Holistic Jungian therapist specializing in trauma and relationships
“I will look for the flowers by the side of the road; I will laugh and love and be strong. I will try to lighten another’s load this day as I fare along”. –MARY S. EDGAR
Hello! Welcome to BetterHelp! My name is Jen and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC, #004782) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). I have over 18 years of experience providing both mental health and addictions therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups. My Master’s degree is in Community Mental Health Counseling, Addictions Counseling, and Marriage and Family Therapy (2009), and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Family Studies (2006). I have worked in multiple settings, including shelters, community mental health centers, schools, and private practices. Since becoming a counselor, clients, such as yourself, have come to me for a lot of different things, including depression, anxiety, trauma (particularly in the areas of childhood abuse, domestic violence, religious trauma, and first responder and military trauma), family and social relationships, self-esteem, and substance abuse.
My therapeutic approach is mainly from family systems theory, which summed up says “we are not islands”. We are influenced by the world, or the “systems” around us starting from birth (and even before). These systems influence how we see the world and how we make decisions. When things happen to us (good or bad), our system shapes how it affects us and what our reaction turns out to be. I also “borrow” concepts from other theories, such as taking unhealthy beliefs about oneself and changing them into healthier patterns to reduce negative feelings, providing supports, a quick solutions-focused treatment (when it fits the goal), mindfulness and hands-on activities, and emotions regulation techniques. I am also EMDRIA-trained in EMDR, specialized for telehealth, and will provide EMDR treatment to clients found to be appropriate and motivated.
I see counseling as a didactic relationship, or in other words, a journey we take together. You are the “expert” of you. Your individualized counseling experience should be focused on what you want and your goals. My job is to help “guide” or “lead” you in achieving those goals, while you continue to actively participate and do your best to reach your goals. I will support you as you do so. It’s like we build a house together. I am responsible for the frame and structure of the house; while you get to fill the rest of it in, make it look the way you want it to, and in the end, turn it into the home you want it to look like.
Starting counseling can produce negative feelings, such as worry or fear; but part of the journey we go on is to work on processing those feelings together right from the start. I want to provide a safe environment for you that is warm, respectful, trauma-informed, and meets your individual needs. I look forward to meeting you should I get to do that. Thank you for taking the time to look at my page!
Licensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Jennifer Ricci is a New York-based licensed mental health counselor and a certified clinical trauma professional with 18 years of experience providing both mental health and addictions therapy. She holds a master’s degree focused on community mental health counseling, addictions counseling, and marriage and family therapy (2009) and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and family studies (2006). She works with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Her practice experience spans shelters, community mental health centers, schools, and private practices. People seek her support for concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma – such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, religious trauma, and first responder or military-related trauma – as well as substance use, self-esteem, family and social relationship difficulties, grief, and coping with life changes. Her areas of specialty also include relationship issues, intimacy-related problems, eating disorders, stress, addictions, LGBT matters, family conflict, and compassion fatigue.
Therapeutically she centers her work in family systems theory – the idea that individuals are shaped by the networks and systems around them – and integrates concepts from other approaches to meet each person’s needs. That integration can include shifting unhelpful beliefs toward healthier patterns, brief solution-focused strategies when appropriate, mindfulness practices, hands-on activities, and emotion regulation skills. She is EMDRIA-trained in EMDR adapted for telehealth and offers EMDR treatment to clients who are appropriate and motivated.
Jennifer describes counseling as a collaborative, instructional journey: the client is the expert on their own life while she provides guidance, structure, and support. She aims to help people set and reach goals while actively participating in the therapeutic process. Beginning therapy can bring up worry or fear, and she addresses those feelings from the outset, cultivating a warm, respectful, trauma-informed environment tailored to individual needs. She welcomes the opportunity to meet and support those who choose to begin this work.
Many people wonder whether remote therapy truly helps. For a range of common concerns – including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and life transitions – online therapy has been shown to be comparable in effectiveness to traditional in-person care.
One major benefit is convenience and flexibility. Clients can choose the mode of connection that best fits their needs and comfort: video sessions, phone appointments, live chat, or in-app messaging. This flexibility often makes it easier to maintain regular sessions amid busy schedules.
Therapy delivered online is provided by licensed professionals, and if someone feels a different match would work better they may switch therapists at any time. For many people seeking support for typical mental health and relationship concerns, online therapy is a practical and effective option that can be integrated into everyday life.
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