About Jennifer
Meet Jennifer
Jennifer is a psychotherapist with 35 years of experience in the mental health field, and is an expert in therapy with individuals, couples and families. Her primary focus currently is her work with individuals. She also specializes in providing psychotherapy for clinicians who seek personal growth and healing through their own therapy.
She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker in the state of Iowa. She serves as adjunct faculty for the Social Work graduate program at the University of Iowa, and has been a published author for over 25 years, including a popular, nationally distributed column published by Gannett News Syndicate.
a focus on emotion
A focus of her work is the “biology and biography of emotion in the human experience;” more specifically, understanding and regulating the power of our emotional system to guide behavior, and effect change.
An understanding of the importance of the emotional system is fairly new in the field of psychotherapy. For many decades the spotlight has been on cognition in psychotherapy. With this newer awareness, we recognize what we “feel” is as important — even more motivating — than what we “know.” It requires serious consideration.
Giving this serious consideration to emotions, for over two decades Jennifer has studied the seminal work of Silvan S. Tomkins, as well as current thinkers in the field of affect psychology and neuroscience.
She incorporates this knowledge in her work, helping patients, students and readers to benefit from grounded thinking in psychotherapy, as well as her own professional experience.
Jennifer was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela to American parents - a teacher and a geologist. She moved to the US at age 5 with her parents and younger brother. This formative start living in a Latin America culture shaped her sensitivity, empathic warmth, and high value for inclusivity. Later combined with the Midwestern sensibility for hard work, fairness and clear-eyed thinking, she brings these values to bear in her work. She graduated from Northwestern University (BA) and the University of Iowa (MSW). She currently resides, teaches and practices in Des Moines, Iowa. Jennifer has two adult sons.
