About Jennifer
Informed by her years of experience as a healthcare provider who witnessed depletion amongst her colleagues, and who experienced it herself, Jennifer understands the world’s helpers in a personal way. Inspired by her own pursuit of personal growth and self-exploration, Jennifer is passionate about holding space for helpers.
Jennifer’s career has included time as a social worker, helping patients and families navigate cancer and traumatic brain injuries; and as a therapist, supporting individuals in pursuit of better mental health. She has made notable contributions to patients at the Veterans Affairs Maryland Healthcare System, Sheppard Pratt, and Lifebridge Health.
Along the way, Jennifer began facilitating ad-hoc stress relief practices for her colleagues in the helping professions. Now, she educates healthcare professionals on stress management and mindfulness through employee wellness programming at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and contracts such services to bolster the wellbeing of the greater workforce.
Jennifer’s offerings are based in mindfulness, yoga, self-compassion, and community. Training in social work, meditation, coaching, yoga, and therapy inform her approach, and she intuitively customizes both during planning and in the moment to serve the needs of her clients.
Masters in Social Work: University of Michigan
Certified Life Coach: Behavioral Healthcare Consulting
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher: Mindfulness Institute of Emerging Adults
Registered Yoga Teacher: 200 Hour
Certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy
Trained in Emotional Freedom Technique
Jennifer’s Qualifications
On a personal note…
“I have always been a seeker and drawn to self-exploration and personal growth. I have also always had a strong interest in the workings of the mind and the expression of Self. My experience with yoga began almost 20 years ago; at that point in my life, I was very driven TO DO and was mostly interested in intense cardio and distance running for physical activity. I was always moving…striving…doing. I see now that in many ways, I was busy ‘running’ from myself.
In the beginning, I found yoga painfully slow. It felt incredibly challenging for me to slow down and notice things like my breath. It felt harder than any race I had run. But something kept drawing me back to the yoga mat. Over the years, I have practiced many different styles of yoga but in all of them, found that I was able to ground myself in the asana – physical practice- and this helped quiet my mind. My yoga mat became the place where I could hold space for myself. I didn’t need to keep running from my feelings or my thoughts. I learned to be with them. And for me, this was profound.
This led to a desire to learn more about mindfulness and meditation. I have also practiced many different styles of meditation and what I have found is that for me, there’s no ‘one tool’ all of the time. All of these practices can lead us to a deeper connection to ourselves, even the parts that so many of us ‘run’ from. They can also help us find the peace and ease that so many of us are seeking.
Being a helper is a large part of who I am, yet I have also learned that when being a helper takes up too much of who we are, it can lead to burnout, overwhelm and even resentment. Most in helping roles know about the importance of taking time for self-care and prioritizing our own well-being yet many struggle to actually do this. There is often disconnection from ourselves: our needs, our feelings, our desires. If you are someone who struggles with slowing down and finding that connection to your true Self, it would be my honor to guide you . My intention in holding space for the helpers, through retreats, group coaching, and organizational wellness programming, is to facilitate the beginnings of healing and restoration.”
