Jennifer LaPenta, LCSW

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Helping people rewrite the stories that hold them back

Details

Name	Jennifer LaPenta
Credentials	LCSW
Based in	Connecticut
Licensed in	Connecticut
Session format	Online
Languages	English
Years in practice	19

About Jennifer

Jennifer LaPenta is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Connecticut with 19 years of clinical experience. She takes a narrative-informed approach and centers sessions around each person’s story. She aims to help people make sense of stressful times and find clearer ways forward.

Her work focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and coping with life changes. She also helps with relationship and intimacy-related concerns, parenting stress, eating struggles, career worries, and issues tied to identity including LGBT concerns.

Background and approach

Jennifer pays attention to caregiving challenges, hospice and end-of-life needs, and the strain that comes with isolation and compassion fatigue. In sessions she combines narrative thinking with client-centered listening and cognitive behavioral tools. Conversations look at life events and the meanings people give them, then add small, practical steps to shift unhelpful patterns.

She uses brief, goal-oriented methods when helpful and a psychodynamic lens to understand long-standing patterns. Jennifer aims to make therapy collaborative and straightforward. She talks with people about what matters most and helps them set manageable goals.

Progress often comes from small changes in how someone thinks, reacts, and acts in daily life. Her background includes nearly two decades of practice across community and clinical settings. She works with adults and young adults and brings experience supporting people through family of origin issues, caregiver stress, and aging-related concerns.

What this therapist works with

Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Family conflicts among the things Jennifer works with, alongside the areas below.

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
Internal Family Systems: Listed by Jennifer among the ways she works.
Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Jennifer directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.

If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Jennifer directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

How narrative and practical approaches work online

Jennifer often uses Narrative Therapy to help people tell and reframe the stories that shape their feelings and choices. This approach looks at life events and the meanings placed on them, which can open new ways to respond to stress, relationships, or identity struggles. Client-Centered Therapy is another core part of her work and focuses on listening deeply and following each person's priorities to build trust and clarity. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, adds hands-on tools for changing thoughts and behaviors, useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. She collaborates with each person to match methods to their goals and preferences, and adjusts the focus over time. That way therapy stays practical and relevant as needs change.

Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives. Video calls let people use face-to-face conversation when more connection is helpful. Phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging provide a lower-friction way to share updates, process feelings between sessions, or get brief support during a busy day. These options increase flexibility while keeping the focus on the therapeutic work.

Common questions about this listing

What concerns does she help with?

She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and coping with life changes. Other areas include relationships, intimacy-related issues, parenting, eating concerns, career stress, and compassion fatigue.

What is her general therapeutic style?

Her style is collaborative and narrative-informed, with client-centered listening and practical CBT and solution-focused techniques. Sessions combine understanding personal stories with steps to change daily thoughts and behaviors.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 19 years of clinical work experience in Connecticut settings. That time includes work with caregiving, hospice-related issues, and family of origin concerns.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in Connecticut.

Which languages are supported and can international clients participate?

Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin therapy with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Jennifer are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Jennifer where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.

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