Jennifer Cust, LCSW

Holistic and Trauma-Informed

Let’s work together to create more stability, ease, and joy in your life.

Looking for Support?

Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here.

Are you struggling to move through a transition or painful experience in your life? Do you find yourself unable to move forward or enjoy the things you used to love? Our fast-paced, productivity-minded culture does not often allow time or space to be given to process our feelings, losses, or life changes. Without practice, we often mask emotional pain by overthinking, staying busy, or turning to habits that no longer serve us. When left unaddressed, these suppressed emotions can quickly turn to isolation, depression, anxiety or other physical symptoms. I am here to help you bravely face your pain as you initiate healing old wounds and fortify current coping strategies. Together we can move towards your emotions with gentleness and compassion. With time I know you will begin to feel more space, flexibility and joy.

I have supported clients with the following pain points:

  • grief and loss (including complex and disenfranchised grief)

  • caregiver burn-out

  • end-of-life existential distress

  • living with serious illness

  • relationship issues

  • self-identity issues

  • anxiety

  • depression

  • new parenthood

  • career change

  • career burn-out

Difficult moments in life are also the greatest opportunity for healing and growth. I look forward to helping you feel better. Let's connect!

My Approach

Relational

We are not meant to heal alone. I believe we grow best in community. I strive to lay the groundwork for a safe, warm and authentic relationship. Meeting you where you are, non-judgmentally and with unconditional positive regard is the fundamental feature of my therapeutic approach. This type of environment is where healing naturally happens.

Person-In-Environment

Our unique psychological processing develops within the context of our environment. We learn to cope with pain, trauma and oppression in both healthy and harmful ways. As a trauma-informed, social justice minded practitioner, I prioritize acknowledging the adversity that contributes to feeling unwell. I honor your past and hope to create a safe environment in which you can build on helpful adaptive behaviors and chip away at habits that no longer feel helpful.

Harnessing Self-Compassion

Through gentleness and self-acceptance we can learn to honor our authenticity and treat ourselves with kindness. Beginning to be mindful of our negative self-talk and pivot to a warm and accepting inner voice can transform how we feel and calm our nervous system.

Eclectic

Therapy should not be one-size-fits-all. I believe we heal through different aspects of our whole self, requiring a flexible approach. I use a combination of cognitive, behavioral, somatic and psychological approaches to help normalize your experience, harness tools to calm your thoughts and worries and feel the depths of your emotions in a safe environment. Together we can move towards the emotion and prioritize actions that bring us closer to a more authentic life.

Depth-Oriented (Psychodynamic)

Our early childhood experiences help to shape our perspective of the world and how we move through obstacles. By bringing light to old patterns and coping strategies, we can grieve old losses with self-compassion, moving towards balance and wholeness.

About Me

I’m Jennifer Cust, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience providing trauma-informed and holistic therapy for deep healing around life transitions- both big and small.

  • I offer virtual 1-1 psychotherapy for adults within California

  • Accepting clients through Alma and private pay (can do super-bill for out of network reimbursement)

  • I offer complimentary 15 -20 minute consultations

  • Please ask me about in-person services

  • I work to create a LGBTQIA+ positive, gender-affirming and anti-racist practice

Selected education/ trainings:

  • MSW UC Berkeley-clinical specialty: Adults and Geriatrics

  • Advance Practice Hospice and Palliative Care SW Certificate program

  • Trauma Recover Center’s Academic Year Trauma Seminar

  • Coalition for Clinical Social Work Psychodynamic Post-MSW Training

Trained in the following modalities:

  • Narrative Therapy, Solution-focused brief therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Psychodynamic therapy

Let’s Connect

Jennifer Cust, LCSW #115427

JCustLCSW@gmail.com

(510) 306-4469