About me
"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT).
Hello! Welcome to Faithful Counseling! My name is Jen and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC, #004782) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). I have over 17 years of experience providing both mental health and addictions therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups. My Master’s degree is in Community Mental Health Counseling, Addictions Counseling, and Marriage and Family Therapy (2009) from Indiana Wesleyan University, a Christian Liberal Arts College. My Bachelor’s degree from Houghton College, another Christian Liberal Arts College, is in Psychology and Family Studies (2006). I have worked in multiple settings, including a church-based private practice, shelters, community mental health centers, schools, and private practices. Since becoming a counselor, clients, such as yourself, have come to me for a lot of different things, including depression, anxiety, trauma (particularly in the areas of childhood abuse, domestic violence, religious trauma, and first responder and military trauma), family and social relationships, self-esteem, and substance abuse.
I understand that when someone is seeking “Christian” counseling, it can mean different things. This can mean “just knowing my counselor is a Christian, so I know she isn’t “judging” me for my faith”. It can also mean having a counselor who will “read scripture with me and / or pray with me”. I’m here for the needs you have in a Christian Counselor. I see counseling as a didactic relationship, or in other words, a journey we take together. You are the “expert” of you. Your individualized counseling experience should be focused on what you want and your goals. My job is to help “guide” or “lead” you in achieving those goals, while you continue to actively participate and do your best to reach your goals. I will support you as you do so. It’s like we build a house together. I am responsible for the frame and structure of the house; while you get to fill the rest of it in, make it look the way you want it to, and in the end, turn it into the home you want it to look like.
My therapeutic approach is mainly from family systems theory, which summed up says “we are not islands”. We are influenced by the world, or the “systems” around us starting from birth (and even before). These systems influence how we see the world and how we make decisions. When things happen to us (good or bad), our system shapes how it affects us and what our reaction turns out to be. I also “borrow” concepts from other theories, such as taking unhealthy beliefs about oneself and changing them into healthier patterns to reduce negative feelings, providing supports, a quick solutions-focused treatment (when it fits the goal), mindfulness and hands-on activities, and emotions regulation techniques.
Starting counseling can produce negative feelings, such as worry or fear; but part of the journey we go on is to work on processing those feelings together right from the start. I want to provide a safe environment for you that is warm, respectful, trauma-informed, and meets your individual needs. I look forward to meeting you should I get to do that. Thank you for taking the time to look at my page!
Specialties
- Relationships
- Trauma, Abuse
- Intimacy
- Eating disorders
- Self esteem, Motivation
Stress, Anxiety , Addictions , LGBT , Family conflicts , Grief , Depression , Coping with life changes , Compassion fatigue , Abandonment , Antisocial Personality , Attachment Issues , Avoidant Personality , Body Image , Co-morbidity , Read more...
Clinical approaches:
Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
Years of Experience: 17
Services offered
Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video
Licensing
NY LMHC 004782
Reviews
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Jennifer Ricci. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with Faithful Counseling might be different.
Jennifer is outstanding counselor!
Jen is amazing and has been instrumental in my healing and continual growth. I highly recommend her to everyone who is looking for a therapist.
She has been the only counselor to understand my needs and help me find solutions to my problems