Hello! My name is Jennifer Merva and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Long Beach, California. I have 5 years of experience providing direct therapy to children, youth and families with a variety of presenting issues including stress, anxiety and depression, low motivation and self-esteem, grief and loss and relationship and family issues.
We live in such a fast-paced society it can be difficult to prioritize our mental health. It’s easy to distract ourselves and bury our issues instead of facing them head-on. I will provide a safe, empathic space for you. I believe relationships and attachments are crucial for healing. Our connections matter. Your environment and relationships are interconnected and can have a huge impact on your thoughts and behaviors.
My therapeutic approach is strengths-based. You are already coming in with so many strengths! I am here to help you identify them and use them as skills. You will develop a more positive outlook and improve your resiliency. I am here to help you work though conflict in healthier ways. You will learn skills and strategies to manage the stressors of life. We can work on strengthening your relationships; both with yourself and others. Together we can help you find the joy and happiness of life again.
Our therapeutic relationship will be a collaborative one. I will work with you to help reach your goals. I want to thank you for taking the time to tend to your needs. I look forward to meeting you and helping you along this journey.
Education
• The University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Master of Social Work May 2019 Department: Children, Youth & Families
• The University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA Bachelor of Arts, Psychology; Minor, Child & Youth Studies May 2012
Certificates
• Understanding Male's Psychology in Community Mental Health November 2023
• Changing the ADHD Brain: Moving Beyond Medication October 2023
• Art and Play in Therapy February 2023
• The Faraway-Nearby of Loss: How We Mourn October 2022
• Trauma Informed Strategies: Working with Individuals with ID/DD/ASD for Clinical Staff April 2022
• Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Clinical Guide for General Practitioners April 2021
• Providing Clinical Services to African American Men/Youth Experiencing Trauma Grief April 2021
• Providing Care for Clients who Identify as Trans, Nonbinary and/or Gender Nonconforming March 2021
• Domestic Violence in the Lives of Children March 2021
Trainings
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Problem Solving Therapy (PST)
• Compassion Focused Therapy
• Trauma-Focused CBT, Bullying
• Eating Disorders 101
• Effective Parenting Strategies
• Grief and Loss
• Suicide Risk Management and Assessment
Additional areas of focus: Abandonment, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Communication problems, Divorce and separation, Emptiness, Family Problems, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Post-traumatic stress, Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
CA LCSW 109812