About Jennifer Teoli, MSW, LCSW
With over a decade of experience as a counselor, I have had the privilege of guiding individuals through their healing journeys since 2008. My background includes on-call crisis counseling, trauma therapy and administration roles for rape crisis programs, child and family service agencies and over ten years in private practice. My therapeutic approach is based in evidence based practices, with specialized training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).
I have witnessed the power of these modalities and the relief they can bring to clients. I know that compassionate and effective therapy can change the trajectory of people’s lives. Experiencing a trauma does not have to mean that your life is over. With dedication to a safe and calm environment, I can help you recover from your trauma, whether it’s a little trauma, a big trauma or many traumas.
Practice Philosophy
My philosophy is to partner with my clients. I do therapy with clients, not to them. I want clients to leave my office feeling empowered by the changes they made for themselves, knowing that they are the ones who did the hard work. I’m just a guide. I provide tools to take with you that are practical and easy to integrate into your daily life.
I believe in providing lots of psychoeducation so the client understands what has happened to them, why they reacted the way they did and how to break unhealthy patterns of behavior. I think it’s important to understand how the brain works and to make sense of what you’re feeling and going through. Many clients worry that they are going crazy, but their brain is actually working fine. We simply need to adjust a few things. The brain has natural, subconscious ways of protecting itself. For example, someone affected by a car accident involving a red pickup truck may recover physically, but every time they see a red pickup truck, they may involuntarily react. The brain associates the danger from the past to the present, even if the present is safe.
My experience using CBT and ART allows for clients to share specifics of their stories or to not talk at all. But the goal is always to reduce or eliminate the PTSD related symptoms.
To learn more about ART please visit: https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/what-is-art/
To learn more about CBT please visit: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral
Credentials and Experience
Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of South Florida in 2010
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Heels to Heal - Lead Therapist for this non profit agency that provides free counseling for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Everyone deserves to recover, regardless of their financial status.
Sexual Assault Victim Examination program - as a crisis counselor and medical assistant in the Sexual Assault Victim Examination Program, I supported survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence immediately following the event. It was important to provide a safe, calm environment for someone going through a terrible tragedy. This ensured their well being and the likelihood that we could collect evidence and put the perpetrator in prison.
Rape Crisis Advocate and Trauma Therapist - provided therapy in jails, hospitals, schools, parks, libraries, and everywhere in between. I met with multiple law enforcement agencies to strengthen their response to domestic violence and sex crimes. I was part of the Sexual Assault Response Team and the Human Trafficking task force.
Advisory Board for the International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators.
Specialized training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT).
This experience has led to strategic partnerships across Pinellas County. Notably, partnerships with law enforcement, schools and universities, community support facilities, local non-profit organizations, and local hospitals.
Schedule a FREE consultation appointment today!