Jenna Atkinson, M.A, R-DMT

I started my career in mental health as a student of Rider University  where I graduated with my Master’s of Arts in Clinical Mental Health  Counseling with a concentration in Dance/Movement Therapy. My intern experience began at GenPsych Bridgewater, working in an intensive outpatient facility with children and adolescents. I completed my internship with The Calm Space LLC and ran Dance/Movement Therapy groups for children and adults with Chronic Pain.

 

Before transitioning into the mental health field I graduated with my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and performed professionally. I found Dance/Movement Therapy to be the perfect blend of my interests in the creative arts, and how the body can be a resource for additional healing  and personal growth.

 

My passion for mental health stems from experiencing hardship within my family and being a natural helper from a young age. Having lost a loved one to their mental health, my desire to be of service increased. I felt pulled to do this work so that I could support individuals and provide space to feel understood. 

 

During my grief journey, I fell in love with dance/movement as a way to release difficult emotions and deepen my understanding of my personal experience from a mind-body-soul perspective. Feeling called to be of service led me to receive my Life Coaching Certificate through LUMIA Life Coaching and my 200-Hour YMTT through Anuttara Yoga. 

 

My counseling style is strength-based. Seeing everyone as having infinite potential. This allows me to get to know you from a place of abundance  rather than deficit. My goal is to help you see your unique worth and give you the tools to increase compassion for yourself and improve your life. I take a holistic approach by wanting to understand all the many unique facets that make you, YOU, and I enjoy taking a person-centered  approach in addition to incorporating dance/movement therapy as well as other creative modalities such as music, art, and play. 

 

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul”- Martha Graham