Jenna Pettit

Hi, I’m Jenna! I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who works with adolescents and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, and challenging life experiences. I have experience providing therapy across school-based, outpatient, and community mental health settings, working with clients with a wide range of needs and backgrounds.

I’m especially passionate about working with adolescents and individuals who have experienced complex trauma, attachment wounds, or difficulty regulating their emotions and relationships. I’m naturally curious about what lies beneath our behaviors and patterns. Rather than only focusing on symptoms, I want to understand how your experiences have shaped the way you see yourself, connect with others, and navigate the world.

I tend to use Motivational Interviewing as a foundation for my work and integrate CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, Narrative Therapy, and attachment-based interventions based on each client’s individual needs. My approach is trauma-informed, attachment-focused, and collaborative. I believe therapy should be tailored to the person rather than expecting the person to fit into one particular therapeutic approach.

Most importantly, I want therapy to feel human. I bring warmth, curiosity, authenticity, compassion, and humor into the room while creating space for both acceptance and growth. My goal is for you to feel genuinely seen and understood while gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, developing healthier ways of coping and connecting, and creating meaningful change in your life.

I believe some of the most meaningful work in therapy happens when we become curious about ourselves instead of judgmental. I spend time helping clients recognize patterns in their emotions, relationships, and behaviors and understand where those patterns may have come from. Sometimes that means exploring earlier experiences and relationships; other times, it means focusing on what is happening in your life right now and developing practical ways to cope with it.

I tend to follow my clients’ pace rather than coming into the room with a predetermined agenda. Some sessions may involve deeper reflection and processing, while others may focus on problem-solving, learning new skills, or simply having a safe place to work through a difficult week. I’m engaged and active in sessions—I’ll ask questions, offer observations, teach skills, and gently point out patterns when I notice them.

I also value authenticity in the therapeutic relationship. You can expect warmth, compassion, curiosity, and humor when appropriate, along with someone who is willing to gently challenge you when it may help you grow. My goal isn’t to tell you how to live your life, but to help you understand yourself more deeply and feel more confident making choices that are meaningful to you.

Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin understanding what brought you to therapy. I’ll ask about what you’ve been experiencing, important relationships and life experiences, what has or hasn’t helped in the past, and what you hope will be different as a result of therapy. You don’t need to come prepared with all the answers or feel pressured to share anything before you’re ready.

We’ll begin identifying goals together, but I also recognize that sometimes people come to therapy knowing something needs to change without knowing exactly what that change looks like yet. That’s okay—we can figure it out together. I want our first session to feel more like a conversation than an interview. By the end, my hope is that you feel heard, have a better sense of what working together might look like, and feel comfortable deciding whether I’m the right therapist for you.