Upon his parents' separation, E'thexx traveled to the Trill Homeworld for the first time with his mother Etrim E'thexx. Etrim took up a post as Managing Director of a large civil engineering firm. E'thexx attended a Trill high school where he developed a keen interest in social science and philosophy.

E'thexx attempted suicide at the age of 17 with depression as the suspected cause while visiting his father on Earth. Alexander Wakefield (E'thexx' father) was a pharmacist in a Starfleet medical facility on Earth. Jaav obtained data from the poisons register there and was able to override the safety protocols on a replicator to manufacture Edromine IX, a lethal poison used to neutralize harmful biological organisms. Jaav narrowly escaped death, and would have died if it weren't for the dedicated work of medical emergency personnel in a Starfleet emergency medical facility.

Jaav E'thexx spent the next year of his life undergoing intensive psychotherapy on Earth - his parents agreed that facilities on Earth would provide the best care. After a year E'thexx was declared mentally fit. As a result of his therapy E'thexx developed an intense interest in Psychology and viewed counseling as a rewarding profession. At his father's suggestion Jaav made an application to Starfleet Academy. His first request was rejected. As a result Jaav returned to the Trill Homeworld to live with his mother and continued advanced academic studies in Philosophy.

He chose Psychology as his training pathway (with neuroscience as as minor). Jaav's understanding of psychological concepts was outstanding, and he quickly grasped new ones.

In his final year at the Academy Jaav published a paper detailing the root causes of Romulan Social Aggression and Dominance Syndromes while on his cadet posting to the U.S.S. Pulitzer (on a mission of diplomacy to the Neutral Zone) as assistant psychologist. The paper earned a large amount of respect form the Starfleet diplomatic corps.

Upon graduation E'thexx turned down a post on the U.S.S. Budapest as Ship's Counselor and instead (unusually) chose to take a three year sabbatical from Starfleet before his career had begun to commence research in Psychology at the Central University of Trill. E'thexx returned to Trill and began a research paper for the Trill Symbiosis commission. He obtained his Ph.D. three years later - his thesis titled "Advanced Psychometric Assessment Techniques For Screening Symbiote Applicants" was well received by the commission and some of the new techniques developed by E'thexx are currently used to screen applicants for the joining process.

After completing his Ph.D. E'thexx returned to Starfleet, and accepted his first posting as Ship's Counselor aboard the U.S.S. Astoria.

Due to his own experiences with mental illness E'thexx can provide a large amount of compassion and understanding to his patients while still retaining the professionalism required of a Ship's Counselor. E'thexx is eager to continue with his assignment on the U.S.S. Astoria but is concerned that his own lack of personal experience aboard starships will make him a less able officer.