Jessica explains. "Especially for our teens, this is something that they could really benefit from."

The group format offers something individual therapy cannot: the chance to connect with others facing similar challenges, to practice new skills in a supportive environment and to realize that you're not alone. For adolescents in particular, who are navigating complex social dynamics both online and in person, these groups provide valuable support and practical tools.

Perhaps what sets JPB Counseling apart most clearly is the way it views the people who walk through its doors. "We don't see them as a diagnosis, but as an individual, as a person who's just trying to develop their story," Jessica emphasizes. "We're ready to work with them on whatever goals that they have."

This person-first philosophy shapes every aspect of the practice. Whether someone needs support in all three areas of joy, purpose and balance or is focused on just one, the clinicians tailor their approach accordingly. The framework provides structure without rigidity and guidance without prescription. Most importantly, it centers the client's own vision for their life rather than imposing outside standards of wellness or success.

"We're trying to help people to feel more connected in their lives and recreate hope if they've lost hope," Jessica says. "We're getting clear on what matters in their life, where do they want to set their goals." That process of clarification and reconnection forms the heart of the therapeutic work at JPB Counseling.

For anyone in Kernersville or the broader Triad who is considering reaching out for mental health support, Jessica has a clear message: "We're here and available, ready to meet them where they are."

Whether you're a parent concerned about your child's struggles at school, an adult feeling burnt out and overwhelmed, a couple hoping to strengthen your relationship or someone searching for renewed purpose and hope, JPB Counseling offers experienced, compassionate care in a welcoming environment. With five fully licensed clinicians and a growing set of services, including individual therapy, couples and family counseling, and now community groups, the practice is equipped to support the diverse needs of the community it serves.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is reach out, and JPB Counseling is ready to help you take that step.