Licensed Psychotherapist
Meet Jaime Morse, MA, MSW, LCSW
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California providing telehealth psychotherapy services.
I moved to California from New York City 5 years ago. Prior to becoming a full-time clinician in California, I spent over a decade conducting research in the field of clinical psychiatry, focusing on attachment, trauma, suicide prevention, Veteran's mental health and Borderline Personality Disorder.
I have worked in academic medical centers such as Columbia University Medical Center, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and The James J. Peter's Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, as well as in community mental health and psychoanalytic training settings, giving me experience supporting individuals with a wide range of emotional and relational concerns.
My clinical experience includes providing individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy, conducting comprehensive clinical assessments, crisis intervention, and developing specialized treatment groups.
I earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research, and a Master of Social Work from New York University, where I graduated summa cum laude.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my daughter and husband. My hobbies include swing dancing, various arts and crafts, and collecting vintage clothing. Fun fact: I am a history buff and am a member of a historical organization that teaches about women in the armed forces during WWII!
My therepeutic approach
I practice from a trauma-informed, relational psychodynamic and attachment-based perspective, exploring how early relationships and life experiences continue to shape how you see yourself, relate to others, and navigate the world. I also incorporate parts work to help clients understand and compassionately relate to the different aspects of themselves that have developed in response to life experiences. Together, we'll look beyond symptoms to understand the deeper patterns that keep repeating.
While insight can be transformative, lasting change also comes through new relational experiences and practical tools. When appropriate, I integrate evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy to support emotional regulation, reduce anxiety, process trauma, and build effective coping skills.
Rather than following a one-size-fits-all model, I tailor therapy to your unique needs. Whether you're seeking deeper self-understanding, practical strategies, or a combination of both, we'll work collaboratively toward meaningful and lasting change.
My style
Clients often describe me as both direct and compassionate. As a native New Yorker, I bring a straightforward, honest approach to therapy. If I notice a pattern or something important being avoided, I'll gently bring it into the conversation—not to criticize, but to support your growth. I balance honesty with humor, warmth, and the ability to stay with you through life's most difficult moments.
I strive to create a therapeutic relationship where you feel seen, understood, and accepted as your full self. I won't pretend to know you better than you know yourself, but I won't shy away from the conversations that matter.
I believe healing happens through deeper self-understanding and the experience of being authentically known. If you're ready to explore longstanding patterns with curiosity and compassion, I'd be honored to work with you.
My values and philosophy
While I never impose or insert my own beliefs and values into my work with clients, my practice is guided by the following values:
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LGBTQ+ affirming. I welcome and affirm people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
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Anti-oppressive. I recognize the impact of systemic oppression on mental health and work to examine power, privilege, and inequity as they arise in therapy.
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Social justice-informed. I believe healing is influenced by both our internal experiences and the social, cultural, and political contexts in which we live.
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Immigrant-affirming. I welcome immigrants, undocumented individuals, and people from mixed-status families. Your dignity and humanity are respected regardless of immigration status.
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Culturally humble. I approach each person's lived experience with curiosity rather than assumptions and recognize that I am always learning.
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Trauma-informed. I understand that many emotional and relational struggles are adaptive responses to difficult experiences, not personal failures.
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Attachment-focused. I believe our relationships shape us throughout life, and that healing often happens through safe, authentic connection.
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Direct with compassion. I value honesty and transparency while always striving to meet clients with warmth, respect, and empathy.
My work is grounded in the values of social work, recognizing that emotional well-being is shaped not only by our inner experiences but also by our relationships, communities, and the broader social, cultural, and historical contexts in which we live.
I practice from a social justice and anti-oppressive framework, acknowledging that systemic oppression—including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, and poverty—can profoundly impact mental health, identity, relationships, and well-being. These experiences are welcomed as an important part of the therapeutic process.
I don't make assumptions about your experience based on your identities. I approach each person with curiosity, humility, and respect, recognizing that every individual's story is unique. Together, we'll work toward the goals that matter most to you, while exploring both your inner world and the larger systems that have shaped your experiences. I believe healing involves deepening self-understanding, reclaiming agency, and building more authentic and secure relationships.
About Me
More specific information about my educational and professional background:
Education
Master of Social Work, New York University
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, New School for Social Research
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Manhattan University
Trainings and Certifications
California Licensed Clinical Social Worker #138883
EMDR Basic Training, The EMDR Collective
Seeking Safety Certificate, Los Angeles Department of Mental Health
Adult Psychotherapy, and Child/Adolescent/Family Psychotherapy trainee programs,
William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis & PsychologyNew York, NY
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Suicide Prevention, New York State Office of Mental Health
Trainee, The Center for Attachment Research at The New School for Social Research
Reflective Functioning Training, New School for Social Research.
Adult Attachment Interview Training Institute, University of California, Berkeley
Veteran Multicultural Competence Training Certificate, Teachers College, Columbia University, Resilience Center for Veterans and Families
Experience
Outpatient psychotherapist, Alcott Center for Mental Health Services, Culver City, California
Outpatient Psychotherapist, William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis & Psychology
Researcher, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx NY
Researcher, New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
Assistant Researcher, Mood and Personality Disorder Research Program, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Publications and presentations
(published under maiden name)
Novel Treatment Approaches for High Risk Suicidal Veterans, Presenters: Jaime Wilsnack, MA, Marianne Goodman, MD, Kalpana Nidhi Kapil-Pair, PhD, Page Spears, BS and Sarah Sullivan, MS, MHC-LP. Presented at Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Providers of New York State’s 4th Annual Veterans Summit 2018.
Pier K, Marin L, Costello T, Wilsnack J., Goodman M. The Neurobiology of Personality Disorders. (2016). Psychiatric Times, 33 (3).
Kayman, D. J., Goldstein, M. F., Wilsnack, J., & Goodman, M. (2016). Safety Planning for Suicide Prevention. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry, 3(4), 411-420.
Goodman, M., Banthin, D., Blair, N., Mascitelli, K., Wilsnack, J., Chen, J., Messenger, J., Perez-Rodriguez, M., Triebwasser, J., Koenigsberg, H., Goetz, R., Hazlett, E., & New, A. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. A Randomized Trial of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in High Risk Suicidal Veterans, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, doi: 10.4088/JCP.15m10235.
Wilsnack, J., Goetz, Raymond, Kapil-Pair, Nidhi, Patil, Uday, Goodman, Marianne. Male Borderline Personality Disorder- does it differ from female presentations? Poster presented at the North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders conference in New York, NY, April 2016.
Ciampa, R., Moore, Z., Wilsnack, J., Wright, E., (2007). Evidence-Based Interventions for the Treatment of Eating Disorders, Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology 1, 371-378.