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Get to know me. 

ABOUT JENNIFER MACHADO  |  PSYCHOTHERAPIST

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HI, I'm Jen. I'm a licensed psychotherapist in San Francisco. Whether you're seeking therapy for yourself, relationship, or your family, I will provide a safe and supportive space for you to explore and understand your feelings and story. I take a Person-Centered (that's you!) approach to this work, 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.

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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. 

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I am a San Francisco resident and live with my family in the outer sunset neighborhood. I love biking and running in the park for my commute and enjoy my (first) morning coffee in the company of our chickens in the backyard. 

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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

Some Background

I moved to San Francisco from New Orleans in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. With a bachelors in English Literature, I didn't know what direction to take my career at that time, so I spent the majority of my twenties exploring different professional roles in law and management. I traveled, I dated, I ran my first marathon. I lived in Fort Mason with ten people, in the Mission next to a Buddhist temple and then lived alone in the Tender Nob hood for a few years.  

After attending an Expressive Arts Therapy workshop at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), I felt so inspired by the transformative potential of the arts in clinical psychological practice that I decided to lock it in and begin Graduate School there. I got my masters in 2013 and then pursued licensure, becoming fully licensed in 2018. This work has allowed for me to embrace my passion for helping others, my commitment to lifelong learning, and the invaluable qualities of authentic human connection. Wouldn't change it for the world.

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<<Click to Read my Substack,
               Talk Therapy
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

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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 

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."

Therapy with me is well-suited for individuals who...

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- Seek a sincere and genuine connection for delving into self-exploration and self-discovery.

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- Desire to feel listened to, understood, and supported in alignment with their values and identity.

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- Aim to cultivate practical strategies and skills to navigate daily challenges and flourish in life.

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