Jenna LaFratta

Jenna believes that every person is the expert on their own life. She views therapy as a collaborative process where clients are supported, encouraged, and empowered to better understand themselves, develop effective coping strategies, and create meaningful change. Rather than telling clients what they should do, Jenna works alongside them to help identify strengths, build practical skills, and foster confidence in navigating life's challenges. Jenna earned both her Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services and her Master of Social Work from the University at Buffalo, graduating with honors. Throughout her career, she has worked with children, adolescents, adults, veterans, and families across a variety of clinical and community settings. Her experience includes outpatient mental health, substance use treatment, school social work, crisis intervention, victim advocacy, and child welfare. Most recently, she has worked with the Children's Legal Center, supporting children and families involved in foster care, abuse, neglect, and family court while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to advocate for the well-being of children. Jenna's therapeutic approach is grounded primarily in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) while thoughtfully integrating psychodynamic principles to help clients understand how past experiences and relationships continue to shape present thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. She also enjoys incorporating creative interventions, including art, when they align with a client's interests and therapeutic goals, recognizing that healing often occurs through experiences that extend beyond words alone. Jenna is particularly passionate about creating a warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel genuinely heard, respected, and safe to explore their experiences. She approaches each individual through a trauma-informed and strengths-based lens, recognizing that every person's story is unique and deserving of compassion. Her goal is to help clients develop greater self-awareness, healthier patterns of thinking and relating, and the confidence to continue growing long after therapy has ended. Whether working with children, adolescents, or adults, Jenna is committed to meeting clients where they are and helping them move toward a life that reflects their values, resilience, and potential.