TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Jessica Connell, LCSW

​​

Jessica Connell, LCSW, knows what it means to live under pressure—and how liberating it can be to rise above it. A former investment banking professional turned therapist and certified executive coach, she brings both lived experience and clinical wisdom to those navigating the often-invisible weight of anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, and relationship strain.

 

As the founder of Confident Minds Psychotherapy & Coaching, Jessica has created more than a therapy practice—she’s built a haven for professionals, couples, and organizations seeking meaningful, lasting change. Her approach is deeply collaborative, rooted in trust, and designed to meet people exactly where they are.

 

In the Q&A that follows, Jessica opens up about the path that led her here—and the powerful transformations she helps others achieve.

 

Jessica, what inspired you to leave a successful career in investment banking and become a therapist and executive coach?

 

I’ve always loved psychology—especially organizational psychology. I earned my undergraduate degree in the field and planned to go into HR, even receiving a verbal offer from an investment bank right out of school. But the 2008 financial crisis hit that very weekend and that said offer in the HR department ended up turning into another infrastructure position that shifted the direction of my career.

 

Throughout my time in the corporate world, I found myself naturally stepping into mediator roles, helping people work better together and forming strong connections with colleagues. That’s when I realized I wanted to focus more deeply on people and their experiences so I went back to school for clinical social work and became a licensed therapist.

 

Having worked closely with leaders and teams, I saw firsthand how stress and emotional strain affect not just performance, but every area of life. I knew therapy had a place in the corporate world—but it needed to be delivered in a specialized way. That’s why I pursued formal training as a professional and executive coach, allowing me to blend clinical insight with leadership development for meaningful, measurable results.

 

What makes your approach unique from other therapists and professional coaches, especially in your work with corporate executives?

 

What sets me apart is that I come from the corporate world myself. I understand the pressures, politics, and dynamics executives face. That insight allows me to connect on a much deeper level and speak the language of both business and mental health. Many of my clients have seen multiple therapists before me and often say, “You actually get it.”

 

Unlike therapists who’ve only worked in clinical settings, I bring a unique lens shaped by firsthand experience in fast-paced, high-demand environments. My work centers on interpersonal communication—whether in couples or corporate teams. I help clients better understand themselves and others, navigate conflict, and foster healthier relationships and workplace cultures.

 

I also help clients identify their emotional triggers and learn how to manage them productively—something traditional coaching alone can’t provide. Coaches often lack the clinical training to dig into the deeper patterns that drive behavior. My approach bridges both worlds—therapy and coaching—so clients not only perform better but feel better, too.

 

You’ve helped many executives and leaders achieve self-confidence and overcome obstacles that have impaired their progress—often succeeding where others have failed. Can you give us a general overview of your approach, and how interpersonal communication and psychodynamics can help—or hinder—success?

 

One of the biggest challenges professionals face is misinterpreting interactions due to their own internal triggers. We all have different personalities and sensitivities that can cause us to personalize or distort what others say—often without realizing it. For high performers, this can quietly erode confidence and impair leadership, communication, and job performance. For instance, something as simple as a colleague asking, “Are we still on track with the deadline?” can feel like criticism to someone in a low-confidence state, sparking a spiral of self-doubt. My work focuses on helping clients break that cycle.

 

Understanding others is crucial—but knowing yourself is even more important. That’s where I start: deep, individualized work to uncover emotional patterns, triggers, and communication styles. I help clients see the full picture—their role, the personalities they’re engaging with, and the dynamics at play—so they can respond more effectively, regain confidence, and ultimately thrive both personally and professionally.

 

You’re widely recognized for your innovative approach to interpersonal communication, particularly your groundbreaking, intricate focus on the widespread and growing problem of message misinterpretation in today’s corporate environments. How critical is this issue, and what strategies are you using to help executives and leaders address it?

 

This is one of the most pressing issues in corporate culture today, and it’s something I’m deeply passionate about. Communication has always mattered—but now, with the rise of remote work and reliance on digital tools like Slack, email, and text, we’re missing essential human cues like tone, facial expressions, and body language. The result? A massive spike in misinterpretation, tension, and disconnection across teams and leadership.

 

Executives come to me all the time feeling stuck in these dynamics—frustrated, misunderstood, or unsure how to respond. I dive deep into their specific situations, often down to the exact words they’re planning to use in a message. We explore how their phrasing might be perceived, what unintended tone it could carry, and how to reshape it for clarity, empathy, and effectiveness. Equally important, we look at how they’re interpreting others’ words—what emotional triggers might be distorting the message and what’s actually being communicated.

 

Ultimately, mastering communication isn’t just about choosing the right words—it’s about understanding yourself and others more deeply. It’s this level of insight that leads to stronger leadership, healthier relationships, and more cohesive workplaces.

 

 

Jessica Connell, LCSW
Owner and Lead Therapist
Confident Minds Psychotherapy & Coaching
Website: www.cmpcnyc.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-connell-lcsw/

Instagram: @cmpcnyc