Come home to yourself
ABOUT JENNIFER MACHADO | PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Hi there,
I'm Jen, a licensed psychotherapist with a background in the expressive arts. Whether you're seeking therapy for yourself, relationship, or your family, I provide a safe and supportive space to explore and understand your feelings and story. With over a decade of experience, I take a person-centered approach, tailoring my therapeutic methods to best suit your needs. Sessions can be conducted in-person or online, whichever is most convenient and comfortable for you.
​
In my practice, I'm not just a silent observer in the room; I take an active role in providing feedback and building connection with my clients. Many first-timers in therapy find that my approach resonates with them.
My Background
I moved to San Francisco from New Orleans in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. My undergraduate degree in English Literature didn't exactly inform what I would do next so I mostly spent my twenties trying out new roles and relationships. While I loved exploring and learning about different fields and professions (still do!), I found my calling after attending an expressive arts therapy workshop at the advice of a friend at the local psychology college. I was dazzled by the insights and community. I had finally found a path with green lights aglow.
​
I enrolled in the Expressive Arts (EXA) Therapy Masters program at the one and only California Institute of Integral Studies. I completed as required three years of rigorous, experiential study, individual psychotherapy with an expressive arts therapist and practicum at a local hospital. After graduating, I went on to agency work as an associate therapist, and eventually to the group private practice known as the Well Clinic. When the Well Clinic closed, our family of clinicians dispersed into individual private practices, and this here is one of them.
​
​
AREAS OF FOCUS
-
Communication difficulties
-
Managing Anxiety and Depression
-
Relationship Issues
-
Family of Origin Issues
-
Career Change
-
Trauma
-
Parenting and Co-parenting
-
Perfectionism
-
Young adulting
-
Dating
APPROACHES & TECHNIQUES
-
Client-centered
-
Strengths-based
-
Solution-focused
-
Harm Reduction
-
Trauma-informed
-
Emotional Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT)
-
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
-
Somatic Awareness
What my clients are saying:
"Jen is extremely easy to talk to and asks all the right questions to help identify emotions and the reasoning for feeling them. She makes me feel very comfortable, open, and validates emotions I used to feel ashamed to have."
"Since starting therapy with Jen, I now treat myself the way that Jen treats me: with kindness, empathy, and accountability. I feel my feelings instead of intellectualizing them, I'm more self-aware of how I move through the world. I give myself the grace she would and treat falling short of my goals as an opportunity to reflect and put better habits into practice, instead of a reason to beat myself up."
"Jen is like the maternal best friend hype woman you wish you had in your life, except she also gently guides you to ask the critical questions to get out of whatever negative cycle you find yourself in."
Accreditations
-
California Behavioral Board of Sciences, Licensed MFT #104421
-
CA BBS Registered Clinical Supervisor
-
M.A. Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2013
-
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinical Member
Professional Experience
-
Well Clinic San Francisco, Integrated Psychiatry and Psychotherapy; Clinical Psychotherapist and Supervisor
-
Institute of Health and Healing, California Pacific Medical Center; Psychotherapy for inpatient patients and families
-
Safe and Sound, Child Advocacy Organization; Associate Psychotherapist for Adult Individuals, Couples, Group Therapy
-
CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, psychotherapy for foster youth
-
EBAC, East Bay Agency for Children; Associate Psychotherapist
-
TALK line, 24/7 Crisis Support Line for Parents (415-441-KIDS); volunteer
Therapy with me is well-suited for individuals who...
​
- Seek a sincere and genuine connection for delving into self-exploration and self-discovery.
- Desire to feel listened to, understood, and supported in alignment with their values and identity.
- Aim to cultivate practical strategies and skills to navigate daily challenges and flourish in life.