Jenna Wolfson, LCSW
Jenna Wolfson, LCSW
My Style & Background
Our lives, like nature, are dynamic and ever-changing, so the metaphor of the river, its rocks, and the far-reaching ripples is never far from my mind when I sit on the banks of our river and breathe in the richness of nature. The metaphorical connections between nature and mental health fascinate me; they inspire me to guide my clients toward finding the best version of themselves while embracing their fluctuating daily lives and forceful histories.
Each client comes with their own unique situations, histories, and goals. I guide my clients through discovery, identification, and reflection. I encourage observation, discussion, rhetorical questions, investigation, and objectivity.
My style is direct, yet conversational, interactive, curious, and informal. The work we do will be:
- rooted in best practices (research-based & data-driven);
- outcomes-based (what are your goals?);
- culturally sensitive (where do you come from?);
- and focused on your strengths (what do you excel at?).
I find these foundational aspects of personal development essential for successful, meaningful outcomes.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
How can psychedelic and integrative therapy help you?
- Through transformative experiences, you can develop a deeper awareness of your mental and emotional processes, discover new ways of being, or address old wounds.
- Through integrative therapy, you can explore, broaden, and anchor your discoveries so that they can have a meaningful, long-lasting impact on your everyday life.
- Clinical studies have consistently shown the benefits of psychedelics in therapy for work with depression, trauma, substance use, and a myriad of other emotional and mental conditions.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Pairing my psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) / ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) certification with my LCSW training and experience allows me to be your integration specialist, and River Rock Wellness was designed to provided the perfect setting for your transformation in a safe and comfortable environment.
Pairing my psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) / ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) certification with my LCSW training and experience allows me to be your integration specialist, and River Rock Wellness was designed to provide the perfect setting for your transformation in a safe and comfortable environment.
Services
Individual Therapy
“I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
– Robert Frost
There are many reasons why individuals seek therapy:
There are many reasons why individuals seek therapy…
Mental Wellness
-
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Adjustment issues
- Grief…
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) / ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) offers an avenue for clients to develop a deeper awareness of their mental and emotional processes through transformative experiences, but it’s the integrative work that follows these experiences that facilitates a client’s ability to fuse these discoveries into their everyday lives that results in long-lasting changes in their patterns of thought and behavior.
As a certified PAT/KAP practitioner, further enhanced when paired with my LCSW skill set, I am able to provide a well-rounded and effective integrative therapy program for my clients.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) / ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) offers an avenue for clients to develop a deeper awareness of their mental and emotional processes through transformative experiences, but it’s the integrative work that follows these experiences that facilitates a client’s ability to fuse these discoveries into their everyday lives that results in long-lasting changes in their patterns of thought and behavior.
Trauma
Trauma comes in many forms and can be experienced by all ages. There is this idea that there are “Big T” and “little t” traumas, but what matters most is how the trauma affects you and how it impacts your environment and how you function. What I want to know is…
Trauma comes in many forms and can be experienced by all ages. There is this idea that there are “Big T” and “little t” traumas, but what matters most is how the trauma affects you and how it impacts your environment and how you function. What I want to know is…
How are you coping with your traumatic event?
Therapy for Children
At times, family issues can surface that impact children in ways that are not immediately obvious, yet they become more apparent within a child’s behavior, emotional reactivity, school/social issues, and difficulty engaging with siblings and parents. Parents can find themselves struggling with how to either reconnect with their child after upheaval in the family or address the big pink elephant in the room that the child is noticing and reacting to, but no one is talking about. Child therapy, in conjunction with family and parental involvement, can often bring the family back into balance by…
At times, family issues can surface that impact children in ways that are not immediately obvious, yet they become more apparent within a child’s behavior, emotional reactivity, school/social issues, and difficulty engaging with siblings and parents…
Adolescent & Teen Therapy
In an attempt to cope with a variety of issues, adolescents & teens – around 12 and older – may experience depression, anxiety, mood fluctuation, irritability, and reactive behaviors.
