My name is Jennifer R. Levin, and I am a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist in California (MFC 93269) and Washington state (LF 61107912). I specialize in sudden and unexpected death; how to cope with the pain if you are living in the aftermath, advance preparation for your workplace, and professional education for those who want to comfort others who have experienced an unexpected death.
Educational Background
In 2000 I received my doctorate from the University of California at Los Angeles in Public Health where I studied the psychosocial needs of women with breast cancer. The women and dying patients I worked with taught me so much about living and pursuing a life that is meaningful and fulfilling until the very end.
Over the years I have been privileged to help clients and their families transition from suffering to healing, from pain to growth, and in certain instances from life to death. Together I have learned how to harness the power of the human connection. My career in the helping profession has been extraordinarily fulfilling. In addition to my work at UCLA, I have served as the Executive Director of a Hospice, chaired an End-of-Life Care Coalition, and volunteered with several cancer organizations.
In 2010 I returned to school at Pepperdine University for my master’s degree in clinical psychology. I worked with clients in health crises and transitions, especially related to grief and loss, oncology, and illness. I taught several university courses in psychology, launched a nonprofit to provide low fee grief services and supervised pre-licensed mental health clinicians preparing for their careers as therapists.
Why sudden and unexpected death?
In recent years I have become acutely aware of the unmet needs individuals experience after an unexpected or sudden death. The lack of services designed to address the trauma and grief that accompany a sudden loss inspired me to shift my work to focus solely on the pain, suffering, and isolation that often occurs. In the last five years, I have begun responding to traumas at schools, camps, and corporations who experienced the unexpected deaths of people dying from medical crises, suicide, accidents, overdoses, and COVID. I have found the majority of organizations unprepared for the onslaught of grief and struggle for direction and support their community needs, while trying to contain their internal grief emotions. My experiences have motivated me to develop critical support services to help prepare corporate and school settings for unexpected deaths in the workplace. Finally, I am dedicated to continuing educating and training mental health professionals to understand the grief needs of individuals who have experienced an unexpected death to use theoretically and clinically proven techniques to best foster healing.
My academic studies and my diverse career experiences have equipped me with a unique skill set, compassionate spirit, and sincere dedication to provide therapy for healing.
On the personal side
In 2021, mid-pandemic, my therapy dog Winnie and I relocated to Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, Washington. My work has taught me that life is short, and we do not know how much time we have on this planet. I have always wanted to live somewhere breathing taking beautiful and peaceful and I am so proud to call this little island my home. I am so pleased to be able to continue working with my clients via telehealth and to have the opportunity to develop my new services to meet the needs of those living with a sudden and unexpected death.
I am compassionate and dedicated to my clients, their grief, and their healing. I am committed to making sure my clients have the tools and techniques they need to care for themselves during intense times of grief and pain. Our world remains ever changing and Therapy Heals will continue to develop new and innovative services to meet the needs of individuals in grief, especially after an unexpected death.