Jennifer Gustafson

I originally earned my B.F.A. in Film from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. I worked in the industry for several years until I was diagnosed with an eye condition that would severely limit my driving. I then started a jewelry company with my mother, which we ran successfully for about 15 years. After getting married and having two children, I became a certified Pilates trainer. I worked with individual clients and taught group reformer classes. When my daughters were a little older and more independent, I decided to return to school to get my Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have always been drawn to psychology and to helping others and so it felt like the next natural step forward. I attended Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA. and did my one year internship at the Cancer Support Community also in Pasadena. I gained a lot of experience working with individuals and groups, providing therapy around cancer diagnoses, treatment, caretaking, and grief/loss. Since graduation I have been working in private practice with a wide range of populations, ages, and challenges.

Each person is unique and I believe that therapy should be tailored to fit each individual client within a safe, trusting, empathetic, nonjudgmental and collaborative relationship. My client is the expert. My job is to walk alongside my clients and to gently guide them in finding a more positive and healthier path forward toward self-compassion and self-acceptance.

​I believe that trauma is at the root of most mental/emotional challenges. Trauma can be very damaging to the self but it does not have to define who we are. The mind is very complicated. Sometimes it feels like we cannot control it. Our body remembers things that sometimes our rational brain does not. No amount of reasoning can make those uncontrollable emotions subside. We react emotionally to triggers we don’t even recognize or understand. Therapy can help us to identify those triggers. Psychoeducation can help us to understand how the brain works so that we can work towards healing the deep shame and feelings of unworthiness that are trying to shield us against a threat that may no longer exist. Our brains are wired to protect us against danger at all costs and it doesn’t always realize that the threat is gone. Sometimes we must go beyond talk therapy to heal these wounds.

I would define my approach as eclectic. I have studied many different modalities and I am always learning new ones. I like to pull from different areas to fit my client's needs. I work from an emphatic lens but I am also trained in some very effective evidence based interventions, such as EMDR. No single approach works for everyone all of the time. I can help you to process and heal without having to relive the trauma over and over again. We all have what we need inside ourselves to heal and together we will work to bring that unique, strong, loving self back to the surface.

Our first session will be about getting to know each other. It will be an opportunity for you to explain what you are looking for and what you would like to accomplish in our sessions together. The fit is arguably the most important component to successful therapy. It will be your chance to gauge whether you feel safe enough to continue with me. I am very client driven and it is very important to me that you feel comfortable. With safety comes vulnerability which then leads to healing.