MintLeaf
Jennie Denney

Jennie Denney

Online & In-Person

AMFT

San Clemente, California

License 153029
https://denneyfamilytherapy.com
About Jennie
Hi, I’m Jennie Denney, an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist passionate about helping individuals, teens, couples, and families navigate the hard stuff—like self-harm, identity challenges, religious trauma, and relationship ruptures. My approach is trauma-informed and deeply rooted in attachment work, and I use integrative methods like EMDR, IFS, and EFT to support lasting change. I believe therapy should feel safe, collaborative, and grounded in real connection. I'm here to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow.
How does couples therapy work and how can it help?
Couples therapy is a space where partners can slow down, get honest, and begin to understand what’s really happening underneath the conflict, distance, or stuckness. I help couples uncover the deeper patterns driving their disconnection—often rooted in attachment wounds, unmet needs, or miscommunication—and guide them toward more secure, supportive ways of relating.  I offer an initial 4-session couples package because I’ve found that it creates a solid foundation for change. The first session focuses on your relationship story—what brings you in and what you both hope to get out of therapy. In sessions two and three, I meet with each partner individually to understand your personal histories and perspectives. Then in session four, we come back together with a clearer picture of what’s going on systemically, and we begin mapping out a path forward.  This structure gives us the groundwork we need to dive into meaningful work and helps both partners feel heard, understood, and invested in the process from the very beginning. Couples therapy isn’t about fixing each other—it’s about learning how to move through challenges as a team, with empathy, clarity, and connection.
Why did you become a therapist, and what motivates you to continue?
I became a therapist because I know what it’s like to be in the middle of a crisis and still have to show up for the people you love. As both a parent and someone who has navigated my own healing journey, I understand how heavy life can feel—and how important it is to have someone who really listens. Therapy changed my life, and I wanted to offer others that same kind of grounded, compassionate support. I believe in the power of safe relationships to heal what’s been broken, and I feel deeply honored to walk alongside others as they find their voice, their strength, and their way forward.
How do you work with clients with trauma and PTSD?
When I work with clients navigating trauma or PTSD, my first priority is creating a sense of emotional safety. Trauma often lives in the body and nervous system, not just in memory—so we move slowly, with care, and always at your pace. I use a trauma-informed, attachment-based lens to help you feel more grounded in the present while gently exploring what’s been overwhelming or unresolved in the past. One of the primary tools I use is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a research-backed method that helps your brain reprocess traumatic experiences so they no longer feel as raw, triggering, or intrusive. EMDR doesn’t require you to retell every detail—instead, it allows your brain and body to do the healing work in a structured, contained way. I may also integrate parts work (like Internal Family Systems), somatic awareness, and relational processing depending on your needs. My goal is never to push you into the trauma, but to walk with you through it—helping you make sense of what happened, reconnect with your inner strength, and reclaim a sense of safety and wholeness.
Why is trauma processing important?
Trauma processing is important to me because I’ve seen what happens when pain stays stuck. It shows up in our bodies, our relationships, our self-worth—sometimes in ways we don’t even realize. I believe that unprocessed trauma keeps us living in survival mode, but when we begin to name and feel what’s been buried, healing becomes possible. It’s not about erasing the past—it’s about giving ourselves a new relationship to it. For me, trauma work is sacred—it’s about honoring people’s stories, helping them reclaim their sense of safety, and walking with them toward freedom and wholeness.
Interested in talking?
(949) 667-1243
Email Me
Office Location
324 Avenida de la Estrella Suite B
San Clemente, California 92672
Get Directions
Costs and Insurance
$200 - 275 per session
Sliding Scale
Out of Pocket
Specialties
Anxiety
Child or Adolescent Therapy
Couples Therapy
Depression
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy
Parenting
Self Esteem
Self-Harming
Spiritual or Religious
Stress
Trauma and PTSD
Women's Issues
Client Focuses
White
Straight / Heterosexual
Age Groups
Preteen
Teen
Adult
Elders (65+)
Approaches
Attachment-based
EMDR
Emotionally Focused
Experiential
Family Systems
Gottman Method
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Narrative
Person-Centered
Trauma Focused