My identity as a psychotherapist has developed through the intersection of academic training, clinical experience, and formative personal and professional moments that clarified how I want to work and with whom. A pivotal influence came through my involvement in PTA Council parent education events in collaboration with a local mental health clinic. While many students were receiving support in school, I noticed that meaningful change was often limited when the family system itself remained unaddressed. This realization drew me toward work with youth and families and continues to shape my clinical perspective. My background in cognitive science initially grounded me in a cognitive-behavioral understanding of the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Through graduate training and clinical work, that foundation expanded to include family systems, psychodynamic, narrative, DBT, mindfulness, somatic, and expressive arts approaches. In practice, my Practicum training has immersed me in Pamela Parkinson’s Pain in the Heart framework, which emphasizes understanding the relational and emotional roots of suffering within family systems. These influences have led me to an integrative stance that prioritizes relational context, emotional expression, and flexibility in meeting each client’s unique needs.
Below are a few pieces I created in my Expressive Arts Therapy class, which was especially impactful on my development as a therapist.
Jennifer Sheridan 