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  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist
    Certified EFT Therapist & Supervisor
    Lecturer in Psychology,
    Harvard Medical School

     

     

  • ABOUT DR. LEIGH

    Licensed Clinical Psychologist

     

    "The point of compassion is not to eliminate suffering, but to lead a person to the truth so he [she/they] will be able to lead a life of truth." - H. Almaas

     

    I am a licensed psychologist and have been working with couples and individuals for over twenty years. I maintain a full-time private practice with my husband, Dr. Craig Malkin, in Belmont and Cambridge, Massachusetts. I'm also a part-time lecturer and clinical supervisor at Harvard Medical School, as well as an ICEEFT certified therapist and clinical supervisor in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. My clinical and research endeavors have been heavily influenced by my travels throughout Asia, where I experienced, first hand, just how powerfully culture and environment influence subjective experiences of relationships, emotion, and healing. I integrate a range of therapuetic perspectives in my work, but lean heavily upon emotion-focused, experiential interventions in practice.

     

    My prounouns are she/her. And although I identify as a straight, white, middle aged cisgender female, I welcome clients identifying with any sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and class background. All are welcome

    Experience & Training

    EDUCATION

    2003 PhD Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts


    1992 BS Business Administration, University of Missouri

    CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

    2004 - Present

    Clinical Psychologist at YM Psychotherapy & Consultation, Inc., Cambridge, MA and Belmont, MA

    Part-time Lecturer in Psychology, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School

      

    2006- 2008

    Newton-Wellesley Eating Disorders and Behavioral Medicine, Brookline, MA

     

    2003-2004

    Post-doctoral Fellow, Lahey Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine

     

    2002-2003

    Clinical Psychology Intern, The May Institute, Children's Services

     

    2000-2001

    Clinical Psychology Extern, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry

     

    1999-2000

    Behavioral Medicine Extern, Boston VA Medical Center, Medical Psychology Department

     

    1998-1999

    Clinical Psychology Extern, University of Massachusetts Boston, Student Counseling Center

    SPECIALIZED TRAINING

    Certified as an Emotionally Focused Therapy Therapist and Supervisor

     

    Level II training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy

     

    Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Treating the Eating Disordered Client with Multiple Problems

     

    Psychoanalytic Couple and Family Institute of New England, Two-year Certification

     

    Stress Reduction Program, Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, UMass Memorial Health Care. Director: Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD

     

    Relaxation Response Training, The Mind Body Medical Institute, Director: Herbert Benson, MD

     

    Introductory Workshop in Clinical Hypnosis, The Cambridge Health Alliance, Behavioral Medicine Program

     

    Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, (AEDP), Level II training

    PUBLICATIONS

    Leigh, J., Shapiro, E., Penney, S. (2010). Developing diverse, collaborative leaders: An empirical program evaluation. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 17(4), 370-379.

     

    Shapiro, E., Leigh, J., Weiss, E. (2007). Toward culturally competent, gender equitable leadership: Assessing outcomes of women leaders in diverse contexts. In J. L. Chin, B. Lott, J. Rice, & J. Sanchez-Hucles (Eds.), Women and Leadership: Transforming Visions and Diverse Voices, p 88-105, Blackwell Publishing.

     

    Allensworth-Davies D, Leigh J, Pukstas K, Geron SM, Hardt E, Brandeis G, Engle RL, Parker VA. (2007). Country of origin and racio-ethnicity: Are there differences in perceived organizational cultural competency and job satisfaction among nursing assistants in long-term care? Healthcare Management Review, 32(4): 1-9.

     

    Pukstas, K., Parker, V., Brandeis, G. Hardt, E., Geron, S., Tyler, D. Leigh, J., Engle, R. (2006). Improving intercultural staff communication in the long-term care setting. Annals of Long-term Care, 14(8), 34-37.

  • SERVICES

    Specialty Areas

    • Individual & couples psychotherapy for adults (in-person or online)
    • Hold Me Tight workshops and intensives for couples (local and destination retreats available)
    • Clinical supervision and training in EFT for mental health professionals
    • Animal assisted therapy
    • Expertise in treating depression, anxiety, and relationship issues

    Approach To Therapy

    Whether I’m working with individuals or couples, I practice empirically-validated, theoretically grounded approaches to treatment, with an emphasis on helping you explore the underlying emotions fueling your behaviors. Although the particular intervention I use in a given moment may vary according to your individual needs, my approach is always aimed at helping you create more flexible ways of processing your inner world, and helping you make better use of your emotions to guide your choices.

     

    Therapy involves engaging in conversations aimed at helping you identify and transform your underlying emotional blueprints. I see my role as a process facilitator—collaboratively working with you to explore your inner experience, and helping you access the motivation and/or courage to modify the behaviors that are troubling you most. At the end of this process, you will be able to respond to the people and situations around you in a way that leaves you feeling in greater harmony with yourself and others.

     

    * A special note regarding couples work: I ask that couples schedule two back-to-back sessions with me whenever possible. This means we will meet for a total of ninety minutes. (Please schedule one session under each partner's name in order to receive potential out-of-network insurance benefits.) Real change requires that we have the time to safely bring difficult emotions alive in the room, and process them together in a new way. The extended time ensures I have sufficient time to help you experience a feeling of success and security before wrapping up for the day. I have found that longer sessions, even if less frequent, are more effective than shorter, more frequent sessions.

     

  • WORKING WITH JENN

    To schedule a meeting or see available times please CLICK HERE.

     

     

    Fees And Insurance​

    Fees for a 45-minute session: $250 for individuals, $320 for couples; (fees increase annually by $10). A typical course of Emotionally Focused Therapy lasts 10-20 meetings, but can last much longer if an individual has experienced exceptionally adverse life events.

