Time does not heal all wounds; it just gives them space to sink into the subconscious, where they continue to impact your emotions and behavior. “What heals is going inward, loving yourself, accepting yourself, listening to your needs, addressing your attachments and emotional history and following your intuition" (Yung Pueblo). I aim to create an alliance with my clients to help them find their voice, tell their story, re-engage their strengths and cultivate new ways to stay mindful and grounded—no matter what life throws at them. I work with adults suffering from childhood trauma, sibling violence, emotional abuse, narcissistic parents, emotional neglect, depression, relationship issues, and PTSD.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In a client's first session with me as a therapist, they can expect several key elements to help establish a productive and supportive therapeutic relationship:
Introductions and Initial Assessment: The session typically begins with introductions where I provide an overview of the therapeutic process, confidentiality, and any administrative details. I'll invite the client to share their reasons for seeking therapy and what they hope to achieve.
Exploration of Goals: I aim to understand the client's goals and expectations for therapy. This includes discussing what they hope to change or achieve, as well as their motivations for seeking help at this time.
Assessment of Current Concerns: We'll explore the specific issues or challenges the client is facing, including their history and any relevant background information. This helps to form a comprehensive understanding of their current situation.
Establishing Rapport: Building a strong therapeutic alliance is essential. I create a warm and non-judgmental environment where the client feels safe to discuss their thoughts, emotions, and experiences openly.
Discussion of Therapy Approach: I explain my therapeutic approach and how it aligns with the client's needs and goals. This includes discussing any techniques or interventions that may be used to address their concerns.
Setting Expectations: Clear communication about the frequency and duration of sessions, as well as the collaborative nature of therapy, is important. Clients are encouraged to ask questions and voice any concerns they may have.
Initial Insights and Recommendations: Depending on the session's progress, I may offer initial insights or recommendations that can provide immediate relief or direction for the client to consider between sessions.
Ending the Session: Towards the end of the session, I summarize what has been discussed and invite feedback from the client. We discuss next steps, which may include scheduling future sessions and any initial homework or reflection exercises.
Overall, the first session is an opportunity for the client and therapist to begin forming a therapeutic alliance, clarify goals, and lay the groundwork for productive work together. It sets the tone for the therapeutic journey ahead, focusing on collaboration and support tailored to the client's unique needs.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
As a provider, I believe my greatest strengths lie in several key areas that contribute to effective therapy and client satisfaction:
Empathy and Compassion: I genuinely empathize with my clients' experiences and emotions, creating a safe and supportive space where they feel understood and validated.
Active Listening: I prioritize active listening to fully understand my clients' perspectives, concerns, and goals. This helps me tailor my approach to meet their specific needs and preferences.
Collaborative Approach: I view therapy as a collaborative process where the client and I work together towards identified goals. I value client autonomy and involve them in decision-making about their treatment.
Cultural Sensitivity: I recognize and respect the cultural, ethnic, and individual diversity of my clients. I strive to integrate cultural competence into my practice to ensure relevance and effectiveness in therapy.
Strengths-Based Perspective: I adopt a strengths-based approach, focusing on identifying and building upon my clients' existing strengths and resources. This helps empower them to navigate challenges and achieve positive outcomes.
Flexible and Integrative Techniques: I utilize a range of evidence-based techniques and interventions tailored to each client's needs. This flexibility allows me to adapt to different therapeutic styles and preferences.
Commitment to Growth: I am committed to ongoing professional development and staying updated with the latest research and best practices in therapy. This ensures that I provide high-quality, evidence-based care to my clients.
Ethical Practice: I adhere to ethical guidelines and prioritize confidentiality, respect, and integrity in all aspects of my therapeutic work. Clients can trust that their well-being and best interests are always at the forefront.
These strengths collectively contribute to fostering a therapeutic environment where clients feel supported, empowered, and motivated to make meaningful changes in their lives. Each session is an opportunity to build upon these strengths and collaboratively work towards enhancing their overall well-being and achieving their therapeutic goals
I'm trained in Brainspotting—a powerful tool shown to reduce the negative effects of trauma & emotional pain.
About Jennifer Bloom
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a therapeutic technique that was developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003. It is based on the premise that where we look and how we attend to our visual field can directly impact our emotional and psychological state. Here are some key points about Brainspotting:
Focus on the Brain-Body Connection: Brainspotting utilizes the brain-body connection to access and process deep emotional and physiological experiences. It recognizes that trauma and emotional issues can be stored in the body and accessed through focused attention.
