Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Second Chance Counseling PLLC

Dr. Patricia DeJesus is the Founder and CEO of Second Chance Counseling, PLLC, a diverse and client-centered practice dedicated to making quality mental health care accessible through in-person, telehealth, and hybrid services. With more than 30 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker, Dr. DeJesus has built her career on a commitment to compassion, equity, and healing.

She earned her Doctorate in Social Work from Capella University and her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University. Throughout her career, she has worked in behavioral health, hospitals, human services, social services, and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). This broad background enables her to connect with people from diverse walks of life and guide them through some of their most challenging experiences.

Dr. DeJesus specializes in working with adults, children, teens, couples, siblings, and seniors. Her clinical focus includes treating anxiety, depression, eating disorders, grief and loss, trauma, personality disorders, domestic violence, sexual assault, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. With children, she has a strong background in addressing ADHD, conduct disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.

Her approach is grounded in Trauma-Informed Care and integrates evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused CBT, Play Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Exposure Therapy, and Christian Counseling upon request. By drawing from these diverse modalities, she tailors care to the unique needs of each client.

As a leader and clinician, Dr. DeJesus views herself as a catalyst for change. She believes relationships can be healed, trauma can be transformed, and every individual has the capacity to live with purpose and fulfillment. Her mission and that of Second Chance Counseling is to reach, reconcile, and restore.

Second Chance Counseling is proud to be a member of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. Under Dr. DeJesus’ leadership, the practice continues to grow as a trusted place of healing, hope, and empowerment for the community.