Jennifer Padilla,

LCMHC-A, LCAS-A

(she/her/hers)

My own experience with marginalization in its many forms including race, sex, and class helped pave the way for my own journey of healing and wellbeing. I empathize with experiences of fear, othering, anger, and grief because that has been a part of my story. This has helped cultivate my deep sense of compassion for the hurts and wounds we carry; and I find myself humbled by the strength and resilience each person is capable of. I believe that by gaining understanding and compassion for ourselves and our wounds, our innate healing capacity can begin to emerge.

I utilize a combination of approaches that I know to be effective personally and from my work with clients.  These include inner child work, acceptance and commitment therapy, schema therapy, EMDR, mindfulness, and psychoeducation that leans heavily on experiential and attachment frameworks. I will partner with you to help you explore and identify your goals, ultimately equipping you with the tools to meet your own valid needs. Having done my own healing work, I recognize the courage and vulnerability it takes to be here. I won’t ask you to do anything I haven’t done myself. Some of my other specialties include process and behavioral addictions, developmental and attachment trauma, co-dependency, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.

My professional experience includes working in both private and non-profit agencies in a variety of settings including inpatient, outpatient, and with mandated populations. I have received direct training and supervision from leaders in the field of mental health and regularly attend supervision and consultation for ongoing professional development. I am dually licensed as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor-A and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist-A in the state of North Carolina. I received a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University in 2020 and have been working in the mental health field for over 8 years.