Meet Vesi Hristova Jones, LICSW
A Wellesley therapist offering a thoughtful, collaborative approach for adults navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship challenges, and life transitions.
In-person in Wellesley • Online across Massachusetts
I am Vesi Hristova Jones, a licensed clinical social worker with more than 12 years of clinical experience providing individual therapy for adults.
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable, and used to showing up for others. Yet, they feel overwhelmed, self-critical, or disconnected underneath. They may be navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges or a season of transition, and are looking for a space that feels supportive, grounded, and reflective.
My role is not to “fix” you or rush you toward answers, but to offer a collaborative space where we can better understand what has been shaping your experience and what will help you move forward with more clarity and self-compassion.
Your circumstances are unique, so every step we take will be tailored to you, and always with an end goal in mind.
Together, we may explore:
Patterns of thinking or relating that feel stuck
Emotional responses shaped by past experiences
Ways to reduce self-criticism and build self-compassion
Skills for navigating stress, boundaries, and change
Values and priorities that support more aligned choices
Our work may also consider the broader factors affecting your emotional well-being, including sleep, movement, nutrition, stress, relationships, and daily routines. Therapy is always tailored to your individual needs, and I may recommend additional resources or providers when another form of support could be helpful.
What it’s like to work with me…
The “fit” between a therapist and a client is crucial in making changes, thus I encourage open communication throughout treatment on how things are going and any improvements we can make along the way.
I provide a warm, collaborative, and supportive therapeutic environment to address your needs with a customized treatment plan. I also tend to use my sense of humor to help you address often challenging issues.
It’s not just talk therapy.
Therapy with me is active, collaborative, and practical. Along with thoughtful conversation and reflection, I draw from evidence-based approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Depending on your needs, our work may include mindfulness, self-compassion, behavioral strategies, communication skills, and tools for responding more effectively to difficult emotions.
I Can Help With:
We would work together to identify triggers and understand the cycle of anxiety, including the role of avoidance in exacerbating symptoms.
Depression and Negative Thoughts
We would identify life stressors, which may be exacerbating symptoms, as well as utilize a behavioral schedule to help you live a more enjoyable life.
Relationships and Life Transitions
We would work together to identify the main challenges you are facing in your relationships and how you would like things to be different.
Why I Chose To Become A Therapist
I didn’t come to this work because I believed people needed to be fixed. I came to it because I have always been curious about what shapes us and how understanding ourselves can create space for real change.
I grew up in Bulgaria at a time when access to mental health care was limited and often stigmatized. I witnessed how emotional struggles and substance use issues were frequently faced in silence without language, support, or resources to help people understand what they were experiencing.
Seeing family members and others close to me struggle shaped an early awareness of how deeply mental health affects individuals and relationships, especially when care is difficult to access.
Becoming a therapist allowed me to create the kind of space I once saw missing - one that is steady, compassionate, and grounded. I approach this work with respect for how cultural context, family dynamics, and lived experience shape us, and with the belief that change is most meaningful when it unfolds at a pace that feels safe and collaborative.
That perspective continues to guide my work today. I value curiosity over quick answers, presence over pressure, and partnership over direction.
Experience and Education
Training and Certifications
Extensive experience working with adults from a variety of backgrounds across inpatient, residential, and partial hospital programs at North Shore Medical Center and McLean Hospital.
Post Graduate Women's Mental Health Specialist Certificate, PESI
Post Graduate Certificate in Meditation and Psychotherapy, the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and the CHA Center for Mindfulness and Compassion
Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Practice, Boston College
Post Graduate Certificate in Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions, Boston University
Trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center and McLean Hospital
Licensure
Massachusetts - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - 120585
Degrees
Master of Social Work, Boston College
Bachelor of Arts with Highest Honors in Psychology, Smith College
Associate of Arts in Psychology, Cottey College
Community Involvement
Serving on the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Board of Trustees after completing a 5-year term on the State Board of the P.E.O. Massachusetts State Chapter. Elected to leadership positions throughout education including: Executive Coordinator of the Student Collective, Secretary of Psi Chi Honor Society, and President of the Student Government Association.
Past volunteer experience in domestic violence and homeless shelters as well as on-campus programs such as the Graduate Mentorship Program and the Graduate Student Association.