Hello
Hi! I'm Jenifer Foster (Jen). I am excited to work with you. I've been working very hard to find balance, wellness and happiness in my own life, and I enjoy helping people find that for themselves. I believe that everyone has road blocks to happiness, whether it be from their history, biology, mental health, environment, financial, or some other realm. But, I enjoy partnering with people to learn what those challenges are, and help people find a way to work through them.
My Story
I have almost twenty years of experience working in different capacities within the District partnering with people to find a way to thrive despite the challenges they face. I have worked with clients who faced homelessness, psychiatric crisis, substance use disorders, trauma, and grief. I have worked with clients with a multitude of backgrounds, and believe strongly that every client is unique. My race, gender, sexual orientation, culture, age, economic situation, religion, and spirituality might be the same or different than your own; however, I firmly believe that I cannot understand what your life is like without you telling me. I also can't know what might work for you unless we are working together to figure that out. In that way, ensuring that we are working well together and that you feel heard and understood is of primary importance to me.
As much as I believe in working through the challenges of our past, I also like to help people find what brings them joy in the present. We experience so much throughout our lives. Trauma, grief, mental health and physical health can sometimes start to feel that it defines us. But, you are so much more than one (or a series of) events in your life. Every life has periods of hardship and struggle and periods of joy and light. Let's work to find the light, even while working through the pain. Also, I like to explore the eight pillars of wellness with my clients: physical, emotional, social, career, financial, intellectual, environmental and spiritual. Are you where you want to be within each pillar? If not, how do we help you get closer (and balance amongst them).
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In therapy, I pull from a number of areas. I believe strongly in being strengths-based and trying to focus on positive psychology. I have eclectic training in trauma, including pulling on rational-emotive therapy, cognitive-behavioral, psycho-dynamic, somatic and meditation/mindfulness. I have some training in EMDR, Family Systems, and polyvagal theories, and Acceptance and Commitment therapy. While I have used philosophies taken from each, they have never been my primary approach.
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Clients have told me that I am thoughtful, direct, diplomatic and no-nonsense.
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We offer individual, couples, and group counseling. We also conduct wellness retreats. Please contact us for more information.