LMHC, 20 years of experience
Hello! I’m Jennifer Wasik, a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida and a Licensed Professional Counselor for the state of Texas, with over 20 years of experience working with children, teens, and adults. Do you feel confused, misunderstood, or lost? Are you struggling with your friends, family and/or work relationships? Do you lack confidence or feel overwhelmed? Are you dealing with childhood trauma that was never addressed? I help with identifying obstacles that can get in the way of living a productive life. I strive to connect, understand, and support my clients through the healing process by providing a safe environment to build a trusting relationship. Growth, Relationships, Abundance, Balance, Peace and Harmony. These elements often contribute to a fulfilling and meaningful life. I use a person-centered approach while integrating mindfulness and developing skills that can be used to last a lifetime. I use evidence-based techniques to help overcome what’s holding you back. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship or parenting issues, I’m here to help.
In our first session I will start with a brief introduction and give you the opportunity to share your reason for seeking therapy. My goal is to understand your need in order to move forward in a manner that benefits you and your well being.
Over the past 20 years I have worked with trauma due to abuse and violence, as well as, grief and loss. My greatest strengths are with individuals who have experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, and/or exposure to domestic violence. I understand the effects of trauma and how it affects everyone differently; anxiety, depression, anger, intrusive memories, difficulty sleeping, and the ability to trust is just to name a few of the symptoms that can be present. Empowering my clients to not let it hinder them from being happy and moving forward is my ultimate goal.
I do not have a preferred client population, however my goal with all my clients is that at the end of the session a weight is lifted and hope is restored to allow for healing.
I have worked with individuals using various methods, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Therapy, and adjust my treatment methods to meet my client's needs. Understanding the goal of each session and what is causing distress, then applying coping skills such as relaxation techniques, identifying feelings/emotions, and cognitive restructuring. The focus in each session is the client; encouraging self reflection, self discovery, awareness and acceptance. When dealing with traumatic experiences, the treatment method that has been effective with clients is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The goal is to create a safe space to allow for expression and healing.
In couples therapy, I have used Gottman Method Couples Therapy to address recurring arguments, emotional disconnection, or trust issues. The focus is on strengthening friendship, improving communication, and reducing negative conflict patterns, such as criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling.
In grief counseling the focus is the process of mourning, walking beside my client, exploring how to cope with the loss of a loved one, and understanding the goal is not to "get over it" but to find a way to get through each day without our loved one. I have witnessed healing using David Kessler's Core Methods, The Six Stages of Grief (with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross' 5 stages of grief). Methods are adjusted to meet the client's healing needs.