catherine Jensen, LPC
founder of cJC
Over the past fifteen years as a licensed professional counselor, I have developed extensive professional experience working with adults, couples and adolescents in therapy. I am deeply committed to providing effective treatment to individuals and families regardless of race, ethnicity, spiritual/religious identification, gender identity, age or sexual orientation. I continue to pursue ongoing post-graduate training on topics related to cultural competency.
A specialty in my practice is working with individuals seeking healing from past trauma. This could be childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, combat, loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship. Sometimes, this means the trauma of growing up in a highly dysfunctional or narcissistic family system, or the trauma of early attachment disruption (through adoption, divorce or early loss of a parent).
I have completed Level II training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based trauma therapy. I often utilize EMDR with clients wanting to address specific traumatic memories or paralyzing/overwhelming fears.
Education: I graduated with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology in 2010 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Trinity Western University in 2006. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado (#0013123) and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Washington (#LH60336410).
I am a member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (www.isst-d.org) and EMDRIA (www.emdria.org) and am deeply committed to my continued education in the field.
#0013123, CO
#LH60336410, WA
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depression
anxiety
relationship dissatisfaction
addiction
trauma & dissociation
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
childhood sexual abuse recovery
areas of focus
philosophy & APPROACH
STRENGTH BASED
RELATIONAL
BODY BASED
MINDFUL
I approach therapy from a strengths-based perspective, meaning that I believe strongly in your inner resiliency, however weakened or non-existent it may seem to be when you first reach out to a therapist. I view therapy as a space to get more in touch with and grow the capacities for interpersonal relating, emotional regulation, adaptive coping, and the ability to love. In therapy, we explore which coping skills and defenses are working for you, and which ones are causing more harm or pain than good.
I approach therapy from the belief that our earliest relationships impacted how we love and allow ourselves to be loved into adulthood. Therefore, therapy often includes an exploration of your childhood, and how family dynamics have impacted your current style of relating and sense of identity. This exploration is by no means all of therapy. But it often is a part.
I believe that, as physician Bessel van der Kolk says, "the body keeps the score." Meaning, our bodies hold our traumatic memories, our stress and fear. Our emotional health is directly tied to how in tune we are with our body. Emotions and feelings states are physical experiences, and in therapy I encourage clients to become attuned to what their body is telling them.
As a therapist, my work is heavily influenced by attachment theory and object relations theory. I am primarily trained as a psychodynamic therapist. I incorporate Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) into work with clients, when appropriate and desired. I tailor my approach carefully to each client's unique needs and therapy goals. I approach our work together with an attitude of curiosity and hope.
