Hi, I’m jenna
I’m a licensed clinical social worker in the greater Philadelphia area, and am licensed to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
With over ten years of social work experience, my clinical background includes work in prisons, community mental health, employee wellness, grief and bereavement, and diversity and inclusion. I also have extensive experience facilitating psychoeducational and support groups. Some of my non-clinical social work experience has been in policy development, voter rights, and volunteer engagement.
Before deciding on social work as a career, I worked in corporate finance and insurance. Wanting to more directly serve others, I signed up to spend two years serving in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. I lived and worked across the country addressing the most urgent needs of local communities. The majority of my time was focused on rebuilding New Orleans and the greater Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. Not only did I pick up some impressive home construction skills, I also saw the power of showing up, holding space, and truly listening to those going through challenges.
These experiences have only deepened my curiosity in others’ stories, and informs my perspective and therapeutic approach. My biggest goal is to support you in living better. Reach out to discuss how we can do this together.
Why do I specialize in pet loss?
I have loved animals since I was a little kid and said goodbye to many pets throughout my life. Nothing has been as tough as saying goodbye to my greyhound, Finn. He passed away in the summer of 2021 after a catastrophic injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He was a very special boy, and I continue to do this work to honor him and support others in similar situations.
Even before Finn passed away, I had been leading pet loss groups and meeting one-on-one with pet loss clients at UPenn’s veterinary hospital. I’ve learned that there is healing in talking about a beloved pet, learning ways to cope with the different ways grief manifests itself, and figuring out how to move forward. We never truly “get over” a loss, but we can see our intense and difficult emotions lessen over time as we process and work on healing.