Licensed to practice in Illinois and accepts 32 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD, Women's Issues and 12 more.
"Aloha! I help high-functioning women with complex trauma stop living in survival mode, so they can trust themselves, feel safe in their bodies, and build healthy, secure relationships. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy, and I integrate traditional talk therapy with experiential therapies that aid in better nervous system regulation, healing, and overall relief of symptoms. Experiential, brain-based healing & somatic therapies can help accelerate change and often reduce time in counseling. I'm using the workbook "The Polyvagal Theory Workbook for Trauma" by Arielle Schwartz, PhD ($20 on Amazon) in sessions for clts to learn evidence-based activities that will help heal the effects of trauma & disregulation, rewire the nervous system, and return to a state of balance and calm. I specialize in biologically based healing, which assists in resolving trauma symptoms that are frozen or stuck in the body. I have training in EMDR (eye movement desensitization & reprocessing) and am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP). I interweave these therapies and attachment-based support and repair into all my work with clients, which allows for a rich, gentle, connection-based healing approach. I have been in private practice for 30 years, and have worked in a variety of mental health settings. In my personal life I am a wife, a mom of 4 young adults (2 are adopted), dog/animal lover, & divorce survivor. I am licensed in Illinois (LCPC), and live on the big island of Hawaii 🌺 I see all clients via telehealth (self pay & insurance). Education & Certifications: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Master of Psychology, The Adler School of Professional Psychology Bachelor of Psychology, Illinois State University Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) Transforming the Experience-Based Brain (TEB) Touch Practitioner SSP (Safe & Sound Protocol) provider- polyvagal strategies
We will begin with a relaxed, conversational exchange to ensure we are a great fit for one another—there is never any pressure. My priority is to create a safe, supportive space where you feel heard from our very first meeting. What our initial session will look like: Nervous System Attunement: We will start by getting to know your unique nervous system. I often guide clients through a simple somatic skill during our time together to help your system settle and feel more regulated. Immediate, Actionable Tools: I believe in providing value from day one. You will leave our first session with practical, body-based tools you can begin practicing immediately to manage stress and discomfort. I also utilize "The Polyvagal Theory Workbook for Trauma" by Arielle Schwartz. Our Roadmap: We will explore how we can work together to rewire your nervous system response, integrating evidence-based practices such as EMDR bilateral tapping, conscious breathing, and mindful movement. When you are ready to leave the stress and survival mode behind, I am here to help. Schedule our first session, and let’s start the journey toward feeling better today!
My approach is grounded in deep attunement, clinical expertise, and faith. I don’t just focus on symptom reduction; I aim for lasting nervous system transformation. My goal is to help you move beyond merely learning coping skills to actually recognizing what safety feels like in your body, allowing you to develop true discernment rather than living in a state of hypervigilance. Why my approach stands out: Empowerment that lasts: I believe therapy should equip you with lasting skills- not just provide relief in the moment. My hope is that you'll leave each session with greater confidence, resilience, and the ability to navigate life's challenges with increasing independence. I want to help you cultivate the tools to trust yourself. I specialize in helping women stop carrying responsibility for everyone else’s emotions so they can reclaim their own. Holistic Healing: I offer an integrated approach that heals the body, mind, and relationships, incorporating faith when appropriate. Accelerated Results: By using body-based, trauma-informed methods—such as EMDR and Somatic Experiencing—I assist in resolving symptoms that are often "stuck" in the body, allowing for relief that is both deep and faster than traditional talk therapy alone. What you can expect from our partnership: Together, we will identify your goals—where you want your life to be in the coming months—and create a clear, actionable roadmap to get you there. You will leave sessions with a deeper understanding of your nervous system and practical strategies you can use immediately. I believe in a collaborative, accountable relationship where your feedback is always welcomed and valued.
My clients often feel the weight of responsibility for everyone around them. They find themselves second-guessing their own instincts and are exhausted from carrying the burden of relationships that never feel truly safe. I partner with high-functioning women who have spent years people-pleasing, overfunctioning, or walking on eggshells, helping them find the safety within their own bodies that they’ve long been missing. They have done the inner work, but still lose themselves in relationships. If this resonates with you, we will work together to help your nervous system move from old survival patterns into self-trust, embodied safety, and secure connection through nervous system-informed care. My goal is to move you beyond simple insight, fostering the deep, lasting nervous system transformation that allows you to show up authentically in your life.
I identify as
Cash - $150 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
Evernorth
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
UMR - Advocate Aurora Health
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Attachment-based
I use an attachment-based approach to help clts understand how early relationships have shaped the way they see themselves, connect with others, and respond to stress. Many people develop patterns such as people-pleasing, difficulty trusting themselves, fear of abandonment, or taking responsbility for others' emotions as ways to adapt to relationships that didn't consistently feel safe. Together we'll explore these patterns with compassion while helping your nervous system experience greater safety. By integrating attachment-focused therapy with somatic (body-based) approaches, I help clients build self-trust, strengthen healthy boundaries, and create more secure, fulfilling relationships.
Christian Counseling
My relationship with God , Jesus, and the Holy Spirit deeply shapes the way I show up in the therapy room. I seek to practice with wisdom, compassion, and discernment while providing evidence-based attachment-focused, and nervous system-informed therapy. I do not require my clts to share my beliefs, but I welcome those who appreciate a faith-sensitive approach and can thoughtfully integrate spiritual beliefs into the healing process when it is meaningful to them.
EMDR
I use EMDR as part of a comprehensive, trauma-informed approach to help clients process painful experiences and reduce their ongoing impact. Before beginning trauma processing, I focus on helping clts build safety, emotional regulation, and internal resources. By integrating EMDR with attachment-based and body-centered therapy, I support clts in healing the root of their struggles, while developing greater self-trust resilience, and healthier relationships.
Somatic
I believe healing happens when we include the body-not just the mind. As a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), I help clts recognize how their nervous system has adapted to stress, trauma, and overwhelming experiences. Together, we'll learn to notice your body's cues, increase your capacity to feel safe and present, and gently shift patterns of survival that no longer serve you. My goal is to help you move beyond simply managing symptoms so you can feel more grounded, connected, and confident in yourself and your relationships. I recommend "The Polyvagal Theory Workbook for Trauma" by Arielle Schwartz, PhD (on Amazon for $20)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I use an Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed approach to help clts explore their inner emotional experiences with curiosity and compassion. Clts often notice different "parts" of themselves that hold conflicting needs, emotions, or protective strategies. Together, we work to understand these parts, rather than judge or suppress them, which supports greater self-compassion, emotional balance, and self-trust. I integrate IFS with attachment-focused and somatic therapy to support both emotional insight and nervous system regulation.
12 ratings with written reviews
June 11, 2026
Thankful to be connected with a therapist who is helping me heal and grow.
April 8, 2026
Jennifer is helping me untangle years of anxiety that has left me feeling stuck and frozen and frazzled in my nervous system. She has given me tools to release those feelings and helps me recognize ways to feel safe and more empowered to make better decisions. She is gentle with her guidance and I trust that she has my best interests at heart and is lead by The Holy Spirit. If there's only one thing I could change, it would be to sit in an office with her, but meeting online has worked well.
March 19, 2026
Jennifer is a refreshing find. I really appreciate how quickly she picks up on things. I don't feel like I have to do 20 sessions of background info just to start getting somewhere. I left the first session with new tools to use right away and have learned so much already in just 2 months.