LCSW, 11 years of experience
Hi, I’m Jerena, a licensed therapist dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with compassion and clarity. I specialize in anxiety, depression, and bpd my approach is grounded in CBT,DBT, and mindfulness. I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, build resilience, and move toward meaningful change. Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply seeking growth, I’m here to walk alongside you on your journey.
In our first session, we’ll take time to get to know each other and explore what’s bringing you to therapy. I’ll ask questions about your current challenges, personal history, and goals so I can better understand your unique experience. It’s also a chance for you to ask questions and see how it feels to work with me. There’s no pressure to share everything right away — we’ll go at a pace that feels comfortable for you. My goal is to create a safe, supportive space where you feel heard, respected, and understood from the very beginning.
What sets my approach apart is the balance I bring between deep, compassionate listening and practical, evidence-based strategies. I tailor each session to your unique needs, drawing from approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, or somatic work, depending on what’s most helpful for you. Clients often tell me they appreciate feeling truly seen and understood — not judged — and that they leave sessions with both insight and clear next steps. My focus is on creating lasting change, not just quick fixes, and walking with you through both the hard work and the moments of growth.
I’m best positioned to support individuals who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected—whether due to anxiety, past trauma, life transitions, or relationship challenges. Many of my clients are deep thinkers, highly self-aware, and motivated to better understand themselves, but they’re struggling to turn that insight into lasting change. If you're ready to do the inner work, open to reflection, and looking for practical tools alongside emotional support, I can help you move toward greater clarity, confidence, and connection in your life.
I will use Assessment: The therapist conducts an initial assessment to understand the client's issues and establish a therapeutic relationship. This may involve discussing the client’s history, symptoms, and goals. Identifying Negative Thoughts: The therapist helps the client recognize negative or distorted thought patterns (cognitive distortions) that contribute to their problems, such as all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, or overgeneralization. Challenging Negative Thoughts: Once negative thoughts are identified, the therapist guides the client in challenging these thoughts by examining evidence for and against them, and considering alternative perspectives. Behavioral Interventions: CBT involves behavioral techniques to encourage clients to engage in activities that counteract their negative thoughts. This may include exposure therapy for anxiety or behavioral activation for depression. Skill Development: Therapists teach clients coping skills and strategies, such as problem-solving, stress management, and relaxation techniques, to manage their symptoms effectively. Homework Assignments: Therapists often assign homework to reinforce skills learned in sessions. This might include thought records to track negative thoughts or exposure tasks to face fears gradually. Progress Evaluation: The therapist regularly reviews progress with the client to assess what is working and what may need adjustment. This collaborative approach helps maintain motivation and accountability. Relapse Prevention: Towards the end of treatment, therapists work with clients to develop a plan for maintaining their progress and addressing any future challenges.
Mindfulness: Being present in the moment, observing thoughts and feelings without judgment. Distress Tolerance: Techniques for coping with crisis situations in a healthier way, such as self-soothing and distraction strategies. Emotional Regulation: Identifying and managing intense emotions, including recognizing triggers and developing healthier emotional responses. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Enhancing communication skills and building healthy relationships, including learning to assert needs and set boundaries.
Open-Ended Questions: I will encourage you to express your thoughts and feelings in your own words, which helps to gather more information and promote deeper reflection. Affirmations: Positive reinforcement of your efforts, strengths, and achievements can motivate continued engagement and change. Reflective Listening: I will use reflective listening to demonstrate understanding and validation of your feelings. This involves paraphrasing or summarizing what you have said, allowing you to explore your thoughts more deeply. Summaries: Periodically summarizing key points can help reinforce what has been discussed and guide the conversation toward the goals of the session. Eliciting Change Talk: I will encourage you to articulate your desires, abilities, reasons, and need for change. This helps you explore your motivations and increases your commitment to making changes. Developing a Change Plan: When you are ready, MI might involve collaboratively developing a specific plan for change, setting achievable goals, and discussing potential barriers and strategies for overcoming them.