Gestalt Therapists in Portland, ME

Hi there! I am glad you've made the choice to work on yourself! My practice focuses on depression, anxiety, PTSD, relational issues, divorce, low self-esteem/mood disorders, trauma and grief/loss. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Maine with more than 15+ years of experience in the mental health & substance abuse fields in both community-based and hospital settings. I have worked extensively with adolescents/teens and adults ranging in acuity during this time, in both an inpatient and an outpatient setting.

Do you want your life to include more authenticity and vitality?.I bring a wealth of experience, skill and compassion to my practice. Change is a constant and dealing with change inevitable. Dealing with loss and grief make up a large part of my practice. I consulted for many years with The Center for Grieving Children around individual and family issues regarding terminal illness and the loss of a loved one. I like working with the interface of therapy and recovery,adult ADD, gender and relationship issues, family of origin issues as they affect the present and concerns around aging.

There are many paths to healing. My role as a therapist is to determine the approach that will work best for each client and to create the space for healing to occur. I understand the importance of balancing and integrating the emotional self, the thinking self and the physical self and have tools to intervene in each of these dimensions. I believe that for many, a root cause of suffering lies within the context of intimate relationships and that healing primary relationships can create healing within the self.

I am accepting previous clients. You are accepted! Messages from our culture teach us that we do not quite measure up. We live in a sea of self doubt while life stress creeps in as the norm. Life is hard and sometimes we feel like there are few sign posts to guide us. We can feel alone on life's journey. As a counselor, I join you to find your sense of self and purpose and help unburden what weighs you down. "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Angelou

Emotions are our rudder leading us through the seas of life, both stormy and calm. They are not something to be afraid of, ashamed of, or to run away from. When connected with and channeled in a healthy way, emotions are adaptive and effective guides for transformation and healing. We can sink or we can use the healing power of emotions to authentically navigate through our life journey. Whether this is your first time in therapy or you have past experience, whether you're looking for yourself or for couple's support - your needs, pain and joys deserve to be heard in an empathic, accepting and safe setting.

As a fully licensed Clinical Psychotherapist, I believe that everyone has a desire to be successful in their life, but sometimes lack the skills or supports to achieve that goal. My non-judgemental approach will help you feel more comfortable facing the difficulties that are causing you to feel incomplete. Counseling can be an active, dynamic process, that can be exciting, challenging, and even enjoyable! I have a keen interest in Men's issues, but work with clients of all genders.

If you feel unsure how to navigate the disorienting wilderness of your relationships, I'm here. My ideal clients are curious and motivated, knowing they can do hard things. They often come seeking help with intimacy, betrayal recovery, communication, sexuality, or loss. While each comes to therapy with unique identities, values, sufferings, and desires - all have the capacity to experience a more joyful life. We set goals together and I help draw on people's strengths to address the issues that concern them most.

Practice full at this time, thank you -I offer compassionate, experiential psychotherapy for adults, specializing in mindfulness-based and Internal Family Systems therapy for depression, anxiety and trauma. Honoring the dynamic mind-body relationship, I incorporate awareness-building, body-based practices to facilitate emotional, behavioral & cognitive expression, healing & growth, such as guided meditation, visualization & yoga-inspired breathwork and movement. I believe that bringing our full attention to our inner experiences with curiosity awakens a natural spring of self-compassion and an innate capacity for deep healing.

Please note: I am not accepting new clients at this time and my waitlist is currently closed. My approach is focused on what your experiences feel like and mean to you. I believe that therapy is best facilitated by forming a trusting relationship within a safe environment where you are able to explore and connect with your most deeply sensed emotions and use them for healing and growth. I see my role as a facilitator who can support you in making use of deeper levels of awareness and understanding within yourself.

The emphasis of my practice begins at a foundational level. Approaching our bodies as a container of resources gifted to us at conception. My care for clients is specifically focused on the somatic listening and attunement with self and the natural world. I use mindfulness, trauma informed touch, and Neuro-Sensory-Motor Reflex Integration methods (MNRI). The clients who walk through my door are not looking to be "fixed" with more "go...go...go” but rather to "connect" to a slower, and softer sense of self. I want you to look forward to “Jenna days” as a series of exhaling release valves.

The world is currently facing unprecedented challenges that can cause an immense amount of mental health stress. I specialize in coercive control, narcissistic abuse, and covert abuse. I have training in CBT and DBT, specializing in understanding behavioral reactions and urges. Please get in touch with me to discuss the treatment that matches your emotional, mental, and financial needs.

We all struggle at times in our lives. Perhaps the root of that suffering is clear: a loss, a trauma, a life transition, or an illness. Sometimes the suffering is known; we know we feel anxious or depressed, but we are unsure of the cause. Perhaps we know in our hearts we are repeating patterns in relationships, work, behaviors or lifestyle that no longer serve us, yet we can't quite get unstuck. As a psychotherapist I guide my clients in a collaborative way to a place of connection, understanding, integration and growth.

You want to be heard and understood by your partner. To feel connected again. To be more loving toward each other and yourself. You want to feel more confident, really change old patterns and try new things that lead to personal growth. Therapy is a commitment to hope and possibility! It's an important step you can take when you want to live from the best in you, with more happiness, purpose, and a deeper connection to your sacred self. You'll feel supported and challenged in therapy. And therapy is work! But it can lead to beautiful transformation of your relationship with yourself and others. Ready to make the changes you desire?

Treating: Anxiety/Depression,Loss/Grief,Survivors of Suicide Loss,Homophobia,Racism,Anti Semitism,Sexism,Compulsions,Fantasies,Communication,Shame,Obsessions,Sexuality, Substance MisUse,Intimacy,Hopelessness,Mens’ Oppression,& Loneliness. I facilitate processing feelings. For example, crying/sadness, is a natural, healing response to a hurt. Many early care givers were uncomfortable with our crying, which shut us down. My feelings based therapy facilitates healing from old, (or current) unprocessed emotional (or physical) hurts. Unprocessed hurts underlie obsessions/compulsions, substance mis-use, isolation, anxiety/depression.

I am a creative by heart, and a counselor by trade. It is my pleasure to hold space for people as they seek to get to know themselves better and learn how to best solve their own problems. I am a firm believer that deep down, people know what is right for them, and they know how to solve their own problems. My job as a counselor is to help you remove the layers of cultural conditioning, negative self-talk, trauma memories, and more to help you get reconnected with your self. My goal is to stand beside you as we examine barriers, explore possibilities, and help you find your inner strength to fight any battles that come your way.