LMFT, 12 years of experience
Jennifer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been in the field for over 8 years treating individuals who suffer from mental illness. Jennifer’s therapeutic approach is collaborative and client-centered. Jennifer is a good fit for someone who would like a solution-focused and strategic experience in therapy. Jennifer aims to work with clients to assist with achieving realistic goals to complement daily functioning. Jennifer works with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, overcoming trauma, and work-related stressors. Jennifer has received additional certifications in anger management, victims of batterers, domestic violence, sexual assault, and trauma. Jennifer strives to work alongside you on your journey to assist in cultivating a brave space of restorative growth using collaborative problem-solving strategies. Jennifer is ideal for clients who would like to receive short-term therapeutic services.
In our first meeting you can expect me to ask you quite a bit of information. Although this may seem a little uncomfortable it is only so that I can understand how to assist you best. I know this can be a little intimidating but scheduling your 1st appointment is generally the most difficult part.
One of my biggest strengths is being relatable to most people and being able to identify and connect with many people that I meet. I am very diverse and knowledgeable in many areas.
If you are a person who suffers from Anxiety, Depressive symptoms, Career, Self-Esteem issues, and Chronic pain I may be able to assist you.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients develop psychological flexibility by teaching them to accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or being controlled by them, while simultaneously committing to actions aligned with their deeply held values. Practitioners guide clients through six core processes—acceptance, cognitive defusion, present moment awareness, self-as-context, values clarification, and committed action—to foster an open, centered, and engaged stance towards life's challenges. By gently encouraging clients to drop the struggle with internal experiences and consciously move towards what truly matters to them, ACT empowers individuals to live rich, full, and meaningful lives, even in the presence of pain and discomfort.
CBT is a highly versatile and evidence-based approach used to treat a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, from anxiety and depression to trauma and eating disorders, by helping clients identify and modify unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. Practitioners apply CBT through individual and group therapy, offering psychoeducation, teaching core skills like cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation, and integrating techniques such as thought records and exposure therapy. Additionally, CBT principles are valuable for addressing specific concerns like stress management and chronic pain, can be effectively combined with other therapeutic modalities, and are supported by practical considerations like marketing, ongoing education, and outcome measurement to ensure effective and client-centered care.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered, directive therapeutic approach focused on eliciting and strengthening intrinsic motivation for change, rather than imposing it. Practitioners utilize MI for a wide range of behavioral changes, including substance use reduction, adherence to medical treatment, lifestyle modifications, and managing chronic conditions, by engaging clients in collaborative conversations, exploring their ambivalence about change, and skillfully guiding them to articulate their own reasons for pursuing different choices. Key MI principles involve expressing empathy, developing discrepancy between current behavior and future goals, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy, making it a highly adaptable and complementary tool that can enhance outcomes in diverse therapeutic contexts by empowering clients to take ownership of their change process.
Narrative Therapy offers a unique and empowering approach by inviting clients to externalize their problems from their identity, seeing them as separate entities rather than inherent flaws. Practitioners guide clients in deconstructing dominant, problem-saturated stories they hold about themselves and their lives, while simultaneously co-creating richer, more empowering "alternative stories" that highlight their strengths, competencies, and preferred ways of being. This process involves identifying "unique outcomes" (times when the problem didn't dominate), reconnecting with forgotten strengths, and inviting "significant others" (real or imagined) to act as witnesses to these new narratives, ultimately enabling clients to reclaim authorship over their lives and foster a sense of agency and hope