If you are experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-worth, relationship difficulties, communication challenges, identity concerns, or uncertainty during a major life transition, therapy can provide a supportive place to better understand yourself and begin creating meaningful change.
Hello, my name is Jennefer Cerna, and I am a bilingual Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT 153762, practicing under clinical supervision. I provide therapy in both English and Spanish and am passionate about making mental health care accessible, culturally inclusive, and welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds.
As your therapist, my goal is to create a space where you feel safe, supported, and truly seen. I understand that beginning therapy can feel unfamiliar, emotional, or overwhelming. You do not have to take that first step alone.
Together, we can explore what is happening beneath the surface, identify patterns that may be affecting your emotional well-being, and develop practical tools to help you feel more confident and empowered in your life.
My Education and Clinical Experience
I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Francisco State University and my master’s degree in counseling psychology from Golden Gate University.
During my graduate training, I completed my clinical practicum at a nonprofit mental health organization, where I worked with children, adolescents, and adults from culturally and socially diverse backgrounds.
Through this experience, I supported clients experiencing:
- Anxiety and excessive worry
- Depression and low motivation
- Low self-esteem and low self-worth
- Interpersonal conflict
- Family conflict
- Relationship difficulties
- Communication challenges
- Boundary-setting concerns
- Identity exploration
- School and social stress
- Major life transitions
- Difficulty adjusting to change
- Feeling emotionally overwhelmed or stuck
These experiences strengthened my understanding of how mental health can be influenced by relationships, family dynamics, culture, identity, community, and environmental circumstances.
My Approach to Therapy
My therapeutic style is grounded in a client-centered, collaborative, and strength-based approach. This means I personalize therapy around your individual experiences, needs, strengths, culture, and goals.
My work draws from:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Family Systems Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy
- Entrevista motivacional
- Strength-Based Therapy
- Psicoeducación
- Life-Transition and Adjustment Support
- Client-Centered Therapy
I do not believe that therapy should feel like a one-size-fits-all process. Every client enters therapy with a different story, different strengths, and different hopes for the future.
My role is to listen without judgment, help you explore your experiences, and collaborate with you in identifying the changes that feel most meaningful.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, can help you better understand the relationship between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
When you are experiencing anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, or low self-esteem, certain negative thoughts may begin to feel automatic. You may find yourself expecting the worst, doubting your abilities, criticizing yourself, or assuming that positive change is not possible.
Through CBT, we can work together to:
- Identify unhelpful thought patterns
- Understand how thoughts influence emotions and behaviors
- Challenge negative beliefs about yourself
- Develop healthier coping strategies
- Strengthen emotional regulation
- Improve problem-solving skills
- Build confidence and self-awareness
- Practice more balanced and compassionate thinking
CBT provides practical tools that you can begin using outside of therapy in your everyday life.
Family Systems and Relationship Therapy
Family Systems Therapy recognizes that our emotional well-being is often connected to our family experiences, relationships, roles, and patterns of communication.
You may notice that the same conflicts continue appearing in your relationships or that certain family expectations make it difficult to establish boundaries, express your needs, or make decisions for yourself.
In therapy, we may explore:
- Family-of-origin experiences
- Intergenerational patterns
- Communication styles
- Family roles and expectations
- Relationship conflict
- Boundary-setting
- Attachment and emotional connection
- Cultural and family influences
- Patterns that affect present relationships
Understanding these patterns can help you communicate more effectively, develop healthier boundaries, and make choices that feel more aligned with your needs and values.
Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety can make it difficult to quiet your thoughts, relax, concentrate, or feel present. Depression may leave you feeling disconnected, unmotivated, hopeless, or emotionally exhausted.
Therapy may help if you are experiencing:
- Excessive worry
- Racing thoughts
- Overthinking
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fear of disappointing others
- Persistent sadness
- Low motivation
- Social withdrawal
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Negative self-talk
- Difficulty enjoying things you once valued
- Feeling disconnected from yourself or others
Together, we can explore what may be contributing to these feelings while developing healthier ways of responding to stress, uncertainty, and difficult emotions.
Life Transitions and Identity Exploration
Life transitions can bring excitement, uncertainty, grief, and stress at the same time. Even positive changes can leave you questioning who you are or what comes next.
Therapy can provide support when navigating:
- Starting or finishing school
- Beginning a new career
- Relationship changes
- Family changes
- Moving or adjusting to a new environment
- Increasing independence
- Cultural or family expectations
- Identity exploration
- Grief connected to change
- Uncertainty about your future
You do not have to have everything figured out before beginning therapy. We can create space to explore your questions, values, identity, and goals without pressure or judgment.
Bilingual and Culturally Inclusive Therapy
I provide therapy in both English and Spanish and believe that language, culture, family, and identity are important parts of the therapeutic process.
For some clients, being able to express themselves in their preferred language can make therapy feel more comfortable and authentic. Others may want support exploring how cultural expectations, family relationships, identity, and generational experiences influence their emotional well-being.
My goal is to provide culturally responsive therapy that respects your lived experiences and honors the different parts of your identity.
Therapy for Adolescents and Young Adults
Adolescence and young adulthood can involve significant changes in identity, relationships, family roles, education, independence, and future planning.
Therapy may support adolescents and young adults experiencing:
- Anxiety or depression
- School-related stress
- Peer or relationship difficulties
- Family conflict
- Communication challenges
- Low self-esteem
- Identity exploration
- Difficulty setting boundaries
- Fear about the future
- Major life transitions
- Feeling misunderstood or emotionally overwhelmed
I work to create an environment where young people feel respected, heard, and actively involved in their therapy.
Is Therapy Right for You?
You do not need to be in crisis to begin therapy. You may simply recognize that something does not feel right, that an old pattern is no longer working, or that you need a supportive space to process what you are experiencing.
Therapy may be helpful if you:
- Feel overwhelmed by anxiety, sadness, or stress
- Struggle with low self-worth
- Have difficulty communicating your needs
- Notice recurring family or relationship conflicts
- Feel uncertain about your identity or future
- Need support during a major transition
- Want to establish healthier boundaries
- Feel emotionally stuck
- Want to better understand yourself
- Are ready to challenge old patterns and create change
Therapy is not about having all the answers. It is about creating space to ask meaningful questions, develop greater self-awareness, and move toward healing and personal growth.
Start Therapy with Jennefer at Paloma Therapy
You do not have to navigate everything alone. Whether you are experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, family conflict, identity concerns, communication challenges, or a major life transition, therapy can provide a supportive place to begin.
Jennefer provides bilingual therapy in English and Spanish and practices as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist under clinical supervision.
Paloma Therapy offers mental health and psychotherapy services with options for in-person and virtual care depending on clinician availability.
Book a consultation with Paloma Therapy to learn more about working with Jennefer and determine whether her therapeutic approach is a good fit for your needs.
Email: hello@palomatherapy.com
Paloma Therapy — Where Healing Begins.