In an attempt to cope with a variety of issues, adolescents & teens – around 12 and older – may experience depression, anxiety, mood fluctuation, irritability, and reactive behaviors…
Common Teen Concerns
-
- Asserting autonomy and independence while remaining connected to the family
- Adjustment to changes in the family, including new siblings, divorce, blended families, moving homes
- Academic and peer relationship challenges
Substance Use
Recovering from substance use – whether from pharmaceutical, alcohol, or street drugs – is an ongoing process necessitating client introspection and guidance by a trained professional. While using available recovery resources, I can support clients in finding less harmful ways to cope and function throughout their daily lives.
I am a “harm reduction” clinician; I believe the client has a right to their decision-making related to substance use and do not force specific abstinence-based or programmatic-adherent interventions, such as AA, on an individual.
I also work with clients active in recovery who have at least 30 days sober. For those requiring a higher level of support, I can provide referrals to meet the needs of more pervasive, urgent substance use disorders.
Recovering from substance use – whether from pharmaceutical, alcohol, or street drugs – is an ongoing process necessitating client introspection and guidance by a trained professional. While using available recovery resources, I can support clients in finding less harmful ways to cope and function throughout their daily lives…
My Approach
I work under the general umbrella of a client-centered approach – meaning that I expect my clients to come as they are and that we will work through introductions, issues, and goals on a timeline that best suits you. I believe that you are the best expert on your own life and, in the act of seeking therapy, are aware that things are amiss. Seeking support is a huge step forward and demonstrates a level of self-awareness and readiness to learn, grow, and become the stronger version of yourself.
My clients are not simply revolving patients; My role is to listen and develop a deeper understanding so that throughout the process I am able to guide, troubleshoot, and assist; to develop a level of trust that allows us to approach sensitive issues, tricky patterns or maladaptive behaviors with a strong sense of security and support.
Being client-centered, I do not push and pull my clients before they are ready or in directions they do not want to go. Simultaneously, I also am not a crutch; I will not allow sessions to become stagnant or circular in nature. It is my role to ensure that we remain on a path that moves you forward.
Addressing trauma and deep wounds is part of an organic process, with various issues arising as we work through your imminent or recurring issues. If the client is ready, we can “go there,” or we can work in the present and remain solution-focused, returning to the trauma only when you are ready.
As a clinician, I am always looking to better myself, learning new modalities of interaction and support; theories of intervention. Throughout our sessions, we will flow in and out of these modalities based on my client’s personality, needs, and the specific scenario and goals – there is no one-size-fits-all approach to successful intervention and support.
When appropriate, I may request that a client do certain work between sessions. More often, because I strongly believe in psycho-education, I will send clients information on topics they are struggling with from professional, peer-reviewed sites, as a tool to broaden their perspective and level of understanding.
Finally, as a direct result of my social work background and licensing, I am in a position to refer clients to additional services, if permitted. I can collaborate with schools, the Department of Social Services, Juvenile Justice, and other community agencies as needed.
Mindfulness Practice
Mindfulness Practice, more formally referred to as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), supports the client through a practice that promotes staying present in the moment and accepting feelings without judgment and without applying expectations to them.
When we are unable to effectively function in our world because intrusive thoughts or stressors are interrupting our focus, MBSR techniques can decrease the stress related to what is happening both before or after this exact point in time. Finding the right technique(s) for you and becoming proficient in them isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination, but much like any good habit to learn, it is often effective in decreasing panic, stress, anxiety and depression and allowing us to be present and grateful in the moment.
Motivational Interviewing
This evidence-based approach to creating behavioral shifts is frequently utilized with clients managing substance use, but it can be beneficial in many other scenarios. Motivational Interviewing (MI) utilizes a style of intervention that relies on exploring an individual’s various motivations to change while anchoring in the understanding that “change” is a multi-dimensional and progressive process based on client empowerment and empathy.
MI relies on a respectful and curious relationship, allowing the client to lead to promote the discovery of their autonomy and sense of self-efficacy. This style can guide a client to their inner wisdom regarding potential problems, consequences, and risks in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational, and non-adversarial manner.
What does a “better future” look like? How do we (client and therapist) get there? We will assess your motivation to change a behavior, acknowledge ambivalence, and weigh the pros and cons.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a modality of treatment that can be effective for a range of problems, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and eating and sleeping disorders. It is based on the belief that certain psychological problems stem from unhelpful patterns of behavior and ways of thinking, and that individuals are capable of learning better ways to think and cope, resulting in resolving symptoms and living a more effective life.
