No matter who you are, life is always changing, filled with challenges, transitions, doubts, and sometimes successes. This is the human experience, and you do not have to go it alone. Counseling is an available resource to help hone your natural talents and skills to find vision, motivation, meaning, and resolve through your choices and experiences. With the support of a professional counselor there are no dead-end scenarios. I thoroughly believe in meeting clients where they are at, treating individuals with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they come from, celebrating differences and individuality. A LPC & NCC and Virginia Board of Clinical Counseling Supervisor, I am completing my PhD in CES. I have a MS CMHC, BS Psy, AS Soc Sci. I have a cert in MHS and Advanced EMDR. I am also affiliated with the academic fraternities, honor societies, and other community advocacy associations, and serve on several boards. I have 20+ years of professional experience providing support and therapy for broad multicultural populations, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. I also have significant experience working with magnetized populations military, DV, and LGBTQ communities. I have thorough knowledge and interest in Trauma, Multicultural, developmental, family. I've worked as a preschool and school age provider for 10 years, 911 dispatch, warrants, APS, CPS, CSB, Human Services, Early Head Start and Head Start Non-profit mental Health Specialist, Intensive In Home, Outpatient psychotherapist, Outpatient supervisor, OP manager, OP director, OP coordinator, OP intern supervisor, OP resident supervisor, Counselor Master Degree Instructor.
This is an introductory session or a consult. This is where we get to know each other and determine if working together is a good fit for the client. I usually like to know if the person has had counseling or support in the past, what that was like, and if there are any preferences. Often I will explain that counseling looks different for different people and making progress can also change so there is a lot of adjusting. Communication is key. After completing initial assessments and if we have time, I will provide some coping and some resources to help support the client in achieving goals.
I've got several. I generally get along with pretty much anyone and everyone. I view myself as a support so I don't take things very personally and encourage as much healthy and transparent communication as possible. I am a genuine and pretty low key individual that goes with the flow and adapts to situations. I'm a very good listener and will check in with clients to see where needs are and work to help the client address those needs. I'm big on relationships, community, connection, kindness, strengths, motivation, and setting up for realistic success and expectations. I'm a huge advocate and participate in advocacy and outreach often in different ways. I am neurodivergent myself and so my brain processes information a little differently and I'm able to provide different perspectives at times providing healthy challenges to process that may or may not be working for the client. I'm a nerd about counseling so I have a lot of information regarding the field and practice that I am happy to share with anyone that asks.
Jennie Polizzi offers therapy covered by UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicaid in Virginia.
Through psychotherapy, I ascribe to a holistic evidence based integrated approach theories of psychology addressing the mind and body. The main theories I practice in are Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Reality Therapy, Existential Therapy, Developmental Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Multicultural Therapy, Art Therapy, Play Therapy,, Trauma informed, strength based strategies and therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gestalt Therapy, Adlerian Therapy, Emotional Maturity Therapy, Feminist Therapy, and will incorporate other theories and interventions when helpful and clinically appropriate.