Meet Jen

From the the counseling room to the classroom to the gym, my work has always revolved around one core belief:

Growth happens best when people feel understood, safe, and empowered, not judged.

For years, I taught students how to think, communicate, and grow. As a coach, I helped people identify their strengths and build momentum toward meaningful goals. When I became a therapist, all of that experience found a deeper purpose: supporting humans through life’s most challenging transitions, inner conflicts, and identity shifts.

I blend heart and evidence, curiosity and structure, because real healing isn’t one-size-fits-all.

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-IT) with extensive experience in both education and human development. My professional journey includes:

• Classroom teaching, where I learned how people learn best and how to meet them where they are
• Coaching individuals through change, growth, and confidence building
• Therapeutic work grounded in evidence-based approaches like ACT, CBT, Narrative & Solution-Focused modalities

Whether we're unpacking internal narratives, developing new skills, or navigating life transitions, I meet you with curiosity, care, and genuine presence.

I work with teens and adults navigating things like:
• Anxiety, overwhelm, and identity questioning
• Transitions: relational, career, life stage
• Self-esteem, confidence, and purpose
• Intersectional identity experiences (including gender, sexuality, and culture)

I provide affirming, non-judgmental support, especially for folks whose identities have not always felt welcomed or understood.

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Therapy Is a Relationship

Therapy with me is collaborative. It isn’t something done to you. It’s something we build together, at your pace, around what matters most. You bring your lived experience; I bring clinical insight and structure. Together, we create meaningful change.

I use a blend of evidence-based tools and personalized pacing so that:
• You can build skills that last
• You can explore your story with safety and depth
• You can rediscover yourself beyond stress and self-criticism

I value curiosity over perfection, progress over speed, and authenticity over polish. You show up human and we take it from there.

Most of us weren’t taught how to strengthen our inner lives, how to sit with discomfort, express needs, tolerate uncertainty, or build resilience.

That’s where therapy becomes not just a service, but a partnership.
Whether you’re seeking stability, identity clarity, or greater confidence, my role is to help you navigate that path with compassion and competence.

Your strength is already there. My job is to help you access it more fully.

I bring curiosity, patience, humor, and a deep belief in people’s ability to grow, especially when it feels hard.

I’m also someone who knows what it’s like to wrestle with life’s big questions. That lived experience, combined with training and professional discipline, informs how I support others.

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Where This Work Began

Before I became a counselor, I was a teacher and a coach.

I earned my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University, but my commitment to helping people grow began long before graduate school. I hold a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from UW–Madison and spent over a decade teaching 4K through 8th grade.

Teaching shaped the way I show up as a therapist. It taught me how to meet people where they are, how to listen for what’s not being said, and how to hold space for both challenge and possibility.

For more than five years, I also worked as a CrossFit coach and trainer. Coaching deepened my appreciation for the mind-body connection and for the resilience that develops when someone keeps showing up, especially when it’s hard. I saw firsthand how powerful it is to have someone in your corner.

Today, at Embolden Wellness and Counseling, I bring these threads together: counselor, educator, and coach, to support clients in living more connected, empowered, and authentic lives.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. Therapy is a space to explore, heal, and grow. I’m honored to do that work alongside you.

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Outside the Therapy Room

Outside the therapy room, I’m a lifelong learner, a lover of stories, and someone who values humor, honesty, and heart. I enjoy time with my family, being outdoors, and exploring new places.

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If you’re considering therapy, but aren’t sure what that first step feels like, I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can talk about where you are and how I might support you.

👉 Schedule your consult
(In-person in Watertown, WI or virtual throughout Wisconsin)