CBT for Insomnia & Sleep Hygiene (CBT-I) takes a look at the whole picture of a client’s health as it pertains to their sleep and can be used to guide a client towards better sleep habits and healthier sleep hygiene. When we are under stress, sleep is often the first aspect of our daily lives to be affected, either by sleeping too little or too much, and this disruption in sleep has a profound effect on our day-to-day lives and can result in a downward spiral. CBT-I can play a crucial component in a client’s initial sessions.
Trauma Focused CBT
I am trained in and have many years of experience using the therapeutic modality of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or TF-CBT, which has been rated a Model Program and Best Practice when working with youth and parents. In essence, as we communicate, my foremost priority is to develop a trusting relationship that works at the client’s pace. This process is not my process; it is solely and respectfully my client’s process. As the trauma is explored, new processing mechanisms and coping skills are learned.
EMDR
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movement and alternative tapping, to modify and consolidate our memory network.
So what exactly does that mean? Our brain has the ability to learn, modify and adapt, and our adaptive emotional learning is constantly updating our memory network system, keeping our important past experiences and letting go of unnecessary information.
Disturbing events can prevent adaptive learning, though – these emotionally charged events can trigger us in the present and distort our perceptions, attitudes and behaviors.
Using EMDR techniques as we explore disturbing events serves as a catalyst that activates our adaptive learning system, resulting in a consolidated memory network – one that keeps what is healthy and discards no longer useful emotions, sensations, and beliefs.
After an EMDR session, “feeling better” is a more tangible, long-term result.
I have received EMDR training through the EMDR International Association. In-office appointments are necessary.
Family Systems Theory
Family Systems Theory assesses and evaluates the structural dynamics of a family system, including inherited family trauma and the impact of intergenerational influences. Through exploration of family history and current dynamics, we can identify sources of disruption and upheaval in the family’s home. This discovery can then lead to change in and development of the family system, bringing more peace and harmony.
There are a number of therapies that are all under this umbrella, including the Bowen Family Therapy approach, which focuses on the balance of two forces – togetherness and individuality. In therapy, families can identify how togetherness and individuality can both enhance and obstruct healthy functioning by exploring the intergenerational and emotional processes their family utilizes.
Internal Family Systems
IFS focuses on changing the dynamics that create emotional and psychological discord. Exploring how you navigate painful emotions, triggers, protective instincts, and maladaptive behaviors are all aspects of this approach, with the intent to heal the wounded parts and restore mental balance and harmony. A variety of conditions and symptoms can be treated through this modality, including depression, anxiety, phobias, trauma, substance use, physical health challenges, and general functioning and well-being.
Mindfulness Practice
Mindfulness Practice, more formally referred to as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), supports the client through a practice that promotes staying present in the moment and accepting feelings without judgment and without applying expectations to them.
When we are unable to effectively function in our world because intrusive thoughts or stressors are interrupting our focus, MBSR techniques can decrease the stress related to what is happening both before or after this exact point in time. Finding the right technique(s) for you and becoming proficient in them isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination, but much like any good habit to learn, it is often effective in decreasing panic, stress, anxiety and depression and allowing us to be present and grateful in the moment.
Motivational Interviewing
This evidence-based approach to creating behavioral shifts is frequently utilized with clients managing substance use, but it can be beneficial in many other scenarios. Motivational Interviewing (MI) utilizes a style of intervention that relies on exploring an individual’s various motivations to change while anchoring in the understanding that “change” is a multi-dimensional and progressive process based on client empowerment and empathy.
MI relies on a respectful and curious relationship, allowing the client to lead to promote the discovery of their autonomy and sense of self-efficacy. This style can guide a client to their inner wisdom regarding potential problems, consequences, and risks in a non-judgmental, non-confrontational, and non-adversarial manner.
What does a “better future” look like? How do we (client and therapist) get there? We will assess your motivation to change a behavior, acknowledge ambivalence, and weigh the pros and cons.
CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a modality of treatment that can be effective for a range of problems, including depression, anxiety, substance use, and eating and sleeping disorders. It is based on the belief that certain psychological problems stem from unhelpful patterns of behavior and ways of thinking, and that individuals are capable of learning better ways to think and cope, resulting in resolving symptoms and living a more effective life.
