Find a therapist in California — covered by insurance

My name is Jeffrey W. Danese, MS, MA, LMHC, LPCC, and I am a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State and California, currently based in Sacramento. I bring over 15 years of clinical experience across private practice, inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, and college counseling, along with a an academic background teaching psychology, religious studies, and the history of science in higher education from UCSB, FSU, and 10 years at SJSU to various community colleges in the Puget Sound region and in North Florida and cross-cultural experiences such as living in Taiwan, Zambia, Germany and traveling around the world; I studied Spanish, German, and Chinese language, world history and religions, psychology, evolutionary psychology and the cognitive science of religion; was raised Catholic but ordained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand; and continue to meditate, explore and read broadly. One of my favorite quotes is by the Roman writer, Terence: "I am human and there is nothing human foreign to me." (or, Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto. -- Publius Terentius Afer, 165 BCE)

I am Jennifer Ferguson. I knew I wanted to be a therapist when I was 13. After college, I was a teacher on and off-interspersed with staying home with children. While completing my counseling degree from Capella University, I was still able to stay at home with my children. I have worked at a drug rehab center for women, a small private school as their mental health therapist, at a mental health hospital outpatient program, and in private practice, virtually and in-person.

I believe therapy should feel like a space where you can finally exhale. I strive to create an environment that is supportive, honest, and free of judgment; a place where you feel truly seen and emotionally safe. My approach is collaborative and practical. I don’t just help you understand why you feel the way you do; I help you build real tools to navigate it.

I earned my degree from Cal State Fullerton and have extensive experience working in addiction treatment, eating disorder recovery, and women’s issues. Supporting women is especially meaningful to me. I am deeply passionate about helping women navigate challenges related to self-worth, body image, relationships, boundaries, life transitions, and identity. I understand how trauma, societal expectations, and relational dynamics can shape how women see themselves, and I approach this work with both compassion and clarity.

Together, we focus on strengthening mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills in ways that feel realistic and sustainable. I blend insight-oriented exploration with concrete strategies, because meaningful change happens when insight meets action. My goal is to help you better understand your patterns, feel more confident managing your emotions, and move forward with greater clarity, self-trust, and resilience.

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT 123208. I worked as a teacher and decided to go back to school and continue my education, to enable me to work with families, couples and individuals in a therapeutic setting. My focus is family, marriage and couples counseling. I have experience working with families that have unconventional lifestyles. In addition, I have experience working with couples, teens, groups and children. I have worked with the school district as a mental health counselor, as well as conducted group therapy in all settings. I am trained in Gottman Method for Couples and Bariatric Assessment certified.

•Couples Counseling •Specialization in Gottman Method and Sex Therapy. Individual Adult, Tween & Teen Counseling •Anger Management, ADHD, ADD. Certified Bariatric Assessments. Supervision for Interns. Family Therapy, and court appointed therapist for Reunification Therapy.

I believe that each individual has a purpose and that sometimes we need assistance in finding our purpose. Let me help you find your own purpose or regain focus on your life's path to feeling satisfied in the life you are living. I am available via online or in person and licensed in California and Arizona.