About Healing Gardens LLC
Mission
Dr. Jessica Zinder empowers her clients to reach their psychological, emotional, and social goals. Her mission is to foster mental health and wellness through individual, couple's, and group psychotherapy, consultation, psychoeducational workshops, & public speaking. She has a unique passion for integrating nature and gardening into the therapeutic process, when clinically appropriate and desired. Dr. Zinder values your strengths, resilience, and diversity! Her collaborative style supports you on your journey to optimal wellness!
About Healing Gardens LLC
Dr. Zinder's Story
Dr. Jessica Zinder is a Licensed Psychologist in Maryland, and earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (specialization in Health Psychology) from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2006. Her research explored the effects of spirituality on health. She has worked as psychotherapist at various college counseling & community mental health centers, as well as the Dept. of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and the Traumatic Brain Injury Unit at VCU Health System's Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Zinder integrates Interpersonal Process Theory with Psychodynamic and Feminist Theory creating a collaborative and supportive relationship with clients to help facilitate positive change. She assists clients in utilizing personal strengths and resilience to heal, transform relationships, and attain wellness.
A unique professional path was create when Dr. Zinder became a Master Gardener in 2012 through the University of Maryland. This expanded her love of nature, and understanding of its connection to wellness. For the past 18 years, Dr. Zinder has been a founder, leader, and consultant for volunteer-based community gardens. Dr. Zinder founded and led the Arnold Youth Garden Program, integrating mindfulness meditation and native gardening at an elementary and middle school. Through these experiences, she has learned creative ways to integrate nature and gardening into the therapeutic process. Dr. Zinder founded Healing Gardens LLC in August 2025. Additionally, she founded and leads The Green Women of Maryland, an environmental & wellness group.
Dr. Zinder's Expertise
Dr. Zinder is generalist trained, and has expertise in a variety of areas, including anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, grief and loss, sexual and gender identity, phobias, stress management, sleep hygiene, parenting skills, relationship issues, couple's issues, career transitions, women's issues, personality disorders, and adjustment to life stressors etc.. She has specialized training in multiculturalism, and understanding how one's cultural, ethnic, religious/spiritual, and sexual and gender identity impacts life experiences, strengths, and challenges. Dr. Zinder's undergraduate degree in International Studies, Japanese, & Anthropology from University of Massachusetts, Amherst created a strong foundation for her doctoral studies. She respects you as the expert on your personal culture!
Dr. Zinder has specialized and extensive training in leading Interpersonal Process Therapy Groups through Virginia Commonwealth University's Counseling Center, where she did Advanced Practicums and her Clinical Internship. Additionally, she has specific clinical training and supervision leading theme-based therapy groups, such as a Stress Management/Anxiety Group, at Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland where she did her Postdoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Zinder is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest research & techniques
in the field of psychology.