Meet the Team: Jen Elliott, MSW, LSW
We are so excited to bring you a new blog segment, Meet the Team! This is a fun opportunity to get to know our clinicians outside the office! Today, we are hearing from me, Jen Elliott, MSW, LSW, Blog Editor and Therapist!
What is your ideal/favorite morning routine?
Sleeping in until my body is ready to wake up (let’s be real, usually no later than 9 am!). Then, move slowly and intentionally. I’d make a cup of warm lemon water and do some light movement like yoga or qi gong outside to be in nature. I’d put on some Stevie Wonder as I make a hot cup of French press coffee and sip slowly while I either read a book, watch a TV show, or play chess with my spouse. I love a good brunch, so I’d probably walk to Le Peep or Rosie’s with my spouse and new puppy, Potato.
If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Sushi, hands down. When my spouse and I first met, this was one of the questions we asked each other. At the time, I’d never had sushi before, but after that first meal, I was hooked!
What is your practice style, including any specific approaches?
My style is laid-back, non-judgmental, collaborative, and strengths-based. I believe my clients are the experts of their own stories and experiences. My role is to guide, support, challenge, validate, and learn about their story. My primary modality is Internal Family Systems, or IFS (or Parts work). Rather than working to rid clients of their ED, my goal is to help clients befriend and differentiate from their eating disorder while cultivating a collaborative relationship that helps them make sense of their experience and understand themselves more. I’ve seen incredible shifts in my clients and their relationship with their ED and other Parts by using this approach.
What are your superpower(s) as a therapist?
Empathy and intuition. After discovering I am a highly sensitive person (HSP) four years ago, I’ve been able to really understand and harness my empathy and intuition in cool ways. My empathy helps me relate to my clients and their experiences. And my intuition guides me as I move with a client through their story.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Your emotions and unique neurodivergence are aspects of who you are that make you you; you don’t need to hide them. Even though I talk to clients about identifying and feeling their feelings for a living, there were many years when I shoved mine down. I always tell clients that pushing down emotions is like holding a beach ball under water. It takes a force to hold it underwater, but at some point, it will pop back up. It took me A LOT of years to realize this.
What’s your dream vacation destination?
Hawaii has always been at the top of my list. But, honestly, a more secluded beach on a gorgeous island with the sun shining bright is my idea of a dream vacation!
How did you decide to become a therapist?
The simple version is that I was burnt out on running my own business as an Intuitive Eating Counselor and personal trainer. While I loved coaching IE clients (and still do!), I found that many clients wanted to go deeper than my coaching expertise would allow. I’d always been curious about being a therapist, and thought it would be an option to work with clients in a different way. Because I had a bachelor’s in social work, I qualified for an accelerated program to get my Master’s, so it was a no-brainer.
What can clients expect when they do therapy with you?
Working with me as a therapist, clients can expect a lot of facial expressions, a more than occasional curse word (or few), using art or toys to discuss topics or represent Parts, and someone who will really listen. We will talk about deep stuff like emotions, trauma, and systems of oppression. And light stuff like pets, plants, and coping tools.
What’s your go-to fun fact about yourself?
Last fall, I won a dance contest at a bingo bar with friends. My dream has always been to be an amazing dancer, and I’d been practicing more often as a way to boost my mood and release emotions. When I was called upon to win a little something extra for my bingo team, my practice paid off, and my moves won us a gift card!
Moving Forward
There you have it! If you or someone you know is looking for recovery coaching or other eating disorder support, reach out to the CCN Team today!
