Julia Dougherty (she/they)

graduate student intern

Welcome to my Place for Peace!

Choosing to enter therapy is an act of self-compassion. You being here tells me your wellbeing matters to you — and I’m proud you’re considering taking this step.

My name is Julia Dougherty (she/they), and I’m grateful to be a graduate intern here at My Place for Peace.

I believe therapy offers a space to pause and reflect in ways many of us haven’t had before. We often come in focused on one concern — anxiety, overwhelm, relationship strain, feeling lost or stuck — and through reflection, something deeper begins to take shape. What’s underneath gets a little clearer. A little more nameable.

That process can feel daunting and at times it is. The fear that comes with looking inward is real, and it deserves space. This work happens in increments, and you lead the pace. What you bring, and how I show up alongside you, shapes the space we create. It will not look the same for anyone else — and it doesn’t need to. Sometimes we need support in discovering our own way of being in the world.

My approach is integrative, meaning I draw from different theories depending on what feels most supportive to you. I value trauma-informed care, feminist and multicultural perspectives, and frameworks that consider the systems and environments that have shaped you. We don’t exist separate from our contexts, and sometimes we need support untangling what is ours from what has been handed to us.

I am currently pursuing my graduate degree at The College of New Jersey, where I also earned my Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in social justice.

Outside of the therapy room, I feel most grounded in nature — ideally ending a hike with a celebratory charcuterie at the top of a mountain. I’m deeply curious and can happily nerd out over a podcast, book, or video essay. I value creativity and try to make art whenever I can — through writing, photography, drawing, or simply just through living life.

If this resonates with you, I’m looking forward to meeting you!