CBT for Insomnia & Sleep Hygiene (CBT-I) takes a look at the whole picture of a client’s health as it pertains to their sleep and can be used to guide a client towards better sleep habits and healthier sleep hygiene. When we are under stress, sleep is often the first aspect of our daily lives to be affected, either by sleeping too little or too much, and this disruption in sleep has a profound effect on our day-to-day lives and can result in a downward spiral. CBT-I can play a crucial component in a client’s initial sessions.
Trauma Focused CBT
I am trained in and have many years of experience using the therapeutic modality of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or TF-CBT, which has been rated a Model Program and Best Practice when working with youth and parents. In essence, as we communicate, my foremost priority is to develop a trusting relationship that works at the client’s pace. This process is not my process; it is solely and respectfully my client’s process. As the trauma is explored, new processing mechanisms and coping skills are learned.
EMDR
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movement and alternative tapping, to modify and consolidate our memory network.
So what exactly does that mean? Our brain has the ability to learn, modify and adapt, and our adaptive emotional learning is constantly updating our memory network system, keeping our important past experiences and letting go of unnecessary information.
Disturbing events can prevent adaptive learning, though – these emotionally charged events can trigger us in the present and distort our perceptions, attitudes and behaviors.
Using EMDR techniques as we explore disturbing events serves as a catalyst that activates our adaptive learning system, resulting in a consolidated memory network – one that keeps what is healthy and discards no longer useful emotions, sensations, and beliefs.
After an EMDR session, “feeling better” is a more tangible, long-term result.
I have received EMDR training through the EMDR International Association. In-office appointments are necessary.
Family Systems Theory
Family Systems Theory assesses and evaluates the structural dynamics of a family system, including inherited family trauma and the impact of intergenerational influences. Through exploration of family history and current dynamics, we can identify sources of disruption and upheaval in the family’s home. This discovery can then lead to change in and development of the family system, bringing more peace and harmony.
There are a number of therapies that are all under this umbrella, including the Bowen Family Therapy approach, which focuses on the balance of two forces – togetherness and individuality. In therapy, families can identify how togetherness and individuality can both enhance and obstruct healthy functioning by exploring the intergenerational and emotional processes their family utilizes.
Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic modality that guides a client in exploring their sense of “self” – and the other “parts” of self – which play a role in daily behavior and functioning. The goal of IFS therapy is to build a sense of awareness, understanding, and compassion for all parts of our personality and create a balance between them so that extreme behaviors are reduced and managed in a healthy manner.
IFS focuses on changing the dynamics that create emotional and psychological discord. Exploring how you navigate painful emotions, triggers, protective instincts, and maladaptive behaviors are all aspects of this approach, with the intent to heal the wounded parts and restore mental balance and harmony. A variety of conditions and symptoms can be treated through this modality, including depression, anxiety, phobias, trauma, substance use, physical health challenges, and general functioning and well-being.
Fees & Insurance
Fees & Payment
My rate is $200/hour. Sliding fees are available for those who qualify. Payments are accepted through the client’s online portal.
Cancellation Policy
Please arrive on time for your scheduled therapy appointment in order to utilize the full-time available to you. If you must cancel, please provide at least a 12-hour notice in advance. Notices not received in a timely manner will require the full session payment.
Getting Started
I offer a complimentary 20-minute consultation, either through Telehealth or in person, so we can determine if working together is a good match. First, please use the client contact form below to see if I am currently accepting new patients. If I am, I will ask you for some basic information so that I can create a client portal for you, in which you be able to complete the digital Privacy Practices and Consent for Services forms. Your free consultation can only be scheduled once these forms are completed. If we agree to work together after the consultation, you will continue to use your portal to complete intake forms, including self-assessments, consents, notifications of rights, payment authorization, and uploaded insurance cards. Once this is complete, all of your scheduling and payments will be handled through your portal.
Insurance
I accept many insurance plans, but In-network groups can vary between plans within the same insurance company. It is very important that you confirm with your insurance provider that I am listed in your network. The best way to do this is to call them – on occasion, their online lists have not been up-to-date. This is a great opportunity to also ask the following questions:
- Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
- How many sessions per year does my plan cover?
- If seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy, does my insurance cover any portion of the sessions or only specific of sessions (medicated sessions, multiple sessions per week, and longer sessions may not be covered)?
