BIGFeels NYC
SEL Coaching
Every Child Is Capable Of Navigating Big Feelings
BIGFeels NYC is a boutique, holistic SEL practice that empowers children to unlock social and emotional skills through science-backed methods. By meeting children where they are and coordinating closely with families on goals, BIGFeels NYC builds real-world skills and confidence that lasts a lifetime.
Building Social and Emotional Skills Is
Possible, Practical & Powerful
Social and emotional skills grow through practice, just like academics, sports, and music—but are rarely treated that way. However, parents have few trusted, qualified options for their children outside of a clinical setting.
Whether your toddler is struggling with tantrums and transitions, or your elementary schooler needs support making friends or managing frustration, we provide a safe and personalized learning environment—with no labels, judgment, or waitlist.
Jesse Wilkinson, M.A.
BIGFeels NYC Founder & Coach,
Developmental Psychology Educator,
Social-Emotional Learning Innovator
Meet Jesse,
Our Founder & Coach
Jesse brings over 15 years of dedication to the family mental health field, with a rich background in clinical work, teaching, research, and program evaluation. Her approach is rooted in evidence-based practice and guided by warmth, curiosity, and a deep belief that every child can learn the skills to thrive.
Jesse’s Experience & Expertise
Jesse completed her doctoral coursework in Clinical Psychology at Stony Brook University where her research focused on the promotion of healthy families and her clinical work focused on the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders. She is a contributing author to the Handbook of Family Theories (Routledge, 2013) and has produced a substantial body of peer-reviewed scholarship that has garnered over 500 citations. Prior to her doctoral studies, Jesse earned a B.S. in Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan and conducted research at Harvard Medical School.
She has extensive clinical experience across outpatient community clinics and private practice, including the administration and interpretation of comprehensive cognitive and neuropsychological evaluations for neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. She also holds a certificate in Teaching Mindfulness to Children. In addition to directing BIGFeels NYC, she holds an appointment as an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at a New York City nursing college, where she integrates real-world clinical expertise into the education of future clinicians.
Jesse's work is rooted in evidence-based practice and guided by warmth, curiosity, and a deep belief that every child can learn the skills to thrive.
Jesse lives in Manhattan with her partner and two rescue cats. She loves a Cape Cod off-season hike or skiing adventure in Michigan, where she is originally from. She makes a mean vegetarian chili, has an unrivaled thrift shop eye, and plays a fierce Scrabble game.
A note from Jesse
on our motivation...
The mission of BIGFeels NYC is deeply personal to me. Early in my clinical career, I faced the sudden and unexpected loss of my older sister, who was also my best friend. To heal in the aftermath of this devastation, I found myself revisiting and strengthening the very emotion regulation skills I now teach. During this time, I gained a wholehearted understanding of how crucial social-emotional skills are for maintaining resilience and living a fulfilling life—even in the face of life’s greatest obstacles. Today, it’s my personal and professional mission to help others build these essential skills.
My fervor for this work grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, as I witnessed young children grappling with social isolation and remote learning. This reinforced my conviction that children urgently need accessible, effective tools and support to navigate life’s toughest moments. I believe the responsibility to teach these skills cannot fall on the shoulders of school teachers or families alone, as it often does. My hope is that no child goes without the opportunity to develop essential social-emotional skills, and BIGFeels NYC exists to fill this critical need.
