ABOUT ME
Hi there. My name is Jen and I’m so glad you’re here.
I am a white, queer, genderqueer person and I use they/them pronouns. I hold these identities loosely and flexibly, a jumping off point for aspects of how I understand myself, relate to others, and move through the world.
I have a Bachelors degree in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University and a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. I completed my clinical internship at Seattle Counseling Service, a primarily queer community mental health organization. In 2022, I completed a year-long training in Compassionate Inquiry, a therapeutic method designed by Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (#LH61204606) and a Certified Canadian Counselor (#10007882).
As a therapist, and human in general, I am passionate about creating space for the stories and emotions that are so often pushed away, hidden from view, and disavowed. I believe that to be seen and heard in these tender places can be a profoundly healing experience, even (and especially) when there is "nothing to do about it," other than bear witness and grieve. An important piece of this process is moving towards a way of being that centers less around achieving, perfecting or "doing"
and much more around “being.” Being present, being messy, being perfectly imperfect and ok with slow processes and uncertainties. It is here that we may begin to build the spaciousness to hold and be in relationship with all that is unresolved in our hearts, bodies, and life stories.
I am also passionate about learning to develop authentic relationships, both with our self and with others. This includes an evolving and deepening understanding of the self, how we show up in the world, and what it means to be in complex relationships with all the beautiful, painful messes that they encompass.
Outside of therapy, I love to play. This can include hiking, biking, board games, climbing, hanging with my dog, and spending time with friends and family. The list goes on. I love being able to move, connect with myself and others, and to laugh and joke along the way. I am also a highly irreverent person, finding meaning in the absurd and and absurdity in the very serious.
I deeply value bringing play and humor into the therapeutic space as well. I often hear, "you can laugh about it or you can cry about it," and I think what's more true is that we need to do both. I have found so much healing through being able to grieve for and laugh about the most painful and difficult parts of my life. Alongside this, I have developed a love for exploration; starting off on a journey without necessarily knowing where I am going, or what I will encounter along that way. While this has not always been the case, I am learning to find ease in the unknown and steadiness within chaos, and love walking with others as they navigate these places in their own lives.
I have significant experience working with queer folks around identity exploration, transition, relationships, depression, anxiety, and trauma processing. I also have experience in in-patient settings with adults seeking treatment for eating disorders, as well as with youth experiencing mental health crises.