AMFT # 110372

I'm a mother, partner, artist, mover, forever student, yogi, grief, depression and anxiety survivor.  I value connection, respect, inner reflection, playfulness, collaboration, and creating a life of honesty and purpose.

Jennifer J.D. Villena

I pronounce my last name "Vill- Yena" and use she/ her pronouns.  

My Approach

I have a holistic approach: I focus on all dimensions of your experience — cognitive, creative, energetic, physical, emotional, and spiritual.

In our work, I utilize Person-Centered, Relational, Attachment Styles, Cognitive Behavioral, and Psychodynamic therapies as foundations to help facilitate insight into your experience, while using expressive arts and mindfulness exercises to support the process. 

As a minority, I understand the social and generational issues involved with being a minority in the United States.  I am eager to help those with difficulty finding their place and voice using expressive arts therapy to express emotions and promote education towards understanding.

I am aware of the stigma involved in seeking mental health assistance and strive to educate on the importance of attaining quality mental health care in diverse communities. I want to provide support towards overall all mental, emotional, social balance, and health. I believe I can bring a unique set of knowledge and experience and gain a wealth of experience working with you. I am your witness, mentor, coach,  and companion along your exploration.  My highest priority is to remind you; you are not alone.  

My Path

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Through my creative self-exploration and therapy I was able to embrace the beauty and challenges of being a girl, woman, partner, and mother; and accept my childhood and adolescent experiences as an American-Filipina. 

I was born in the midwest from immigrant parents and lived most of my life in the bay area; as I matured, I found myself lost in different cultures as I struggled to form an identity of my own. I grew up looking different and feeling different.  I have a large scar on my face and struggled with my appearance and self-esteem issues. 

Art, movement and mindfulness played a vital role in helping me to get in touch with my feelings and emotions, gain confidence, and self-acceptance.  It became essential for me to help others who also struggle to express themselves, gain self-understanding, to develop their own identities and help them to accept themselves just as they are. 

As a mother, I strongly feel mental, physical health treatment should be aligned and widely accepted. I understand the importance of access to care, education, family, and child development. I live to be an advocate for teens with mental health concerns, helping to promote and improve their needs, especially in mindfulness and expressive arts. 

I hope to introduce expressive arts therapy to teens, adults, and older adults, to enrich mind-body dialog, connection and awareness.

Education

• Masters in Counseling Psychology - Expressive Arts, John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, CA

• 200-Hour Teacher Training, YogaWorks, Walnut Creek, CA

• Bachelors in Arts, Business Management, Saint Marys College of California, Moraga, CA 

Work Experience

• Associate Marriage Family Therapist/Program Manager, Institute of Mindful Therapy Walnut Creek, CA

• Expressive Arts Therapist, Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center, Martinez, CA 

• MFT Trainee, Contra Costa County Older Adults Mental Health, Concord, CA 

• Children's Yoga Instructor, Walnut Country Clubhouse, Concord, CA 

• Children's Yoga Instructor, Rail Road Book Depot, City of Pittsburgh, CA

Organizations

• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists - CAMFT

• East Bay California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists - EBCAMFT

• International Expressive Arts Therapy Association - IEATA

• Northern California Art Therapy Association - Nor Cata