Hi, I’m Jena
(she/her)
I’m a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) and the founder of Vibrant Life Counseling.
As a sensitive, introspective, and emotional person, I value doing work that I find meaningful and impactful. I get to live this value every day as a therapist and it. is. amazing. Getting to sit with my clients as they sort through their pain, reconnect with themselves, and start making positive changes is one of the greatest honors of my life.
But this wasn’t always my reality - being a therapist is a second career for me. Before I was helping my badass clients to thrive, I was doing the corporate America thing for about 6 years. I was the most miserable I’ve ever been. My life looked ideal to other people and was exactly what I thought I wanted. I felt so confused about that for a long time - I did all the things, had all the ingredients, and followed the recipe. So why wasn’t it adding up?
Education + Marriage + House + 9-5 Job = Happy???
Ultimately, it came down to the reality that I was not using my gifts and strengths in my work. It turns out, that’s pretty important to my happiness and wellbeing. Instead, I was dimming my authentic self to fit in, move up, and make money (for the record: I accomplished none of these things).
Dimming myself didn’t just affect my professional life, it seeped into everything. Eventually I reached a breaking point and realized something had to change. So, I did the scariest thing I’ve ever done: I quit my full time job (+benefits!), went back to school to get my master’s degree in counseling, and started my private therapy practice. That one sentence makes it sound simple and easy but, trust me, it was the most challenging season of my life by far. It was 100% worth it.
I share my story because it’s what changed my life and allowed me to see that change is always possible (yes, even for you). If you’re in a place where your life isn’t what you want it to be and you can’t see the path forward - please know that I get it. Therapy empowered me to make the changes I needed to make and therapy can do the same thing for you. Pursuing positive growth and change isn’t easy but it’s almost always worth it. If you’re ready to put in the work, I’m ready to jump in with you.
Outside of the Office
You’ll typically find me:
Spending quality time with friends and family
Playing board games or video games
Hiking
Checking out a local brewery/winery
Hanging out with my two cats, Nimbus and Talli
Reading
Bingeing a new TV show
Crafting
What to expect in therapy
(with me)
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A judgment-free space for therapy is essential. I prioritize setting aside my own values, beliefs, and assumptions so that I can focus on seeing things from your perspective and from within your context. Basically, I practice empathy (putting myself in your shoes) in a really intentional way. Sitting with another human being who is conveying safety and care is a powerful form of healing.
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The people in your life may intend to be objective and unbiased when you’re sharing with them about a problem. At the same time, these are people you have relationships with and that is always going to impact how they respond, what kind of advice they give, and how supportive they will be. It’s almost impossible for people to bracket their opinions and preferences if they’re not specially trained to do so. Talking to someone who is removed from your life, that has your best interest at heart, and has nothing to gain from any certain outcome is one of the best ways to work through our struggles. In therapy, I offer my thoughts and guidance but I ultimately support you in making the decisions that are best for you.
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One of the many reasons I decided to become a therapist is because I’ve been there. I’ve struggled with anxiety. I’ve had to work through patterns of perfectionism and people-pleasing. I believe that this makes me uniquely qualified to help others who are still wading through these waters. Making changes is hard! But I know it’s possible because I’ve done it myself and now focus my professional work in specializing in these issues. I describe myself as “in recovery” from perfectionism and people-pleasing because it’s a life-long practice and journey. There is no magic cure or “fix.” True change comes from understanding yourself, understanding your past (especially your early relationships), and finding clarity around how these patterns have emerged and served you over time. Building this kind of insight and awareness allows you to practice doing things differently and to start creating new, healthier patterns in your life. So, I’ll bring my knowledge and experience, you bring your expertise on what it’s like to be you, and together we’ll create a plan to move you forward.
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When most people think about therapy they envision getting to talk about their feelings and being validated endlessly by a compassionate therapist. While this is part of therapy, it’s definitely not all there is to it! One of the most valuable parts of therapy is working with someone who can hold up the metaphorical mirror, allowing you to build awareness of your own patterns and behaviors that keep you stuck. While it’s never fun to face up to our own shortcomings, it’s essential to true growth and change. My style as a therapist is to empathize, validate, and hold you in positive regard while also being honest and forthright about what I’m seeing.
Therapeutic
Modalities & Approach
Person-Centered
Attachment-Focused
Trauma-Informed
Polyvagal Theory
S.A.F.E. EMDR
Mindfulness & Meditation Practices
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Mindful Self-Compassion
Feminist Therapy
Non-Directive
Credentials
Licensure, Education, & Training
Licensure:
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
License #15749 - North Carolina
Education:
Master of Science in Counseling
UNC Greensboro (2020)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
UNC Greensboro (2014)
Clinical Training:
S.A.F.E EMDR 6-Day Basic Training (August/September 2024)
DBT Skills with Marsha Linehan (May 2024)
Increasing Therapeutic Effectiveness Through Treatment Planning (March 2024)
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) for Attachment Trauma: Transforming Psychological Wounds for Adult Clients Traumatized as Children (September 2023)
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (March 2023)
Beyond the Binary: Cultural Competency in Working With Gender Expansive Clients (January 2023)
Introduction to Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders (June 2022)
Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DAREe) Module 2 (April 2022)
Introduction to Eating Disorders Workshop (March 2022)
Dynamic Attachment Repatterning Experience (DARe) Module 1 (February 2022)
Exposure and Response Prevention (January 2022)
OCD or Something Else? Navigating Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Assessments (November 2021)
Intensive Trauma Treatment Certification Workshop: EMDR, CBT and Somatic-Based Interventions to Move Clients from Surviving to Thriving (July 2021)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Beginners (July 2021)
Motivational Interviewing for Anxiety (February 2021)