Jennifer Bielenberg (she/her)

My Approach to Helping

As a bisexual/queer therapist, I recognize that aspects of privileged and marginalized identities are both visible and invisible. I aim to create a safe environment for my clients who have experienced oppression, discrimination, and prejudice based on aspects of their identity. The spirit of my therapeutic approach is deeply relational and egalitarian, and informed by social justice and culturally responsive care. I value the context of your life and learning history, including unique aspects of your identity, adaptive coping skills and strengths, and acknowledging the harmful impacts of hostile, oppressive, and/or discriminatory experiences and systems that may have contributed to your suffering. I bring an embodied, relational presence to our sessions. I will empower you to connect to your deeper sense of knowing, learn to flow with your inner experiences, and live a meaningful life, on your terms.

Why I Became a Therapist

When I started my graduate training, I hoped that my education would teach transcendence - at the time, I secretly hoped that meant not having to feel anything uncomfortable! As my training progressed, and both past and present life struggles appeared, I employed all of my familiar strategies to fight them. The harder I worked to try and achieve my way out of my own discomfort, I experienced how unworkable that effort became, and transcendence began to take on a new meaning - letting go of the struggle for control, being in compassionate presence with difficult emotions, and allowing for deep vulnerability. As I opened up to the flow of my own experience and full humanity, I made changes I never would have thought possible at the beginning of the long road to becoming a therapist - and I'm here to help you do the same!