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I'm Jen, a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health & women's issues.

I help women & mothers feel empowered on the journey through motherhood and beyond.

I work with women who are knee-deep in the uncertainty of their "trying to conceive" journey, and are feeling burnt out due to infertility and all of the unknown.

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I work with mothers who are trying their hardest to be the mom they always pictured themselves becoming, but inside are feeling overstimulated, touched out & like they are already "failing" at being a mom. 

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I work with warrior women who are navigating pregnancy after loss, birth trauma, and unexpected medical diagnoses & are tired of being told by their friends and family how "strong" they are (when all they really want is to have a "normal" mothering experience).

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I work with women who are trying to cope with the idea that new motherhood is not going the way they had imagined.

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I have worked to create the kind of non-judgmental therapy space where I would want to find myself as a client. A space where you can ugly cry & we can belly laugh together all in the same session.

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A space where you can speak the scary thoughts & reflect on some deeply-held beliefs, while knowing you won't be shamed for it. 

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A space where we can discuss societal pressures & dismantle picture-perfect motherhood, while building hope for something better in the same conversation.

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I created this space for women who are tired of feeling overwhelmed, full of self-doubt & isolated, wondering when their village is going to show up.

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This space is for you. 

My Approach

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I thrive when sessions are collaborative & connected, rather than cold and overly clinical. Whether you have been in therapy before or if this is your first time opening up to someone, I will take things at your own pace as we build trust and safety.

 

My hope is that you will feel free to share the messy parts of life as we work to explore the hopes & expectations you have for yourself and your relationships. In the therapy room, I show up authentically as myself.

 

I am compassionate, validating, and find a good balance between being myself while also being professional. Because I am genuinely invested in your growth, I will not shy away from gently challenging you in our sessions when there is value in doing so. 

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I utilize a holistic approach- which means that I do not focus on a label or diagnosis, but I see you as a "whole" person and take your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being into account. 

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We will highlight your strengths and all of the wonderful things that make you unique, as you step into a more empowered version of yourself.

How I can help.

I work with women who come from various backgrounds and cultures. Common topics that come up in the therapy space are:

In addition to my specialized training in perinatal and reproductive mental health, I also offer care that is attachment and trauma focused. We will focus on building coping skills to help you feel calm and cope with distress, explore and understand how past experiences and relationships are affecting you now, and utilize different therapeutic approaches to process and heal from trauma and other disturbing experiences.

 

Many of my clients appreciate the use of a mind-body approach in their therapy, as I pull from somatic techniques and various evidence-based therapy approaches. I am trained in EMDR and am happy to discuss if this is an approach that can help you heal from traumatic experiences. 

My Story

I am a mom of two wonderful toddlers. Yes, two under two is wild ya'll! I am also a wife to my husband of nearly 15 years.

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I'm a California native and pursued my undergraduate degree in Sociology at California State University Northridge, and my Master of Social Work degree at the University of Southern California. I lived in Hawaii for 7 years and that really spoiled me in terms of amazing beaches! But I still enjoy a good beach day in San Diego.

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My work has been guided by my clinical experiences as a trauma therapist for nearly ten years in the military setting, and my experiences on my personal journey to motherhood. 

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My own experiences with infertility, traumatic child birth, postpartum stress & parenting a child with complex medical needs fueled my passion to hold space & empower other women as they navigate these difficult seasons. I feel so strongly that women & families deserve specialized support during this transformative time.

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I have advanced training in maternal and reproductive mental health, as a Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) therapist with Postpartum Support International. 

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I prioritize continued growth as a therapist, and pursue advanced trainings and professional consultation to support the work I love to do. 

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Collaboration

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Empowerment

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Authenticity

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Trainings & Certifications

The Advanced Practice of EMDR for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (Touchstone Institute)

 

Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International (PSI)

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Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy, Postpartum Support International (PSI)

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Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Components of Care, (PSI)

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Essentials of Reproductive Therapy: Infertility, Pregnancy Loss, Trauma, Donor Conception & More (Koser, Covington, Covington & Applegarth)

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Perinatal Loss: An Attachment- Informed Treatment Framework for Helping Clients Process & Heal from Pregnancy Loss (Osborn)

 

EMDR Training (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), EMDR Institute, Inc

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Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Externship, Core Skills Stage 1 & Stage 2

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Trauma Resiliency Model, Level 1

Professional Affiliations

Postpartum Support International (PSI)

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Postpartum Health Alliance (PHA)

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Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color

Schedule a Consultation

You don't have to struggle with this alone. Get the support you deserve.

Click the button below to head to my client portal and schedule a free consultation with me. 

We will meet on my secure video platform where you will:

  • have the opportunity to share what's brought you to therapy

  • ask me any questions you may have

  • & figure out if we would be a good fit to work together.

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