Who We Are
Apex Advising was founded by licensed therapists who have treated individuals, groups, and families over the last decade. We have experienced firsthand how mental illness can impact a person’s mind and body and negatively affect his/her/their relationships and quality of life.
Jessica Wild, MS, EdS, LMHC, CCPT
Jessi is a graduate of Iowa State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Psychology degree as a 4-year student-athlete, before graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and her education specialist degree in Counselor Education. Jessi is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) who offers individual and family therapy for children ages 2+, adolescents, adults, and couples. She has experience working in residential, group home, school-based, crisis, and outpatient settings, and as an outpatient clinician, she has served clients in both community mental health centers and in private practice. Jessi has advanced training in Trauma-Informed Care for treating sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and neglect, medical trauma, and PTSD. Jessi frequently utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, Brief Solutions Therapy, Child-Centered Play Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy, and Family Systems Therapy in her work with clients. Her clinical interests range from behavior disorders, including helping clients manage hyperactivity, anger, and defiance, to mood disorders like anxiety and depression, to supporting clients through stress, parenting challenges, grief/loss, body image/self-esteem struggles, attachment injuries, and relationship discord. Jessi spent 8 years as an outpatient clinician in a private practice. While there, she served as a clinical supervisor for a team of home-based providers and spent two years as Associate Director, helping to open a second office location, before accepting the position of State Director, where she oversaw five practice locations. She served on the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Board while also remaining an active member of IARCA (Indiana Association of Resources and Child Advocacy). Jessi currently co-owns and runs a clinical outpatient practice. In her personal time, Jessi is a self-proclaimed foodie who loves fitness, travel, and spending time with her son and two fur babies.
Kelli Payne, MA, LMFT, RPT
Kelli is a Licensed Married and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist who worked in a home-based and outpatient setting for 9 years. Prior to graduate school, Kelli worked as an educator in both general education and functional academic classrooms. Since earning her Master’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, Kelli’s clinical interests have included supporting military families and survivors of trauma/abuse, as well as individuals navigating disability, mood disorders, and life stressors. She is a previous board member for the Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy in which she organized a training for clinicians focused on assisting children and their families experiencing attachment-related challenges. Kelli has advanced training in several evidenced-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, and Cognitive Processing Therapy. She has experience working with children, adults, and families in a variety of clinical settings including intensive outpatient, home-based, telemedicine, and office-based practices. In addition to outreach and education, she currently co-owns a clinical outpatient practice. From navigating the challenges of serving multi-need populations, working with the Department of Child Services, and experiencing the obstacles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelli is well-versed in providing high-quality, personalized services both independently and in collaboration with other professionals, while dedicating time to her two school-aged daughters and for personal hobbies like hiking and participating in Spartan races.