Jessica Singh ’16MSW
Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m a clinical sexologist, certified sex therapist, licensed clinical social worker, and founder of Transcendence Counseling Center in Florida. My work focuses on eating disorders, sexuality, body image, trauma, and intimate relationships. I’m also the author of Nourishing Desire, a self-help book which explores the connection between eating disorder recovery and sexual health. I wanted to create something for people who may be recovering their relationship with food while still wondering how to feel at home in their bodies in other ways. Outside of work, I’m a wife, mother of two, and animal lover. We have three dogs, two cats, one hamster, and one bearded dragon. In my spare time I am an avid reader, a miniature hobbyist, and violinist.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
For me, becoming an author grew out of having something I deeply wanted to say. Through my clinical work and my own recovery, I kept noticing how rarely we discussed sexuality, intimacy, and pleasure in eating disorder treatment. I wanted to put words to experiences that people often carry quietly and help them feel less alone. I noticed that there was no resource for people with these concerns so I wrote it!
What’s your writing process? What inspires your writing?
My writing always begins with a question: What are we missing in this conversation? What might someone need to hear but feel afraid to ask? I draw inspiration from research, clinical work, and lived experience. I try to translate complex ideas into language that feels approachable and compassionate. With Nourishing Desire, I wanted readers to feel that they were being invited into a nuanced conversation, with room to reflect and move at their own pace.
What was the biggest thing you learned during your time as a Knight that you apply to your life today?
The value of curiosity and being willing to keep learning. In my work, I need to ask questions, examine assumptions, and stay open to perspectives that challenge my own. That mindset also shapes my writing. I want to understand people’s experiences before trying to explain them. Being able to converse, and sometimes debate, with my classmates at UCF was invaluable.
Who are some of your favorite authors or books?
I’m especially drawn to writing that makes room for complexity while helping readers feel understood. I appreciate books that challenge familiar assumptions and leave me thinking differently about a situation. So I love speculative fiction and sci-fi by authors like Philip K. Dick, Lois Lowry, N.K. Jemisin, and John Marrs. Some of my favorite nonfiction books are Come As You Are by Dr. Emily Nagoski, and Life Without Ed by Jenni Schaefer.
If your UCF experience were a meme, what would it be?
“Me: I have a plan. Life: That’s adorable.”
My path has included turns I couldn’t have predicted, including becoming an author. I learned that the specializations within social work that I anticipated were not for me during my clinical internships. I’ve learned that you can take your goals seriously and still leave room for your life to surprise you.
What are you currently working on right now?
I’m developing educational courses and practical resources to help clinicians address eating disorders and sexual health with greater confidence and sensitivity. Through Appetites with Dr. Jess—Embodied Desire Education, I’m building on the conversations in Nourishing Desire and translating them into tools for practice. I’m also continuing to write about body image, intimacy, and recovery for the general public. A question that keeps guiding my work is: What becomes possible when we stop treating the body as a problem to solve?
Anything else you want to share?
I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this work with the UCF community, and I’m looking forward to the Book Nook!
