PSYCHOTHERAPY

I am a Counselor and a Wellness Coach, and I work with people who want to create a lifestyle that supports and encourages personal wellness. Wellness is an attitude of self-empowerment in which people take responsibility for the optimal nurturance of mind, body and spirit. It is living with intention, integrity, and in accordance with what brings people meaning and purpose.

I assist people to create balance in their lives and to create a lifestyle that supports their wellbeing, fulfillment, and sense of meaning and purpose. Recognizing that lifestyle is the primary factor that influences health, I support people in making lifestyle changes that are congruent with their long-term health and wellness goals. I see the inherent genius, creativity, and power in each person and help them to uncover their true nature. In addition, I empower people to take charge of their lives and wellbeing and to create lifestyle changes that support the vision that they have created for their future. When working with me, people learn that they really can overcome obstacles to a life worth living and begin to feel totally alive.

I teach mindfulness skills as tools for creating wellness of mind, body, and spirit. Mindfulness is a way of learning to be present to and accept our circumstances and feelings without judgment. Learning to practice radical acceptance of whatever is happening in our lives can result in increased inner peace and a greater sense of resiliency to deal with whatever life presents. I teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to facilitate the relaxation of the body, quieting of the mind, and nurturance of the spirit. When we learn to relax and let go of all that we are holding onto, we shed the layers of protection and defenses that we have built and uncover our true selves, and profound experiences of inner peace and wellbeing become possible. We are then free to create a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in our lives and to become active participants in our own health and wellbeing.

In addition to facilitating mindfulness skills, I create a space in which the stories of peopleÕs lives can be told, heard, and honoredÑstories of who we are, what we dream about, and what is causing suffering in our lives. Crisis, transition, trauma, or illness can often create chaos in our lives. In a world in which our illnesses or traumas are reduced to medical and psychological terms, and in a sense, often become the stories of the medical or psychological professional, telling our stories becomes a way of emerging from the chaos and finding our own voice. Telling our stories also helps to make order of the chaos and provides another opportunity for us to become mindful of what is happening in the present moment, creating opportunity to feel the feelings and to learn skills to cope with these feelings in healthy ways. I often incorporate therapeutic writing and photography into her work with clients as tools for telling their life stories, cultivating deeper self-awareness, and creating self-acceptance.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Wellness Coach. My approach to wellness is a blend of the years of experience that I bring as a Counselor, Rehabilitation Counselor, Wellness Coach, practitioner of mindfulness and meditation, writer and photographer, yoga practitioner, and yoga instructor. I work with clients in a way that empowers them to discover their own authentic voice and creativity and take an active role in their own healing and wellness. I offer Counseling and Wellness Coaching for persons interested in achieving a greater level of mind, body, and spirit wellness and who desire a greater sense of wellbeing, fulfillment, resiliency, and meaning in their lives.

My counseling practice is based on the theory and practice of Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy (including MBSR), Narrative Therapy, Therapeutic Writing, and PhotoTherapy (therapeutic photography). Research indicates that MBSR is effective for reducing anxiety, depression, and symptoms of PTSD. My coaching practice is based on my training in Life Coaching, Creativity Coaching, and Wellness Coaching.

I provide Counseling and Wellness Coaching for people who want to:

Create a lifestyle that supports health and wellness
Decrease stress, depression, and anxiety
Create more balance in life
Feel more fully alive
Improve overall sense of wellbeing
Express creativity more fully
Improve emotional or physical wellbeing
Cope more effectively with chronic illness
Achieve personal optimal level of wellbeing
Change careers
Receive education and support in creating a non-toxic home and lifestyle

For additional information regarding my Counseling and Coaching practice, please visit www.jenniferjohnsonwellness.com or call or email me today to discuss whether Counseling or Wellness Coaching is a good fit for you. jennifer@jenniferjohnsonwellness.com 828-252-5116.