How are you? My name is Jennifer.

I want you to feel comfortable and welcome here. In a safe place. A place that you can design. A space where the only boundaries are ones you put in place. Here, the values are your own. Welcome home.

Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, and Burnout

You feel anxious. Sad. Disconnected – from both yourself and others. The things in life that once excited you often seem meaningless. The goals and dreams you once had seemed unattainable, or undesirable. You can feel stuck. Trapped. By circumstances, relationships, by others, or by yourself. Trapped by unwanted feelings. Trapped by the negative behaviors that you cannot seem to change. Trapped feeling that this will go on forever and ever.

You may have trouble making or maintaining friendships. Trouble with romantic relationships. Trouble feeling a connection to others or a sense of belonging in groups or relationships that you used to thrive in. You may feel like you are not as happy as you “should” be, or not as happy as others are in similar situations. You may feel inadequate and are subsequently more challenged to connect with others.

You may want to change but cannot begin to imagine what that looks like. You cannot envision your life without your stressors, anxieties, or triggers. You want to heal, but a part of you wants to hold on to these feelings because it is what you are used to.

A relationship with a trusted therapist can give you a space and a person to feel connected and focused with. In our work together, we will focus on the aspects of your life that make you anxious and drained. We will spend time discovering and connecting with your deepest values and understanding your true self. Throughout the process, we will take steps to heal and promote growth and to orient ourselves to working towards your true goals for your life.

Therapy for Trauma and PTSD

Going through trauma at any age is a powerful experience. It changes people in many ways, and the effects of those changes can be long-lasting. It is a burden that can be carried with you if it is not processed. Adults often still carry the wounds of childhood or teenage traumas in the form of behavior and thought patterns every day. Although the sources of these patterns may not be apparent, they could be holding you back from living the life that you truly want to live, and being the person you want to be.

Therapy with a trusted, trained therapist can help. Trauma is not easily uncovered or processed and takes openness and willingness for the client and therapist. Therapy provides a safe space for us to peel back the layers of your current challenges to discover the root of your problems – often past trauma. We will process this together, identify coping mechanisms to help you move through it, and empower you to use these experiences to grow.

Therapy for Life Transitions and Changes

Change happens at every life stage. One thing we can count on is the impermanence of the present moment. However, just because change is constant does not mean you are always capable or equipped to deal with the current challenges you face.

At different points in life, it may be difficult to cope. You could be starting a new job or school, ending or beginning a relationship, entering parenthood, or suffering a loss. It is hard to process big changes and develop coping mechanisms to accept your new reality. It can be challenging to survive, much less learn to thrive when your paradigm or expectations are shifted without your control or input.

Big life changes can bring on feelings of helplessness, anger, or sadness. You may feel lost, unseen, disconnected, misunderstood, or stuck. You struggle to imagine a life without your issues, yet you feel as though you “should” be working on them and doing better than you are. The thought of change can be paralyzing and terrifying.

I am here to help. I want you to know that you won’t always feel this way. Therapy can be a safe space to lay down your burdens, admit you are struggling, and work towards acceptance and healing. There is no shame or embarrassment here. There is no success or failure. I can be a listener, cheerleader, and guide. Together, we will co-create a space that facilitates your learning, growth, and healing. We will find and develop adaptive ways to cope so you can become the best version of yourself. Together we will work on skills that help you identify and unlock the life you want to live and the goals you want to achieve.

I want to help you learn that you can grow and heal yourself. Often we think about our problems concerning others. However, I want to empower you to realize that the solution and answers are inside you. Therapy can help you take the reins of your own life and regain a sense of self. We will make changes in your behavior and learn that your mindset is the only thing you have control over. This will ultimately move your life in the direction you desire it to go.

Therapy with Me

I understand what it is like to feel like you are missing something in life. Like you are not living your true calling. That there could be something else, more, or better out there for you. I felt this way for years. Whilst I was busy pursuing a history career, I constantly felt envious of my friends in the psychology field. I struggled for years trying to overcome this feeling and be happy with my choices before deciding to pursue something I loved.

I became a therapist to help people see that they come by their problems honestly. You have problems, everyone does. Your problems don’t mean you have a personality flaw or are a sign that there is something fundamentally or irrevocably wrong with you. I want to help you see yourself in a different light, and help you welcome the necessary life changes to get to the place you desire to be.

As a therapist, I am a calm, centered force that promotes a safe, open, and communication-friendly connection with my clients. It is easy to feel like you understand your problems, however, therapy can often help get a more holistic view. The process of therapy looks like a slowed-down conversation. Once we have established a sense of trust, we will work towards a place of exploring and accepting your current situation, which is often dictated by circumstances outside your control. We will examine what is within your power to change. Together we will work towards the changes that you need, whether that is coping strategies, support, resources, new behavior patterns, or courage and confidence.

I do not have solutions for you, or a one size fits all therapy format. I am a guide that can help you figure out the solutions you have for yourself. My strength is my ability to hold space for difficult feelings, and my ability to instill confidence in my clients that there is something on the other side of these feelings that is worth working towards.

I use a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and EMDR. I also incorporate tools from mindfulness training, as well as principles of interpersonal neurobiology and the polyvagal theory. These theories focus on finding ways to heal the relationship we have with ourselves as well as others by harnessing the power of our minds and bodies to facilitate healing. I take a client-centered approach during each session, where our relationship is the foundation of trust and the work that we are doing together. I look forward to getting to know you, please reach out to get started soon.

Registered California Board of Behavioral Sciences Number: LMFT 124091