Jennifer Upchurch, LCSW, PLLC

Wilmington NC and Telehealth

Welcome

I offer compassionate client centered therapy and EMDR consultation. I’m committed to providing the highest level of care consistent with current best practice methods. The work is truly a partnership in growth based on respect, compassion, and curiosity. 
If you are ready to take the next step in therapy or consultation, I’d love to hear from you!

1:1 Counseling with Adults

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
— Maya Angelou
Therapy is tailored to meet your specific needs with a collaborative and compassionate focus.                                                      
Areas of treatment include:
  • Trauma

  • Complex Trauma

  • Dissociation

  • PTSD

  • Anxiety 
  • Life stress/Work Stress
  • Depression and Mood Disorders
  • Interpersonal Relationships 
  • Self-Esteem 
  • Shame
  • Early Childhood Abuse
  • Women’s Issues (infertility, Pregnancy, Pregnancy loss, and Postpartum)
  •  Parenting
  • Co-Dependency
  • Divorce/Separation 
  • Loss and Grief

Therapy Models:

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Compassion-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Ego States therapy including IFS informed EMDR, Structural Dissociation model informed, Polyvagal Theory Informed, Supportive and Strengths Based therapies.

Insurances accepted: BCBS and Aetna

Self pay: $155 per session

Jennifer Upchurch, LCSW

Welcome

Therapy offers the opportunity to move forward on a journey of self acceptance. It is my goal to support you as you move towards healing, connectedness, and peace. I believe that each of us has an infinite capacity to learn and grow. We will work together to develop skills and resources to strengthen your ability to be attuned to your needs and create positive change. I value the creative healing process and feel honored to be a witness to this with you.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Certified EMDR Therapist

EMDRIA Approved Consultant 

I have a passion for treating individuals with attachment wounds, trauma, complex trauma and grief and loss. I also enjoy working with people on present day patterns in life and in relationships that may create distress, anxiety, depression and codependency. Offering therapy to other therapists in the field as well as teachers and helpers in our community is so important to me. In addition to therapy, I love consulting with clinicians new to the field and those interested in EMDR certification.
I’m committed to inclusivity of all identities, bodies and abilities and support body positivity and compassion training. I work from an antiracism framework both personally and professionally and I strive to be an ally in the LGBTQIA+ community. Click below for more information about me.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a best practice therapy modality used to treat post traumatic stress disorder. There is also evidence to indicate its use with painful memories connected to anxiety and depression as well as interpersonal relationship struggles.

How does it work?

 EMDR utilizes dual attention through tactile, visual or auditory senses. The dual attention lowers distress level (desensitization) and allows for reprocessing of traumatic material. Our brains are neuroplastic (constantly changing or adapting as new information is received) and will naturally heal much like our body will naturally heal from an injury. However, when there is an injury, our brain can sometimes lock this information in our nervous system and continue to signal to us that anything representing any part of this material is dangerous. EMDR enables us to move this “stuck” material through our nervous systems where it can be adaptively stored. 
Strategies for strengthening the benefits:   
Attachment resourcing, IFS informed techniques and Dialetical Behavioral skills are used before beginning desensitization, as well as throughout the EMDR processing, to ensure that there are skills such as distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotional regulation and compassion strategies necessary for healing. The therapy process ultimately will allow us to create more awareness, compassion, connectedness and peace in our personal lives and our system as a whole. 

Insurances accepted: BCBS and Aetna

Self pay $155

Consultation/Supervision

In addition to providing therapy, I also love consulting with new therapists in the field. I am an approved EMDR Consultant through EMDRIA which enables me to to provide consultation to clinicians seeking certification in EMDR. I was originally trained in EMDR by Roger Solomon and received specialized training in Attachment Focused EMDR by Laurel Parnell. I also am a NASW Certified Clinical Supervisor. If you are ready to begin working towards certification in EMDR or you are interested in general supervision or consultation please send me a message and let's learn and grow together!

Consulting and Supervision

In person or virtual visit (50 minute sessions.)

$150

“Beneath the surface of the protective parts of trauma survivors there exists an undamaged essence, a Self that is confident, curious, and calm, a Self that has been sheltered from destruction by the various protectors that have emerged in their efforts to ensure survival. Once those protectors trust that it is safe to separate, the Self will spontaneously emerge, and the parts can be enlisted in the healing process”
— Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Below are a listing of my trainings:
  • DBT Skills Training by Clive Robins
  • Dialetical Behavioral Therapy by Cathy Moonshine
  • Changes in Attitude, Changes in Latitude: Challenges and Possibilities in the Treatment of Addictive Disorders by Paul Nagy
  • Reconsidering Trauma: Treatment Advances, Relational Issues and Mindfulness in Integrated Trauma Therapy by John Briere
  • AF-EMDR Level 3 at The Parnell Institute by Laurel Parnell
  • Clinical Spirituality by Jeff Georgi
  • Coping with Chronic Pain: Comprehensive Pain Management by James Coggins
  • Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse by Kelly Broadwater
  • Treating Eating Disorders by Kelly Broadwater and Kayj Nash Okine
  • Brain Trauma, Concussion and Dementia by Richard Coleman
  • The Psychobiology of Hope by Lisa Goehler
  • Helping the Hero: A closer Look at Mental Health Issues in the Military Population by Jim Baxendale
  • Anger, Forgiveness, and the Healing Process by Dennis Marikis
  • Why We Worry: Understanding and Treating Anxiety Disorders
  • Shyness and Social Anxiety: Evidence-based techniques by Martin Anthony
  • The Habits of Stress Resilient People by Brian King
  • Becoming Known-A Relational Model for Parts/Ego State Work in EMDR Andrew Seubert 
  • Memory Reconsolidation, The Flash Technique and EMDR by Philip Manfield
  • Easy Ego States by Robin Shapiro
  • EMDR Therapy Equine-Assisted by Amanda Martin
  • EMDR 2.0 with Complex Trauma by Jongh and Matthiissen
  • Equine Assisted Interventions for Returning Veterans and Their Loved Ones by Greg Kersten
  • Equine Assisted-EMDR Equilateral protocol using a structural dissociation lens by Sarah Jenkins 
  • IFS for EMDR Therapists by Bruce Hersey
  • IFS-Informed EMDR: The Internal Family Systems Interweave by Bruce Hersey
  • Attachment-Focused EMDR with LGBTQIA+ Clients by Laurel Parnell
  • Discovery: IFS-Informed EMDR with Blended Protectors by Bruce Hersey
  • The Coherent Self and System: IFS and Memory Reconsolidation by Bruce Hersey

  • Healing the Whole Self: Treating Dissociation In Harmony With EMDR Therapy (Structural Dissociation Theory) by Sarah Jenkins

    And many more

Contact me

I hope to see you soon! The office address is 7741 Market St. Ste A Wilmington NC.

7741 Market St Ste A Wilmington NC office lobby offering individual therapy with Jennifer Upchurch, LCSW