Hello! I am Jen G and I am a registered therapist.
Areas of Expertise
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Self-Harm
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Suicidal Ideation
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Safety Planning
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Anger/Rage
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Aggression
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Anxiety
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Depression
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OCD
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Trauma
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Dissociation
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Grief and Loss
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Understanding Adolescent Brain Development
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School Refusal/Attendance
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Parent/Teen Relationships
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Interpersonal Relationships
25 Years Experience in Adolescent Mental Health
Maximum Security Custody/Detention/Secure Treatment for Youth; Youth Minimum Security Custody/Detention; In-Patient Residential Treatment Therapy; Day Treatment Therapy (High School); High-Risk Forensic Therapy (Homicidal/Suicidal Youth); Child and Adolescent Services - Individual and Family Therapy; Fire Setting Prevention Therapy; In-Patient Medium Security Forensics (Hospital); School Social Work (High School) and Alternative Education School Programs (including reducing suspensions and expulsions.)
Who Am I?
Therapy starts out unfair right from the start. You are expected to share, when you know nothing about me! I want you to feel safe and comfortable. So here's some information about my path here to get us started.
My therapy model gives the unsaid a voice, because I know what it feels like to be mislabelled, misunderstood and lose hope.
I am highly sensitive and very intuitive and can relate to those with big feelings. I am also heavily impacted by the environment and other people's feelings, often experiencing overwhelming levels of empathy.
I had to learn to be careful about noticing what feelings are actually mine, and what ones are not!
As a teenager, I got into a lot of trouble and had problems with anger and self-harm. I became very curious about the way people behave, including myself - so I started studying emotions and mental health. I noticed that the more awareness I developed, the more mental health gains I made.
So I kept studying and practicing...
Talk therapy alone did not work for me. It was discouraging. But over time, I figured out that integrating my mind and body through awareness, sound, and movement with how my brain works became the most effective means to learn about, get to know, and find healing from my own personal lived experience with trauma.
As a trained dancer, both competitively and professionally, I found creative ways to breathe, move, and listen to my inner self to de-stress. I always felt better after I 'kicked' or 'jumped' the stress away! I discovered the benefits of attending to the body to express and release deep and difficult feelings that talking just can't get at.
With increased awareness, I now spend time outside moving as a means to self-soothe. Nature is always a place of safety for me. I travel, hike, take in the trails nearby, often visiting waterfronts - sometimes just to sit in stillness and listen. I find peace in my connection with animals and living things like plants and even bugs! And music makes my soul smile, every single time, every single day.
I bring my experiences with me and combine lived experience with professional, educated, evidence based treatment. Therapy is my way of giving back to teenagers in need because I was one. On my journey, I became the adult I needed. Now I would be honoured to pass on the skills I have, to you.