ABOUT JENNIFER JACKSON, MS, MFTC
After graduating with a degree in Music from Yale University, I began my professional life as an educator, first as a full-time music teacher, then as a Waldorf class teacher. While I loved my work with the children, I realized the way I was approaching my life was unsustainable. After almost three decades of severe, chronic insomnia and no sense of work-life balance, I was developing chronic back pain, digestive issues, and my second marriage was in trouble. It was time for a change!
I left full-time teaching, opened a private piano studio, and began a journey of deep healing. Along the way, I found an energy-psychology technique called “Tapping,” which was the first remedy to dramatically shift my anxiety-related insomnia – and, believe me, I thought I had tried everything! (Now in my fifties, I sleep better than I did in my teens, twenties, and thirties!) This was such a miracle for me that I quickly became a certified tapping practitioner and began helping others release anxiety, trauma, and other stress-related issues.
Over the years I noticed my work was highly effective for people who were happily single or in supportive relationships, but much less effective for people who were in distressed relationships. While I could usually help people feel better in session, we made little progress resolving issues if a distressed relationship was a strong contributing factor. Given the vast numbers of people in distressed relationships, I realized it was time to expand my toolbox!
I went back to school and completed my M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella University. In my second quarter I learned about Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and the proverbial light bulb went off in my head. In just a few paragraphs I suddenly understood why couple therapy in my first marriage had ended in divorce and couple therapy in my second marriage had permanently deepened our relationship: the first therapist had focused only on symptoms, while the second therapist went straight to the heart of the matter – the attachment bond. As testimony, after completing therapy in 2012, our marriage – now well into its third decade – is stronger today than it has ever been.
I immediately began my journey towards becoming an EFT therapist and completed the necessary advance training. My interests grew to working with individuals, helping with the important relationship we all have–to our self. I then completed advanced training in Emotional Focused Therapy for Individuals (EFIT). The more I learn about EFT couple and EFT individual therapy, the more passionate I become, and the more I know this is my path.
I know what it is like to be in an anxious, distressed place personally and I know what it is like to be in a distressed relationship. I have personally experienced both ineffective and effective individual and couple therapy. Thankfully, I now know how it feels to be in a grounded, centered place personally and what it is like to experience a deeply secure, intimate, satisfying long-term relationship. I believe that helping people move from that distressed place into trust, intimacy, and security is what I am called to do in this life. I am thrilled to be working with Rachel and the team at RCC Colorado and I look forward to helping you restore and deepen your connection to Self and/or your partner that you have been yearning for.
NEXT STEPS
If you feel my work might be a good fit for your needs, please call me on 720-679-6266 or reach out below to schedule a free consultation!
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- AAMFT: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- ICEEFT: The International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
- BCEFT: Boulder Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Delta Kappa International Marriage and Family Therapy Honor Society