Individual & Couples Therapy in Santa Monica, CA
People often reach out when they realize they’re not the same person they used to be…or not who they thought they would be at this point in their life. They’ve been carrying pressure that’s built up over time, and it no longer feels manageable.
What they’re dealing with starts to show up as harsh self-criticism, burnout, or irritability - in their mood, their relationships, their work, and how they see themselves.
At some point, there’s an unwillingness to keep tolerating it, especially when it begins to affect the parts of life that matter most.
Clarification → Relief → Agency
When things start to make sense, the intensity often eases. People are usually able to step back from harsh self-judgment and see their reactions as learned, automatic ways of coping, not personal failures.
That understanding creates space to notice patterns as they’re happening, and to make more intentional choices around boundaries, communication, and decision-making, rather than reacting out of panic or self-doubt.
Anxiety, overthinking, and constant self-criticism
Career burnout and leadership pressure
Relationship challenges, breakups, and transitions
Family dynamics and boundary issues
Identity shifts and major life changes
Pre-marital stress and relationship pressure
Areas I Commonly Work With
I work from an attachment-focused, relational, and psychodynamic perspective. This means I’m especially attuned to patterns - how they’ve developed, how they show up in relationships, and how they’re playing out in your life right now.
Our work is collaborative and reflective. We spend time talking through what’s coming up, paying attention to emotional responses, relationships, and moments that feel charged or familiar, so you can better understand what’s driving your reactions and decisions…and begin responding with more intention.
My Approach
About
I’m Jen, an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist based in Santa Monica, CA. I work with adults and couples navigating high-pressure phases of life - often where work demands, relationships, and long-standing family dynamics intersect.
My work is informed by experience in high-pressure environments and by clinical training that emphasizes depth, clarity, and relational understanding. I’m especially drawn to working with people who are capable and self-aware, but feeling worn down by stress, self-criticism, or patterns that no longer feel sustainable.
In our work together, my aim is to help you make sense of what’s happening beneath the surface so you can engage with your life and relationships with more steadiness and self-trust.
Get in Touch
If you’re interested in working together, you’re welcome to reach out to schedule a consultation.
I believe that we all have the ability to shift course, even when it feels messy or uncertain. You don’t have to keep settling for what isn’t working.