On January 16th, the Gallery at 2265 in Wheeling, WV hosted the opening of Through a Therapist’s Eyes: Rural Girls in Incarceration, a powerful multimedia exhibition by artist and licensed professional counselor Jessie Haring, LPC. The exhibition will be open until February 8, 2025 before traveling to other gallery’s across West Virginia.
This poignant body of work explores the often-overlooked experiences of incarcerated girls in rural communities, a subject close to Haring’s heart due to her work with West Virginia’s nonprofit organization Libera, Inc. The exhibition weaves together oil paintings, constructed cases, industrial elements, and sewn pieces, reflecting the complexity, backgrounds, and trauma that many girls face in the foster care and justice systems.
“Through this exhibition, I aim to give these girls a voice,” says Jessie Haring, whose work as a counselor has deeply influenced her art. “Each piece represents not only their struggles but also their immense strength and potential for healing. The goal is to humanize their experiences and encourage a broader conversation about their treatment and the systemic issues that affect them.”
“I’ve always believed art is powerful,” Jessie said. “My work as a counselor has strengthened my interest in the deep connection between emotional healing and creative expression. Through a Therapist’s Eyes is a way for me to blend both worlds—my passion for art and my dedication to helping young women facing challenges. Moving forward, I want to continue making art a more prominent part of my life, using it as a tool for raising awareness and facilitating healing, while also continuing to support the girls I work with.”


Jessie envisions a future where she can balance both her therapeutic work and her art, aiming for more solo exhibitions and an intentional focus on using her art as both a tool for self-expression and community conversation.
In addition to her work as an artist and counselor, Jessie is involved in ongoing research with Libera, Inc., in collaboration with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at West Virginia University (WVU). Together, they are examining themes in the stories of incarcerated girls, and in November 2023, they presented their findings at the American Society of Criminology annual meeting in San Francisco. Libera is also continuing to tabulate data on the impact of its programs on the girls it serves and is becoming an
evidence-based organization through research on the girls’ “hope scores” in collaboration with WVU. This research aims to provide deeper insights into the potential for hope and healing for these young women and how Libera could be a useful intervention in these populations.

About the Artist
Jessie Haring, LPC, grew up in a creative environment that nurtured her artistic talents. She pursued a dual degree in Fine Art with emphases in painting and photography at West Virginia University (WVU, 2012) before obtaining her master’s degree in counseling in 2017. With her LPC licensure, Haring works with Libera, Inc., which is dedicated to empowering girls in West Virginia who are at risk, in foster care, or incarcerated. The artist’s first solo exhibition since completing her undergraduate degree, Through a Therapist’s Eyes reflects the intersection of her artistic and therapeutic practices. Through this exhibition, Haring aims to combine her love of art and her dedication to supporting vulnerable populations, focusing on the often-unheard voices of young women in incarceration.
Exhibition Showings:
- January 16 – February 8, 2025 at The Gallery at 2265, 2265 Market St. (3rd floor) at Wheeling, WV 26003 (Opening!)
- February 22 – March 23, 2025 (Opening Reception Feb. 22, 5:00-6:00pm) at Love Hope Center for the Arts, 100 Rotan St., Fayetteville, WV 25840
- July 1 – 31, 2025, (Opening Reception July 4, 6:00-9:00pm) at Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High St., Morgantown, WV 26505