Jennifer Shatzkin, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist

I empower individuals to discover their resiliency, harness the energy of their anxiety in productive ways, and better manage negative unhelpful worry thinking. Anxiety results in the space between overestimating the probability of danger AND underestimating your ability to cope with it.

My philosophy for healing is that everyone has strength and resiliency to cope with much more than they could imagine. Discovering and implementing your strengths is the primary goal of therapy.

I have worked with hundreds of clients in over 15 years as a licensed therapist. Having been an active duty military spouse, I’ve lived and been licensed in 6 states. My vast experience providing therapy to diverse populations in numerous settings with various needs led me to a niche specialty of primary anxiety conditions (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic, phobias) and OCD; as well as secondary anxiety (from ADHD, autism, sensory integration); and external stressors (societal, medical, relational, existential, environmental, financial).

A significant rise in pathological anxiety has occurred in the general population over the past several years. There are many factors contributing to this. In addition to keeping abreast of mental health trends and neurocognitive research, I am fascinated by how technology is changing every industry, including mental health. This piqued my interest in integrating technology with evidence-based therapy models. Virtual reality simulation has been studied and utilized in several universities and the Department of Defense to treat trauma, phobias, OCD, and anxiety. Combining this technology with evidence based psychotherapy can result in significant improvements in a short amount of time. I was inspired to learn more and integrate the cutting edge therapy tool of Virtual Reality Therapy in my practice.

Therapy Approaches

I am trained in and use an eclectic approach of research-proven Virtual Reality Immersion Therapy (VRIT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Inference- Cognitive Behavior Therapy I-CBT (for OCD), Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ExRP or ERP), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (M-CBT), and other evidence-based techniques to help clients face fears and anxieties in imaginal, live, and virtual environments while teaching mindfulness, cognitive skills, and how to regulate body sensations.

I also treat childhood anxiety and OCD using the renowned Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) treatment program. I am one of less than 30 therapists in the state of Pennsylvania trained in SPACE, developed by the Yale Child Studies Center. I am also in the first small group of therapists undergoing the certification process for SPACE.

Therapy Relationship

I engage each client with unconditional regard and self-determination. I strive to make clients feel safe in a non-judgmental environment where they can express their genuine feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

I also ensure I am trained and have consultation in vulnerable populations and will never ask someone from a marginalized group to educate me. I have an anti-racist stance and continue to examine and be educated on how our systems and internal biases can contribute to poorer health/mental health in BIPOC populations. I am open to processing this in session.

I am also an LGBTQIA+ ally and provide culturally competent care.

I have a sex positive framework and welcome clients in the kink and BDSM community, as well as “non-traditional” sex and relational practices.

I have a HAES (Health At Every Size and shape) perspective and am body positive.

I welcome clients from all religious backgrounds and no religious preference or beliefs. I am sensitive to each individual client’s spiritual and religious needs.

I am a Neurodiversity Affirmative Therapist and advocate for new ways of classifying and supporting neurodivergent persons. I view autism, ADHD, PDA (pathological demand avoidance), sensory integration sensitivity, giftedness, and empathic emotional intensity as neurodifferences, rather than disorders or deficits. The difficulties arise when neurotypical society places norms and demands on the neurodivergent that do not account for their differences.

I am trauma-informed, identifying how traumas can contribute to and overlap with many conditions.

I understand military culture with lived experience as a Veteran myself, many years as an active duty military spouse, and a DoD civilian social worker for active duty military. Veterans, active duty, retired, and dependents are welcome in my practice.

Additional Info

Visit my blog and social media sites for articles on wellness and mental health education.

I offer in-person sessions in my office, clients’ homes, community, and secure telehealth/video sessions.

I have evening and weekend slots available.

Licensure and Credentials:

LCSW #CW018737 Pennsylvania
LCSW #0904008005 Virginia

Associations:

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work (PSCSW)
Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association (PBTA)
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions trained provider (SPACE)
International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCDF)
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)

Contact Today

Integrating Cognitive and Somatic Therapies with Technology

About Jennifer Shatzkin