- What amount is covered per therapy session? Is there a co-pay?
- What is my deductible, and has it been met?
Insurance I accept (updated 1/1/2023): Aetna, Beacon Health Options/Strategies, Blue Cross, Central Coast Alliance For Health – Santa Cruz, Cigna, HealthNet, Medi-Cal, Medicare (not Medicare Advantage), United Behavioral Health/Optum & Value Options
Out of Network
If I am not in your network, be sure to ask about out-of-network services as they may be covered to some degree by your health insurance. If needed, I can provide you with a “superbill” for reimbursements.
Send Me a Message
If you’re looking for more information about services, please use this form to send me a message. Emails receive attention quicker than voicemails, so I encourage you to use this method for a timely response. For your privacy, please do not include sensitive personal details.
If you are a practitioner interested in space sharing or collaboration, please use the form on this page instead so that your message is directed to the right location.
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How I Got Here
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) approved by the Board of Behavioral Sciences of the State of California to practice independently. Having experience in both social work and clinical therapy, I discovered that I am most drawn to individual therapy with children, young adults, and families and all that this type of counseling entails.
I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Social and Behavioral Science from Cal State Monterey Bay in 2004 and my Master’s Degree in Social Work, as well as a Credential in School Social Work, from San Jose State in 2006. During and after obtaining my degrees, I worked for about 12 years in my field as a drug and alcohol assessor for Prop 36, a school social worker and case manager, a foster family social worker, a clinical therapist for children in the child welfare system, and as a Wraparound Social Worker in both Fresno and San Luis Obispo Counties.
In 2014, I submitted 3200 supervised fieldwork hours to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, passed 2 arduous exams totaling 6 hours, and received my Clinical Social Worker license. I realized that a life of pure case management as a social worker lacked the humanity, healing, and personal connection I seek in the work I wanted to do, so I decided to move into private practice… and, here I am!
Having worked with all ages and stages of youth and their parents for over 2 decades, I’m prepared to guide, support, and counsel families in various aspects of their lives.
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Individual Therapy
There are many reasons why individuals seek therapy:
Mental Wellness
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- Anxiety
- Depression
- Adjustment issues
- Grief
- Mood management and coping skills
- Trauma - PTSD and acute stress
Relationship Needs
-
- Marriage or cohabitation
- Parenting
- Blended families
- Co-parenting through dissolution
- Neurodiverse support
- LGBT, poly, etc
- Non-violent communication strategies
Substance Use
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- Identifying and exploring problematic usage of illicit drugs, prescribed medications, and legal substances
- Recovery support as it relates to trauma, poor coping skills, and the unmet needs that resulted in problematic substance use and increase relapse potential
- Support for family members who are navigating a loved one's usage of substances.
Domestic Violence
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- Verbal, emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse;
- Exploring unhealthy relationship patterns which promote the repetitive cycle of tension, blowouts, and honeymoon phases as a Certified Batterer’s Intervention Facilitator.
While my services focus on providing individual therapy, at times that therapy may benefit from the participation of a partner or additional family members. I can facilitate these ocassional group sessions, but for ongoing group session, I have found that couples and families experience more gowth and success when each person in engaged in ongoing individual support with group sessions sprinkled in.
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Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) / ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) offers an avenue for clients to develop a deeper awareness of their mental and emotional processes through transformative experiences, but it's the integrative work that follows these experiences that facilitates a client's ability to fuse these discoveries into their everyday lives that results in long-lasting changes in their patterns of thought and behavior.
As a certified PAT/KAP practitioner, further enhanced when paired with my LCSW skill set, I am able to provide a well-rounded and effective integrative therapy program for my clients.
The Process
| Defining Intent |
Your initial session(s) are designed to build our therapeutic relationship, identify your goals and the desired outcomes (your intent), and discuss treatment options where I can also address any questions or concerns you may have about medications or the medicated experience.
| The Transformative Experience |
Medicated session(s) can vary depending on your chosen medication**, dosage, and personal physiological reaction, but they are often quiet and sedative while bringing the potential to develop a deep and significant awareness of issues, goals, or ways of being. As a non-specific amplifier, it can also be unpredictable as it amplifies what is in your heart and mind. Your psychedelic experience can be done in session (minimum 2 hours), at home, or may require the administration and supervision of a medical and/or therapeutic professional.
| Facilitating Integration |
The work really happens in your integrative therapy sessions where you will explore and act on the themes, perspectives, and ideas that came up during your transformative experience. It is critical that these sessions occur in a timely manner* in order to take full advantage of the discoveries and ability to remodel and shape new neural pathways that lead to long-lasting change.