    Please note: I do not accept insurance. However, you may still be able to receive reimbursement if your plan offers out-of-network coverage for behavioral health: i.e. you submit payment to me at the time of service, I electronically send you an itemized receipt which you submit to your insurer for reimbursement.

     

    If this is something you would like to pursue, please contact your insurance company to confirm details about out-of-network coverage for behavioral/mental health, including coinsurance and deductible amounts. Lastly, insurers can refuse to pay for services if I do not include a diagnosis that indicates medical necessity for treatment. Please feel free to discuss with me as needed.

     

    Cancellation Policy: When cancelling, you must log into my on-line system, and self-cancel your appointment with greater than 48-hours notice--otherwise the full fee will be charged. Thank you for your understanding.

    Privacy

    The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission.

     

    Exceptions include:

     

    • Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
    • If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
    • If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety.

  • COUPLES WORKSHOP

    HOLD ME TIGHT

     

     

    What is Hold Me Tight?

    Hold Me Tight is an evidence-based, relationship enrichment program developed by Dr. Sue Johnson—an internationally recognized researcher and expert in couples therapy. This program teaches you and your partner how to move away from cycles of conflict, increase emotional responsiveness, forgive old wounds, and rekindle desire and affection. This is not a course in communication strategies—communication techniques are often inaccessible when partners are in the grips of strong emotion. Hold Me Tight will help you and your partner identify your patterns of negative interaction—and the underlying emotions that fuel them—so you can de-escalate the negative spirals that erode the bond between you. Hold Me Tight is designed to help you and your partner re-engage emotionally, and turn your relationship into a safe haven for each other. A list of research references and further resources can be found at iceeft.com

     

    "You both genuinely care about the folks you counsel, bringing your brilliant gifts of wisdom, empathy, kindness, insight and an authentic quest for the truth that is in the middle of it all… However things go with my partner and I, we both will always treasure our uniquely powerful and grace-filled weekend in Belmont, in the welcome safety of your good counsel."

     


    WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

     

    Hold Me Tight helps couples at any stage of a relationship who feel unable to find resolution to their moments of disconnection. It is most successful with couples who wish to establish a more secure emotional connection with one another, yet nevertheless, find themselves at an impasse in certain key moments. Hold Me Tight has excellent outcomes with a wide range of couples diverse in age, cultural background, and sexual orientation.

     

     

    "Excellent workshop. You work seamlessly and beautifully together. you create a safe haven and yet do a great job of keeping us on track. You both are excellent listeners and distillers of information and encapsulating our ideas/ramblings. You are so respectful, compassionate and wise. Thank you for being there with us and for us. Highly recommend this for others."



    WHAT WILL WE DO AT THE WORKSHOP?

     

    You are encouraged to read the book Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnson prior to the workshop. During the workshop, we will present findings from the love and attachment research in order to help you make sense of the cycles of disconnection couples often find themselves stuck in. We will also show video footage of other couples who represent the most common patterns of conflict. At regular intervals, we will ask you to break off from the group and engage in structured conversations with your partner regarding your particular cycle; the facilitators will support you during these private conversations. No one is required to share any personal experiences with the group.

     

    "Your combination of teaching and facilitating us in direct conversations was valuable, clear, and just the right balance. Your styles worked well together and your graciousness put me at ease. Thank you!"

     

    Who are the facilitators?

     

    *photo taken in 2010--we're no longer nearly this fresh-faced  ;-)

     

    Dr. Jennifer Leigh and Dr. Craig Malkin are both Instructors in Psychology at Harvard Medical School with private practices in Harvard Square and Belmont, Massachusetts. We have been together for over twenty-five years, and have experienced first hand the power this approach offers for keeping our bond strong.

     

    "Both my partner and I are so grateful that we got to have a couples workshop with you. We think you are both exceptionally gifted therapists… and however our relationship goes, the time spent with you has made us be more thoughtful about it."

     


    WHEN AND WHERE IS THE NEXT HOLD ME TIGHT WEEKEND WORKSHOP?

     

    To be determined. In the meantime please visit iceeft.com for other listings.

     

     

    "Practical and well presented tools to build your relationship. Thank you for your support and hospitality."



    PRIVATE COUPLES DESTINATION RETREATS

     

    Dr. Jennifer Leigh also offers all-inclusive, destination couples retreats, scheduled at a number of resort locations across the U.S. In order to inquire about scheduling a private couples intensive, please register as a new client and call Dr. Leigh at 617-359-9850.

     

     
    "You were both outstanding and I thank you so much. You work excellent as a team. You kept us on track when we diverged and I’m sure we won’t do as well on our own, but we have an excellent model to fall back on. Thank you!"

     

    "We can't thank you enough for giving us the space, and time, and safety to have such deep and honest conversations. Whenever we think of our couples workshop, it is with such great fondness and gratitude."
     
    "We made substantial progress while having the tremendous good fortune of having such excellent guidance from you. We both agree that our weekend with you was extremely valuable."

  • ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    The following links are listed to provide you with additional online mental health care information and counseling resources.

    CHRONIC FATIGUE

    DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

    RELATIONSHIPS & EMOTIONS

     

    Brene Brown on Empathy
    RSA Short: Brene Brown, Blame

    Love & bonding from infant to adult

    "I'm triggered": video on the neurobiology of relationships, with a side of camp :-)

    NSFW: Louis CK "just let the sadness come"

    Backwards Brain Bicycle - a great demonstration of the difference between explicit knowledge and implicit muscle memory. Enacting behavioral changes takes a long time and much practice.

    Affair recovery

    Book: "Not Just Friends" by S. Glass
    "How Enlightened Families Argue" comedy with a purpose :-)

    Note: Dr. Jennifer Leigh is not responsible for the content, claims or representations of the listed sites.

  • CONTACT

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