Conversations with Jenna Tripodi-McIlwee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Tripodi-McIlwee.

Hi Jenna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
To answer this question, I could certainly bore you with the details of my education, various jobs and certifications; however, the most authentic answer probably lies somewhere in- I’ve worked to make meaning and learn from the chaotic and painful periods of my life and I have a deep respect for anyone else on the same path. In my role as a therapist, I find so much meaning in helping others explore their lives and understand themselves in a different way.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall, I am incredibly grateful for my career path and the experience of being a therapist. I get to show up to my office and have the honor of being trusted with some of people’s most vulnerable and painful parts of their life.
As far as struggles with this career path? I can echo what most therapists, if asked about the pitfalls of the career, will probably tell you about the frustrations with what insurance dictates, the lack of resources for those in a mental health crisis and the never ending paperwork. As a therapist, it is also an ever evolving thing to learn to care deeply for the clients I work with but accept the limitations of how much I can help. To care for and root for my clients, without taking on the weight of their struggles.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT); I have additional training and/or certifications in perinatal mental health, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and play therapy.
I like to say, I am a good fit for those who know how to keep the peace for everyone else in their life but not themselves. If you could be a fly on the wall in one of my therapy sessions, you’ll hear some sarcastic quips, me spouting a research study I just read, some laughter and a lot of just exploring what it means to feel all of what it is to be human. Some diagnoses that those I work with typically have are: PTSD, anxiety, depression or OCD.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I encourage anyone starting in the mental health field to notice when they feel stuck in the work and explore what that feeling is telling them about what they don’t yet know how to do. From there, search out who in your area does. Get to know them and the trainings they found helpful; seek supervision and consultation at any and all stages of your career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jtmtherapy.com