*Your integrative session must be pre-scheduled to occur within 48 hours of your medicated session, although within 24 hours is advised. For maximum benefit, I recommend a second integrative session a few days later and a third session the following week.
Dependent on your intended outcomes, you may require more than one medication session. It is best to separate your medicated sessions by 2 weeks, with 2-3 integrative sessions in between. This is the most effective schedule that supports continued growth and long-lasting change.
This schedule is best accomplished by setting up a regular, weekly session time, with the transformative experience(s) scheduled the day before your session and additional integrative sessions scheduled as desired.
The Science
The prevailing research is showing that psychedelics increase serotonin levels, lessen the brain’s default mode network (typical thought processes), and trigger the growth of new neural pathways. The altered state of consciousness and shift in thought processes can allow users to experience a heightened sense of clarity and profound moments of insight. These experiences are commonly characterized by users as life-altering, providing deep meaning with staying power.
The integrative sessions following the experience are a crucial component that allows users to explore the insights they gained and take action, creating the desired, long-lasting changes they seek.
For those seeking to confront a traumatic experience, the heightened sense of self paired with the potential for catharsis and increased empathy can allow clients to revisit their trauma with less fear; it can allow a person the freedom and space to talk about and reframe their memories. Supervision and/or guidance through these sessions is essential to ensure the experience remains stable and productive.
**Ketamine is currently the only substance that can be prescribed off-label for use with psychiatric supervision. Smaller doses are prescribed as lozenges or nasal sprays and can be self-administered in session or at home. Larger doses, typically given through intramuscular injection, require administration and supervision from a medical professional.
MDMA and Psilocybin are Schedule I drugs that are both in phase 3 clinical trials. FDA clearance for medicinal use of MDMA may be possible in 2024/2025 and for Psilocybin in 2026. Several states have active legislation seeking to - or already succeeding at - decriminalizing/legalizing the possession and personal or supervised medicinal use of psilocybin.
| How I Can Help |
In addition to being your integrative therapist, I can provide detailed information about your medicated options and therapeutically supervise your medicated session(s) under the mental-health professional capacity. I cannot prescribe or administer psychedelic medication, nor can I give medical advice or monitor physical health. I have physicians I can refer you to who are able to provide prescriptions as well as assist with administration and supervision of higher-dose sessions if needed.
I do not provide, condone or support the use of illegal substances or abuse of prescribed medications. Use of any psychedelic medication will be carefully written into a strict and precise treatment plan.
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Trauma
Trauma comes in many forms and can be experienced by all ages. There is this idea that there are "Big T" and "little t" traumas, but what matters most is how the trauma affects you and how it impacts your environment and how you function. What I want to know is —
How are you coping with your traumatic event?
Whether you previously were - or currently are - struggling with bullying, living in a volatile or emotionally abusive home, experiencing a stressful divorce, navigating the declining health of a loved one, or suffering a loss of a loved one, family pet, or your home, these experiences can all be described as “trauma”.
Trauma impacts every aspect of your life, including your ability to process and cope with current events and to attach, bond, and respond to the people around you. It can derail your sense of self and impact your social, romantic, familial and professional relationships.
“Maladaptive behavior” is the term used to describe the symptoms you may be seeing in your or your child’s life - or maybe others have told you they noticed. Most maladaptive behaviors are born from trauma, and all trauma presents and impacts each individual uniquely. What you see on the surface is a reflection of what lies beneath, so working on trauma means we have to dig in in order to fully process it.
While I am fully trained to use and have many years experience with Trauma focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), which utilizes a specific methodology or series of interventions, I recognize that this is not a one-size-fits-all journey. I have an eclectic approach which blends theoretical study, diverse therapeutic modalities, current research, and client interests in a way that will support you, so that you can comfortably and safely get to the roots of your trauma, including adjusting unhelpful views and damaging internal dialogue.
