Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Master’s Student Fosters Connectedness as Mental Health Advocate

ATLANTA — If you were to ask Jacob “J.D.” Dreiling (A.S. ’15, B.A. ’16, M.S. ’19) how long they’ve planned to dedicate their work to helping others, they would say their goals have always led them to becoming a therapist.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia State University, Dreiling turned their sights to an environment centered around connecting with people rather than working in a lab-based setting. Dreiling, who was recently registered as a play therapist (RPT), is continuing their education by pursuing graduate degrees at Georgia State University’s College of Arts and Sciences to enhance their ability to connect with others through their work in mental health, which has become increasingly important following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Dreiling is concurrently pursuing a master’s degree in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) and a Ph.D. in counselor education. They said they have big plans to broaden their expertise through the WGSS program’s interdisciplinary studies.

“Instead of getting another degree in psychology, I wanted to explore a program with classes I have not taken,” Dreiling said. “I can take classes grounded in queer theory through the Institute for Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies here. Georgia State is the only place where I can do all the things that I want to do.”

Through their experience as a play therapist and mental health counselor, Dreiling has worked extensively with students in City Schools of Decatur using Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and providing experiential therapies to a vast client base of all ages and backgrounds.

Play therapy was developed around understanding individuals and their needs by observing how they act out or describe problems through play. This form of experiential therapy is typically targeted to young children who have social, emotional and behavioral difficulties but can be used across the lifespan. Play therapists observe how individuals use objects or toys to act out their feelings to reveal hidden worries and concerns and help them learn to solve problems they encounter.

It is these mental health fields and their emphasis on interpersonal connectedness that drive Dreiling’s current academic ventures. Dreiling’s work and research are based on using play therapy to form communities, specifically within the LGBT+ community.

“I have worked with individuals, couples, senior citizens and families. A lot of the work I have done is with people of diverse genders and sexualities,” Dreiling said. “I help others access experiential therapies to describe, show or act out what may be an issue they are having without clients having to talk about them. In play therapy, I sing, dance, play basketball and video games. That is how I uncover what’s going on with them.”

Within the WGSS program, Dreiling credits Assistant Professor of Afro-Latinx Studies Rosita Scerbo as being instrumental in their journey in the degree program. Scerbo describes Dreiling as a compassionate and attentive student.

“While pursuing both a Ph.D. in counselor education and a master’s in WGSS, J.D. has brought remarkable insights and critical thinking to my Feminist Theories class this semester,” Scerbo said. “J.D.’s pioneering work on incorporating play therapy into community healing speaks volumes about their dedication to professional advocacy and innovative research. Their support for fellow graduate students is equally commendable, as they consistently encourage and uplift their peers in the classroom.”

As they continue their academic journey at Georgia State, Dreiling is determined to expand their reach in helping others — specifically in developing social skills, healthy relationships and anger management — and effectively enhance clients’ success with treatment goals.

“I believe in using connectedness as a way to intervene in mental health crises, providing people an idea of connectedness to life so they can explore all of their treatment options,” Dreiling said.

Explore the cutting-edge academic programs within Georgia State’s Institute for Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at wgss.gsu.edu.

—Story by Jennifer Balcita