Hi, I’m Jennifer Norstrom, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Rafael, California.
I began my journey as a Marriage and Family therapist from studying the healing arts about 25 years ago, when I was pulled to explore the roots of physical and emotional pain. I studied herbal medicine and nutrition for a time in addition to massage therapy, and began working with people who had both physical and emotional ailments.
Over time I realized that many of the women I worked with suffered from a history of relational abuse or neglect, which appeared to contributed to digestive issues and somatic complaints.
Through my own journey of several failed relationship attempts and subsequent life as a young single parent, I was determined to learn how to heal the roots of relational trauma and help other women to find strength, self-love, and happy relationships.
I looked into the body-mind connection and found that the body held the imprint of the deepest hurts, needs, and longings of a person from child to adult. Along my path of work and self- reflection I realized that the need for closeness with others is a primary part of being human, if we only feel safe to do so and believe that we will be responded to in a positive way.
After 15 years in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy and work through my own personal therapy, I confidently extend my knowledge to you, so that you may truly find healing and long-term relationship satisfaction.
What is IFS therapy?
Internal Family Systems therapy, or IFS, uses the concept of “parts of self” that are split during very stressful or early traumatic experiences. Other parts then take over that may use extreme or rigid behaviors that allowed the most vulnerable parts to survive. IFS therapy helps to calm the extreme parts actions and heals the vulnerable splits to release humiliation, shame, terror, and abandonment memories. The process allows for deep integration of the self and feelings of inner harmony and well-being to be restored.
Clear somatic emotional memory
Training & Qualifications
California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA
M.A. Counseling Psychology (2008-2010).
Internal Family Systems—parts work training for healing trauma, dissociation, and facilitating internal repair. (2017-present)
Intimacy from the Inside Out–couples therapy training. (2021, 2023)
Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples–(2019).
EMDR levels 1&2–JFK University, Berkeley, CA (2012-2017)
Treatment for Eating Disorders Certificate
Trauma Processing with EMDR. EMDR for attachment repair. Study and consultation with Philip Manfield.
Private Practice Clinical Internship for Relational Therapy at Oak Creek Counseling in Berkeley, CA. (2011-2015). http://www.oakcreekcounseling.org/
Family Service Agency of Marin, San Rafael, CA (2009-2011).–Clinical Internship in Psychodynamic Therapy & EFT Couple’s Therapy
Open Portals, Nevada City, CA (2006-2007)
Certified Cellular Memory Release Facilitator for Trauma Transformation (with Luis Diaz) – Levels 1-3 https://cellularmemory.org/home-eng/
Non-violent Communication, Basic and Advanced https://www.cnvc.org/
Heartwood Institute, Garberville, CA (1999-2000) https://www.heartwoodhub.com/
Somatic Emotional Release Therapy
Hakomi, Level 1.
