LCSW, 12 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi, I’m Jenna Tomasiewicz, a licensed clinical social worker with over 12 years of experience supporting individuals facing mental health, medical, and relationship challenges. I am passionate about helping people find fulfillment in their lives by empowering them to use their strengths to overcome adversity. My goal is to provide compassionate guidance and practical tools that enable lasting positive change.
Rapport Building: The first session is primarily about establishing rapport. I will create a safe and welcoming environment for the client to share their thoughts and feelings. Building trust early on is crucial for a successful therapeutic relationship. Reviewing Policies: Clients will be introduced to important policies such as confidentiality (HIPAA) and mandated reporting laws. These discussions ensure that clients understand their rights, and what is required from myself in situations of risk (such as harm to self or others). Setting Expectations and Goals: I will ask the client about their expectations and goals for therapy. It’s important for me to understand what the client hopes to achieve, whether it’s managing stress, overcoming anxiety, improving relationships, or working through past trauma. These initial goals may evolve over time, but they help to establish a direction for the work ahead. Exploration of the Client’s Concerns: In addition to setting goals, the client may be asked to share a bit about what’s currently going on in their life—whether they’re facing challenges, experiencing distress, or dealing with a specific issue they want to address. This helps me understand the client’s perspective and start building a treatment plan. Questions and Clarifications: I will likely encourage the client to ask any questions about the process, and they’ll clarify what therapy will look like moving forward, how often sessions will take place, and any other logistical concerns.
I have worked in a variety of different therapeutic settings from inpatient hospitalizations to outpatient programs, community-based programs, schools and residential. Given such a diverse background I am well versed in a variety of life struggles. My approach consists of a combination of psychotherapy, dialectal behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, psycho-education, client-centered approaches, and more. Given a rich and varied background in therapy, it provides a great deal of flexibility in how I approach clients' needs. Combining different therapeutic approaches, like DBT and CBT, shows that I am adaptable and able to meet clients where they’re at.
Building trust and a collaborative relationship really is key. Clients who are open to change, patient with themselves, and willing to engage in the process tend to see the most progress. Trust creates a safe space for vulnerability and growth.
I use this approach with my clients who experience distress and trauma. It provides space for client's to transform. It focuses on a client's natural capacity for healing and resilience. actively co-regulating emotions and by providing validation, it empowers clients to safely access, experience, and transform core feelings. This ultimately leads to greater clarity, connection, and well-being.