Support for families. Healing for individuals. Space for couples.

Jennie Denney M.A., AMFT #153029

Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Supervised by Dr. Julie Lee, LMFT #91277 and Rachel Daggett, M.S., LMFT #107858

I help clients navigate some of life’s most overwhelming chapters—whether that’s parenting a child who’s struggling, healing from religious trauma, working through relationship disconnection, or untangling your identity in the midst of it all.

As a therapist, I bring a warm, collaborative, and grounded approach. I believe healing begins when you feel safe and seen—and that meaningful change is born out of curiosity, not judgment.

I’m not just trained in this work—I’ve lived parts of it too. I know what it’s like to fear for the life of your child. I’ve walked through the disorientation of faith deconstruction. And I understand how lonely it can feel to carry those stories without support.

I hold a Master’s in Pastoral Studies from Azusa Pacific University and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University. I’m currently pursuing my doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy at Hope, where my research focuses on the stages of faith deconstruction and reconstruction.

My clinical work focuses on:

  • Parents of teens navigating mental health challenges

  • Individuals in the midst of faith transitions or recovering from religious trauma

  • Couples seeking reconnection and deeper understanding

My approach is rooted in attachment theory, parts work, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and narrative therapy. I tailor every session to your unique story, pace, and goals.

Outside the therapy room, I’ve been married to my husband Ryan for 21 years, and together we’re raising four kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. We’ve lived in Southern California for the past seven years, and this community has become an important part of our story. That lived experience continues to shape how I show up with clients—with empathy, perspective, and deep respect for the complexity of real life.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. Wherever you are, we can start there.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if working together might be the right next step.

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Jennie’s Specialties

While I have experience supporting a wide range of mental health challenges, my heart and training have led me to specialize in a few key areas.

That said—if what you’re going through doesn’t perfectly align with one of these specialties, please still reach out. You don’t have to fit a category to deserve support, and I’d be honored to walk alongside you or help you find the right fit.

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Faith Deconstruction/Reconstruction & Religious Trauma

Losing your faith—or rebuilding it—can feel like losing your foundation, your community, or even your sense of self. I work with individuals who are deconstructing harmful religious beliefs, healing from spiritual abuse, or trying to piece together what they believe now. Whether your journey involves grief, anger, fear, or freedom, you deserve a space to explore it honestly and safely. My approach is rooted in trauma awareness, identity work, and a deep respect for the complexity of faith and belonging. You don’t have to sort it all out at once—and you don’t have to do it alone.

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Self-Harm & Emotional Regulation

When a child is self-harming, it can feel overwhelming for the whole family. I specialize in working with parents and their kids to not only understand the behavior, but also strengthen emotional regulation skills and rebuild connection. Self-harm is often a sign of deep distress, not defiance—and kids need support that goes beyond just stopping the behavior. I help families learn how to co-regulate, communicate with less fear, and create a safer emotional climate at home where healing becomes possible.

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Trauma Informed EMDR

I offer EMDR therapy through a trauma-informed lens, which means I move at your pace, center your safety, and collaborate with you every step of the way. EMDR can be a powerful tool for processing past experiences that still impact your nervous system, relationships, and sense of self. Whether you're working through trauma, anxiety, or deep emotional stuck points, EMDR helps the brain reprocess painful memories so they no longer feel as intense or defining. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, whole, and empowered—without ever pushing you too fast.

Jennie’s Approach

At the heart of my work is the belief that healing happens in relationship—first with ourselves, then with those around us. I think of therapy as a space to explore the me (your inner world), the we (your relationships), and the thee (whatever larger meaning, purpose, or spiritual connection matters to you). When one part is out of sync, the others usually feel it too.

My approach weaves together several modalities that allow us to work deeply and relationally: attachment theory, EMDR for trauma processing, Internal Family Systems (IFS), experiential and narrative therapies, and Gottman and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples. I use these tools to help clients understand the “why” behind their patterns, repair emotional wounds, and build a more connected, authentic life.

Whether you're here to explore long-standing pain or just trying to figure out why you keep getting stuck, I’ll meet you with curiosity, compassion, and tools that support real, lasting change.

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Attachment

  • Attachment-based therapy looks at how our earliest relationships shape the way we relate to ourselves and others today. It helps us make sense of emotional patterns that sometimes run underneath the surface of our lives.

  • I believe that connection is the foundation for real healing. Exploring your attachment style can offer insight, compassion, and a path toward creating healthier relationships—with others and with yourself.

