Hello there, my name is Jennifer (pronouns she/her/hers), and I am so glad you're here. As one of my favorite therapists wrote, "The true counselor seeks to understand people from the standpoint of appreciation...it is like inviting the traveler in from a snowy and chilly journey to sit for an hour before the fire." In a nutshell, this is my approach. I aim to provide a warm, non-judgmental presence with the curiosity and tools to help you free yourself of what you think you "should" be to accept and love who you are. There is nothing more comforting than being truly seen by another person.
Trauma almost always makes it difficult to form trusting, healthy relationships. If someone has hurt you in the past, how can you trust again? How can you trust yourself enough to enter a relationship if you have chosen those who have hurt you? Do you notice similar negative patterns occurring in your relationships? It is my goal to help you build insight into those patterns and develop interpersonal skills to make sure your needs are met. Getting in touch with your intuition, trusting your gut with confidence, and cultivating deep and meaningful bonds are essential to a happy human experience. I aim to help you create feelings of safety in vulnerability and connection so that you can choose new and safe relationships and escape familiar suffering.
No matter what brings you to therapy, curiosity and empathy are my priority, going at the pace most comfortable for you. I work in the here and now to stay mindful of the experience of both the mind and the body, bringing integrated healing to both.
I received my Master of Social Work degree from University of Southern California and have been practicing as a social worker and psychotherapist in the Los Angeles area since. I underwent comprehensive clinical training within Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services at USC, specializing in working with survivors of sexual and gender based violence as well as trained as a school Psychiatric Social Worker within the Los Angeles Unified School District, providing psychotherapy and supportive services to students and their families.
My clients have ranged from ages 13 to 80 of all cultures, including those suffering from anxiety and self-esteem difficulties, sexual trauma, homelessness as well as diagnoses such as Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. I provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ identified individuals and enjoy working with the wide spectrum of relationship types.
Regardless of the most pressing reason you’ve reached out, you’re a human with story that includes a million choices, events, accidents, heartbreaks, coincidences, disappointments, successes, surprises, with perhaps a couple disasters or miracles that brought you here. And you need a compassionate ear to be there for you. I hope to have that privilege.
Best,
Jennifer Piponniau, LCSW
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, Anger management, Self esteem, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Abandonment, Attachment issues, BDSM, Kink, Alternative Sex Culture, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Dissociation, Domestic Violence, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Gender Dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Infidelity, Jealousy, Men's issues, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Narcissism, Paranoia, Personality Disorders, Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships, Post-traumatic stress, Self-love, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Sexuality, Women's issues
Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
CA LCSW 88343
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Jennifer Piponniau. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Jennifer has been fantastic to work with! This has been my first experience with any type of counseling/therapy, and although I was a bit weary at first, Jennifer has made it a really comfortable and positive experience. She's extremely good at listening, and she really pays attention to details. I often feel like I have really convoluted stories with lots of moving parts, and she's alway super attentive and has a knack for remembering even the small things I've said that I don't expect her to remember. She's also great at deciding when to listen and when to talk, and as I am someone who can talk A LOT, it's really helpful to work with someone who knows when to let me monologue and when to pause me to offer some perspective. I would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone considering!
Written on Feb 26, 2021 after therapy with Jennifer for 4 months on issues concerning relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues
Jennifer is very comfortable and kind. I really appreciate her.
Written on Jan 10, 2021 after therapy with Jennifer for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, lgbt, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and self esteem