About the Practice

Who is Jen?

Hi! I’m Jen and I’m not perfect. It took me a long time to be able to say and accept that statement. In fact, I embrace the things that are imperfect: I am a trauma survivor. I am neurodivergent. I have struggled with depression and anxiety. I have navigated all of these difficulties throughout my life and seek to help others navigate their issues as well. I am fully authentic with my clients and I hope my clients will be fully authentic with me.

My therapy style has been described as informal, direct, genuine, and humorous. I tend to be blunt and call people out on their BS - I say what you can’t or won’t and teach you to do that for yourself. Together, we can address your difficulties by connecting current thoughts, beliefs, and emotions to past experiences. We can’t fix the past, but we can change how we view it and move forward.

  • Hobby-hopper (currently, very into crochet)

  • Animal lover (you’ll get to meet my cats during our sessions)

  • Attending and watching stand-up comedy is a big part of my self-care

  • Avid yoga practitioner

  • Recovering perfectionist and gifted kid

  • Only child

  • Jack-of-all-trades

My Credentials

I have been providing mental health counseling since 2019 starting with practicum and internship at Catholic Charities Bloomington and then as an outpatient therapist following graduation from Lamar University in August 2020.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Indiana, a telehealth provider in Florida, and a National Certified Counselor through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).

I have completed training in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR); Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping); and the energy-focused Phoenix Protocol. I am currently training in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy, which I use to help my individual clients with relationship issues, as I do not provide couples therapy.

Personal Stats

  • Born and raised in Florida

  • Moved to Indiana in 2006

  • Raised in a conservative evangelical Christian church that caused a lot of trauma

  • Proud weirdo

  • Diagnosed as an adult with autism and ADHD

  • Personal experience with terminal illness, caretaking, death, and grief

What Jen Treats

Perfectionism

It is impossible for anyone to be perfect and it is exhausting to keep striving for it. So why do people attempt to be perfect? Perfectionism is often the result of childhood or adolescent trauma in which unfair expectations were communicated or assumed, either directly or indirectly. Perfectionists are often black and white thinkers and struggle to live in the gray. My goal is to help clients understand and live in the shades of gray.

Trauma and Trauma-related Issues

Treating perfectionism is only one part of my practice, but it is a good example of the trauma-informed work I do with clients. It turns out most people who have experienced trauma struggle with living in the “gray areas” of life, as they seek safety and security through controlling their environment. Trauma can manifest in all kinds of mental health issues, such as mood disorders, PTSD, and dissociative disorders, just to name a few. My interest as a clinician is to help people grow, change, and process the trauma, so they can lead healthier lives. I don’t believe in “fixing” anyone because that implies something is broken. You aren’t broken - you just need a chance to experience change.

Neurodivergence (Autism & ADHD) in Adults

An additional interest of mine is assessing for and treating late-diagnosed neurodivergence with low support needs in adult populations. Though I see men and individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB), I have a particular interest is working with women, including gender diverse and non-binary individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB). Autism, ADHD, and anxiety are often confused in the diagnosis of women* (and sometimes men), resulting in incorrect diagnosis and/or treatment. This can sometimes feel as if something is missing in their treatment or as if the name given to their issues isn’t quite right. I perform assessments across multiple dimensions of these disorders, talk about it with my clients to determine if they agree with the findings, and then work with them in their treatment.

*includes gender diverse and nonbinary folx AFAB

Assessments

I love utilizing assessments to drill down to particular symptoms and to narrow down what may be actually going on with my clients. Often clients are unaware of all of the manifestations of the issues experienced and these assessments can assist in client education and getting the right diagnosis (a.k.a. clinical impression). I complete screenings and assessments for the following: autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, trauma, dissociative disorders, depression, and anxiety.