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Therapy for Children
At times, family issues can surface that impact children in ways that are not immediately obvious, yet they become more apparent within a child’s behavior, emotional reactivity, school/social issues, and difficulty engaging with siblings and parents. Parents can find themselves struggling with how to either reconnect with their child after upheaval in the family or address the big pink elephant in the room that the child is noticing and reacting to, but no one is talking about. Child therapy, in conjunction with family and parental involvement, can often bring the family back into balance by:
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- Preventing or reducing behavior problems;
- Enhancing prosocial behaviors;
- Improving family function by supporting effective parental leadership through discipline and household structure, promoting positive parenting, and increasing parental involvement and awareness related to a child’s social and emotional needs.
Therapy with children under 12 is primarily done through the expressions of play and art, which allows the child to expose their thoughts and feelings in a non-directive, non-verbal, therapy-focused manner. It provides a setting where a child can be authentically themselves and I am able to assess what could be evolving in the child’s mind as it pertains to the “presenting problem”.
When working with children, I require parental involvement, which could include any combination of individual therapy and consultation with the parent, regular check-ins, and family counseling. Prior to working with a child, I will request a thorough exploration of family, academic, and social history as well as an honest discussion about the current conditions in the home.
I maintain my minor client’s confidentiality to the extent that I do not convey what is shared with me in therapy. Rather, we will discuss themes and intervention strategies, and I will encourage the minor client to share with their family members the feelings and needs that can emerge during therapy.
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Adolescent & Teen Therapy
In an attempt to cope with a variety of issues, adolescents & teens - around 12 and older - may experience depression, anxiety, mood fluctuation, irritability, and reactive behaviors.
Common Teen Concerns
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- Establishing autonomy and independence while remaining connected to the family
- Adjustment to changes in the family, including new siblings, divorce, blended families, moving homes
- Academic and peer relationship challenges
- Transitioning to the next phase in their life including “adulting”
- Identity, gender, and sexual exploration/sexualized behavior
- Substance exposure, peer pressure, experimentation, and addiction
- Social media impact including online bullying and FOMO (fear of missing out)
- Addictive gaming behavior
- Trauma including death, illness, severe injuries, and violence
The natural process by which adolescents and teens develop their independence and identity can emerge in many ways. Sometimes maturity and growth are experienced by embracing positive challenges such as taking more difficult classes in school, learning a new instrument, engaging in extracurricular programs, or advancing in a sport. Teens may also find themselves facing increasingly serious challenges including becoming involved in dramatic and unhealthy peer and romantic relationships, experimenting with drugs, witnessing their friends slip into heavier substance use, or finding themselves immersed in a peer group that puts them into compromising or dangerous situations.
For the parent, the task at this stage of your child’s life is not only to establish healthy boundaries and expectations while maintaining open, honest and respectful lines of communication, but also to support your teen’s independence and decision-making, and the natural consequences - both positive and negative - they bring. This is not an easy process for anyone involved, so this is where therapy can be assistive.
So how do you sort out when some of those lines are about to be or have been crossed, when the natural consequences are exposure to the darker elements of our society and may impact your teen’s life in a way that could result in long-term damage or hardship? When do you step in, and how do you process the path that your teen is heading down, especially if the lines of communication have deteriorated?
Adolescent and teen therapy typically involves individual therapy for both the youth and the parent(s), inviting each other into sessions as necessary. Confidentiality is always maintained, but I practice with the understanding that the problems which surface with a family member often impact the entire family system.
If your family has reached a point where the situation has become serious and there is a need for a higher level of clinical intervention, we can explore which external agencies can be utilized to assess substance use and other high-risk behaviors.
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Substance Use
Recovering from substance use - whether from pharmaceutical, alcohol, or street drugs - is an ongoing process necessitating client introspection and guidance by a trained professional. While using available recovery resources, I can support clients in finding less harmful ways to cope and function throughout their daily lives.
I am a “harm reduction” clinician; I believe the client has a right to their decision-making related to substance use and do not force specific abstinence-based or programmatic-adherent interventions, such as AA, on an individual.
I also work with clients active in recovery who have at least 30 days sober. For those requiring a higher level of support, I can provide referrals to meet the needs of more pervasive, urgent substance use disorders.