Visual Field and "Brainspots": A "brainspot" is a specific point in a person's visual field that correlates with a traumatic or emotionally charged experience. By identifying and focusing on these brainspots, clients can access and process underlying emotions and memories.
Dual Attunement: The therapist and client engage in a process of dual attunement during Brainspotting sessions. The therapist helps the client locate relevant brainspots and then remains attuned to the client's internal experience as they process emotions and sensations.
Neurobiological Processing: Brainspotting is believed to tap into the brain's natural ability to heal itself by activating the body's innate capacity for processing and integrating traumatic memories and emotions.
Uses and Applications: Brainspotting has been used to treat a wide range of issues including trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, performance anxiety, and chronic pain. It can be integrated into various therapeutic approaches or used as a standalone method.
Variations and Techniques: There are different variations of Brainspotting techniques, including Inside Window, Outside Window, Gazespotting, and more, which allow therapists to adapt the approach to the client's needs and responses.
Overall, Brainspotting offers a unique approach to therapy by harnessing the connection between eye position, emotional experience, and neurological processing. It is increasingly recognized and utilized within the therapeutic community as an effective tool for trauma resolution and emotional healing.
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach to providing services and care that recognizes and responds to the widespread impact of trauma. Here are the key principles and components of trauma-informed care:
Safety: Ensuring physical and emotional safety is prioritized for both clients and providers. This includes creating environments that are welcoming, predictable, and non-threatening.
Trustworthiness and Transparency: Building trust with clients by maintaining clear and consistent communication, being transparent about processes and expectations, and fostering a sense of reliability.
Peer Support and Collaboration: Recognizing the importance of peer support and mutual collaboration among clients and between clients and providers. This involves fostering a sense of community and collective healing.
Empowerment and Choice: Promoting client empowerment by offering choices, acknowledging individual strengths and resilience, and supporting autonomy in decision-making.
Cultural, Historical, and Gender Sensitivity: Acknowledging and respecting the cultural, historical, and gender-specific needs and experiences of clients. This includes being mindful of potential triggers and adapting approaches accordingly.
Resilience and Recovery: Recognizing the potential for resilience and recovery from trauma, and promoting healing through strengths-based approaches that focus on individual capacities and resources.
Trauma-Informed Practices: Integrating trauma-informed practices into all aspects of care delivery, including assessment, treatment planning, interventions, and evaluation. This involves understanding the impact of trauma on individuals and communities.
Continuous Learning and Improvement: Committing to ongoing learning and improvement in trauma-informed care practices through training, supervision, and staying informed about current research and best practices.
Trauma-informed care is applicable across various settings including healthcare, social services, education, and beyond. It aims to create environments where individuals feel respected, validated, and supported in their journey towards healing and recovery from trauma.
Attachment-based
Attachment therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the dynamics of attachment and interpersonal relationships, particularly in the context of early childhood development and its impact on later life. Here are key aspects of attachment therapy:
Attachment Theory: Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and further expanded by Mary Ainsworth, posits that early interactions between infants and their caregivers (usually parents) shape the child's attachment style. This attachment style influences how individuals perceive and approach relationships throughout their lives.
Goals of Attachment Therapy: The primary goals of attachment therapy include enhancing secure attachment bonds, resolving attachment-related difficulties or disruptions, and addressing the emotional and behavioral consequences of insecure attachment patterns.
Therapeutic Techniques: Therapists may employ various techniques to achieve these goals, such as:
Attachment-based interventions: These may involve exploring early attachment experiences and their impact on current relationships.
Emotion regulation techniques: Helping clients regulate their emotions in the context of relationships.
Role-playing or experiential exercises: Simulating relational dynamics to explore and modify attachment behaviors.
Mindfulness and reflective practices: Enhancing awareness of attachment patterns and their effects on interpersonal interactions.
Applicability: Attachment therapy can be beneficial for individuals of all ages who struggle with relationship difficulties, unresolved trauma, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges stemming from early attachment experiences.
Criticism and Controversy: It's important to note that some forms of attachment therapy have been criticized for their unproven methods, lack of empirical support, and potential for harm, especially in cases where coercive or confrontational techniques are used. Therefore, it's crucial for attachment therapy to be conducted in an ethical and evidence-based manner.
Attachment Styles: Common attachment styles include secure attachment, anxious-preoccupied attachment, dismissive-avoidant attachment, and fearful-avoidant attachment. Therapy aims to help individuals understand their attachment style and its impact on their relationships.
Overall, attachment therapy aims to foster healthier, more secure relationships by addressing the underlying attachment patterns and promoting emotional resilience and relational skills.