    • Understand why certain relationship patterns feel so hard to change

    • Build trust, connection, and emotional safety in new ways

    • Heal old wounds that may still impact your current relationships

    • Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller — a clear, relatable guide to understanding attachment styles in adult relationships.

    • Parenting from the Inside Out by Dr. Dan Siegel and Mary Hartzell — a powerful resource for parents wanting to raise emotionally secure children by first understanding their own attachment stories.

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Narrative/Experiential Elements

  • Experiential therapy invites you to feel and engage with your healing—not just talk about it. Narrative therapy focuses on understanding and reshaping the stories you tell yourself about who you are.

  • Healing isn’t just a cognitive process—it’s emotional, sensory, and deeply personal. By experiencing your emotions safely and exploring your personal narrative, you gain new agency and meaning over your story.

    • Reclaim your voice and agency in your life story

    • Process emotions that feel stuck or overwhelming

    • Find new meaning after loss, trauma, or identity shifts

    • The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk — a powerful exploration of how the body holds emotional memory and how experiential healing works.

    • Rising Strong by Brené Brown—How we make meaning out of our struggles, and how rewriting our internal stories leads to resilience.

    • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl—Finding personal meaning in suffering and choice; building identity through narrative and resilience.

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EMDR

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy approach that helps people heal from trauma, distressing memories, and emotional pain. It uses bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements) to help the brain reprocess stuck or overwhelming experiences so they can be stored in a healthier way.

  • Sometimes talking alone isn’t enough to fully heal old wounds—especially trauma. EMDR offers a way to work through painful memories without needing to relive them in detail. I’m pursuing EMDR training because I believe it offers a powerful, research-backed pathway to healing that honors both the mind and the body’s natural ability to recover.

    • Process trauma and painful memories safely and efficiently

    • Reduce emotional triggers and reactivity

    • Build a stronger, calmer internal sense of self

    • Heal experiences that feel “stuck” even after traditional talk therapy

    • Getting Past Your Past by Dr. Francine Shapiro — an accessible guide to how EMDR helps people move beyond painful memories and reclaim their lives.

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Gottman Method Couple’s Therapy

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy is a research-based approach to strengthening relationships, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. It focuses on improving communication, increasing intimacy, managing conflict more effectively, and building a solid foundation of trust and commitment. The method uses practical tools and structured interventions based on decades of observational research.

  • I use the Gottman Method because it offers clear, evidence-based strategies that help couples move from feeling stuck and disconnected to feeling seen, heard, and valued. It’s not about assigning blame—it’s about understanding the patterns that keep you disconnected and finding new ways to reconnect. Whether you're navigating conflict, rebuilding after a rupture, or just want to feel closer, this method gives us a roadmap.

  • Gottman therapy gives couples specific tools to:

    • De-escalate conflict and reduce emotional flooding

    • Repair past hurts and rebuild trust

    • Strengthen friendship and emotional intimacy

    • Express needs without blame or defensiveness

    • Create shared meaning and long-term connection

    This approach can be especially helpful if you feel like you're always arguing about the same things or if you want to feel more like a team again.

    • The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman

    • What Makes Love Last? by John Gottman and Nan Silver

    • The Relationship Cure by John Gottman and Joan DeClaire

    • Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John and Julie Gottman

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Parts Work (Internal Family Systems)

  • Parts work is based on the idea that we all have different “parts” inside us—each one carrying a story, a fear, a need. Therapy helps you listen to those parts instead of pushing them away.

  • I believe every part of you makes sense—even the ones that feel messy, reactive, or hard to accept. When we understand and care for our parts, we can move toward greater wholeness and self-compassion.

    • Reduce inner conflict and self-criticism

    • Build a stronger, kinder internal dialogue

    • Heal trauma stored in protective parts of yourself

  • No Bad Parts by Dr. Richard Schwartz — an accessible introduction to Internal Family Systems and the beauty of self-compassionate healing.

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Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • EFT is based on the idea that emotions drive behavior. It focuses on helping you recognize, process, and express your emotions in ways that build stronger, more secure bonds.

  • Big emotions aren't something to fear—they’re important signals. When we learn how to tune into emotions without being overwhelmed by them, we open the door for deeper connection and healing.

    • Strengthen emotional communication with partners, family, and yourself

    • Break free from negative cycles in relationships

    • Feel more confident navigating emotional highs and lows

    • Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson — a powerful guide to creating emotional safety in relationships.

    • Wired for Love by Dr. Stan Tatkin — a practical, compassionate book on how attachment and nervous system wiring impact couples.

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Contact Jennie

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly! I can't wait to hear from you!

“Caring for others requires caring for oneself.”

—Dalai Lama—