Jenae Spencer, LMHC, BCB, RYT

After several years of diving deep into nervous system functioning as a therapist and yoga teacher, I have seen over and over how taking care of your nervous system is crucial for your overall physical and emotional health. When the nervous system isn't working right, it can cause various health problems such as high blood pressure, digestive problems, breathing difficulties, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Holistic techniques help to understand and balance your unique nervous system's functioning. Feeling more emotionally balanced, improving physical health, and fostering a deep sense of peace in both mind and body. Your autonomic nervous system, which includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, manages key functions like heart rate, digestion, breathing, and blood pressure. The sympathetic system kicks in during stress, triggering the 'fight or flight' response by releasing adrenaline and cortisol. The parasympathetic system is often referred to as the "rest and digest" system and promotes relaxation and recovery. Keeping your system balanced is essential for good health. MY APPROACH My approach extends beyond traditional talk therapy by integrating somatic practices that address the whole person. I believe that healing isn't about one "fix" but a journey of small, significant changes that transform one's life and contribute to long-lasting resilience and peace of mind and body. Biofeedback: Biofeedback therapy helps you become more aware of your body's processes, allowing you to feel more empowered to regulate your body’s reactions. Using Thought Technology medical-grade instruments, I assess functions like breathing, heart rate, muscle tension, skin conductance, and body temperature. During the initial assessment, we create a complete profile of your autonomic nervous system. We then use real-time feedback during sessions to learn techniques that enhance your ability to regulate your emotions and physical responses such as shallow breathing, high heart rate, muscle tension, and body temperature. CBT for Insomnia and Nightmares: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I, is a holistic treatment and a powerful protocol that the American College of Physicians recognizes as the first-line treatment for adults with chronic insomnia and sleep issues. In addition, CBT for nightmares leads to a decrease in intensity and frequency of nightmares. Somatic Therapy: Somatic therapy addresses what talk therapy cannot. You store memories and experiences at a body level at times that cannot be expressed verbally. Somatic therapy enhances awareness of bodily sensations and guides you to feel safe within yourself by exploring your thoughts, memories, and emotions through the body’s lens. Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of accepting and just being in the present moment with an attitude of openness, curiosity, and non-judgment. It encourages awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the environment that leads to deeper understanding of your experiences and reactions. This promotes reduced stress, enhanced emotional resilience, mental clarity, and overall well-being. ABOUT ME I am a licensed mental health therapist with 17 years of experience in the health and wellness field. Licensed to practice in Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Florida, and South Carolina, I own a private practice in the heart of Boston, MA. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working in various settings and with diverse populations, such as inpatient psychiatric facilities, intensive community-based mental health services, and therapeutic services for active-duty military personnel and their families, both at home and abroad, that had given me a deep level of experience and perspective in nervous system wellness. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and a Master of Arts in Community Counseling, and I am currently completing a Master of Public Health at Harvard University to expand my work into the development of preventative mental health systems. I'm board-certified in biofeedback, and I have advanced training in CBT for insomnia and nightmares. I am a 200-hour yoga instructor trained in trauma-sensitive yoga and a Level 1 Sensorimotor therapist trained in trauma theory, attachment theory, and neuroscience.