Therapy Changes Welcomes Dr. Jen McWaters

I am excited to be joining the Therapy Changes family and look forward to contributing to an already thriving multi-specialty practice. I will be providing services at the Point Loma location for teens, children, families and adults. I received my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and completed my pre-doctoral APA internship at Loma Linda University Medical Center. I moved to San Diego to complete my postdoctoral fellowship at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital and most recently worked as a Psychologist in Sharp Mesa Vista’s Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program.

I am passionate about helping others, and in return, I am inspired by the resilience that human beings demonstrate on a daily basis. Although I “help” clients navigate life’s most challenging moments, clients also help me, by teaching me through their stories and challenging me to become a better therapist and human being. It is an honor to walk alongside clients in their journey. Human resilience often shows up in authentic, meaningful connection between two human beings. These sacred moments transcend the pain and hurt that brought clients to the office in the first place; they are given the opportunity to experience mutual compassion, understanding and move towards restoration in their relationship.

Creating an environment where these moments can occur is both exceptionally challenging and rewarding. Relationships both enrich our lives and provide us a buffer against inevitable painful experiences. However, these relationships can be incredibly difficult to achieve or maintain. Not uncommonly, barriers such as anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, maladaptive coping behaviors or low self-confidence obstruct our movement towards our goals, values and meaningful connection. Clients often express a desire to strengthen their relationships, but often these obstacles seem impossible to tackle alone. I work collaboratively with clients to help clarify what kind of person they want to be and then identify what is getting in the way of being that person. In therapy, clients will discover existing, and develop new, internal and external resources that they can utilize to overcome these barriers and move them towards their values. Working together, I hope to help clients gain greater clarity, purposefulness and meaningfulness in their lives and relationships.

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
― Jon Kabat-Zinn

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