Jill Smith + Associates Counseling announces Nicole Deems as clinical director

Growing therapy group deepens commitment to clinical excellence and whole-team care

Jill Smith + Associates Counseling — the premier counseling practice in the greater Columbia, S.C. region — proudly welcomes Nicole Deems, Ed.S, LMFT, LACS, RYT as clinical director. In this key leadership role, Deems will guide and support a team of over 20 psychotherapists as they provide compassionate, high-quality care to families across the Midlands. More information about Jill Smith + Associates (JSA) Counseling can be accessed at www.jsacounseling.com.

“As our practice continues to grow, our responsibility to our clinicians and our clients grows, too,” says Jill Smith, LISW-CP-S, founder and CEO of JSA Counseling. “Creating this new strategic role is about investing in the people who make this work possible. Nicole beautifully embodies the values that define our practice — clinical integrity, humility, lifelong learning, and a deep commitment to growth, both personal and professional. She’s exactly the kind of leader we were hoping to find.”

Deems is a dynamic clinician and visionary with nearly two decades of experience in behavioral health care, program development, and team mentorship, along with a strong track record of expanding access to quality mental health across the region.

Deems most recently served as Program Manager of Clinical Advancement at LRADAC, where she provided clinical supervision and program oversight for adolescent and adult outpatient services. In addition to her private practice and training consultation, she has served as adjunct faculty in the graduate counseling program at Divine Mercy University.

“At its core, JSA Counseling is about people — its clients, its team, and its community,” says Deems. “It is exciting to join an organization that values relationships and excellence in equal measure. I’m eager to help scale the support structures that allow great clinicians to do their best work.”

Known for her steady, clear, and grounded leadership style, Deems is a recognized community voice in trauma-informed therapy, integrative wellness, and professional development. Serving on the board of the association for Addiction Professionals of South Carolina (APSC) and regularly presenting statewide in clinical trainings, she is active in shaping the professional growth of clinicians across the region. A certified yoga teacher and somatic-informed clinician, Deems brings a wellness perspective to her work informed by neurobiology and body-based awareness.

“We all have a nervous system trying to keep us safe,” says Deems. “When we understand that, we can take some of the mystery and shame out of our responses to life. That’s where healing begins.”

As clinical director, Deems will work to operationalize the company’s big-picture vision through thoughtful systems and strategy. From guiding case consultations to mentoring early-career therapists to shaping company-wide training initiatives, her role is focused on ensuring every JSA Counseling therapist is surrounded by a community of care.

The Power of a Shared Practice

JSA Counseling operates on a collaborative model that prioritizes both clinician development and client care. Rather than working in isolation, therapists engage in continuous training, consultation, and mentorship within a structured team environment. This group-practice approach enhances clinical decision-making and fosters long-term professional growth.

The clinical leadership team — Jill Smith and, now, Nicole Deems — works collaboratively to shepherd therapists through complex clinical terrain. For clients, it means care is shaped not just by one provider’s perspective, but by the collective insight and accountability of an entire team.

“When we work together, it creates a ripple effect of clinical excellence,” says Deems. “Even the most seasoned therapists need a space for curiosity, vulnerability, and professional reflection. JSA Counseling has built that space, and I’m honored to help it grow.”

JSA Counseling’s approach to therapy is experiential, humanistic, and relational. All clinicians are trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) — an evidence-based model rooted in attachment science and the belief that emotion is the doorway to change. The group also integrates modalities like EMDR for trauma recovery, Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and more — tailoring treatment to each client’s needs.

Staying Rooted While Extending its Reach

This milestone reflects a period of intentional growth for JSA Counseling. As demand for high-quality, evidence-based care continues to rise, the organization’s commitment to both its clients and clinical team made it clear that the time was right to expand its leadership. The addition of a clinical director marks a pivotal step in JSA Counseling’s long-term vision to become a statewide resource for comprehensive behavioral health services, with continued growth planned across South Carolina.

Since opening in 2003, the woman-owned psychotherapy group has cared for nearly 10,000 clients through over 70,000 session — including children, teens, adults, couples, and families from all walks of life. The practice remains committed to therapist development, offering in-house supervision, regular consultation, privacy-protected video review (with client consent), and financial support for specialized certifications.

“When you choose to be a client at JSA Counseling, you’re choosing more than just a therapist — you’re choosing a whole team that is invested in your growth,” says Smith. “We want to be your therapy home, one that’s big enough and broad enough to support your entire family — and trustworthy enough to earn your confidence.”

 

About Jill Smith + Associates Counseling
Founded in 2003, Jill Smith + Associates Counseling is the premier counseling practice in the greater Columbia, S.C. region with offices in Lexington and downtown Columbia. The woman-owned talk therapy group has served thousands of clients over the past two decades, providing care for adults, couples, children, adolescents and families in all areas of need, including play therapy, EMDR for trauma recovery and couples therapy. Jill Smith + Associates uses emotionally focused therapy (EFT) — an attachment-based approach that tracks emotions rather than facts — amongst other approaches to deliver psychotherapy excellence that transforms the lives of clients.
Learn more at www.jsacounseling.com.

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