Approach

My therapeutic approach emphasizes evidence-based treatments that have been demonstrated to be effective at improving mental health symptoms in children, adolescents, and adults. I focus on the interaction between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and building both skills and insight to promote positive growth. My background in working with patients with complex medical conditions has left me acutely aware of the interplay between physical health and mental health. I take a whole-person approach to treatment, viewing this as central to improving quality of life.

Therapy with me is active, collaborative, and non-judgmental. I view my role as working collaboratively with you to help you gain insight into your current challenges and work towards attainable goals that will meaningfully improve your well-being. Because no two people are exactly alike, I tailor my approach to your specific needs and draw from your unique strengths and values to guide our work. Furthermore, I strongly believe that a family-based approach to treatment is an essential component of care for many young people. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with other support figures in your care, including psychiatrists, medical providers, and school personnel.

Areas of Speciality

I enjoy working with children, adolescents, and young adults as well as parents and families.

  • • Adjustment and life transitions

    • Anxiety, OCD, and tics

    • Depression

    • Loss and grief

    • Stress management

    • Perfectionism

    • Identity formation

  • • Coping with chronic or acute medical conditions

    • Food allergy

    • Immune deficiency

    • Oncology

    • Needle phobia

    • Adherence/nonadherence

    • Treatment decisions

    • Medical traumatic stress

    • Consultation with medical providers

    • Family support for parents and siblings of children with medical conditions

  • • Prenatal and postpartum anxiety and depression

    • “Baby blues” and postnatal adjustment

    • Ambivalence about pregnancy or parenthood

    • Traumatic stress

  • • Parenthood and identity shifts

    • Infant attachment and bonding

    • Parenting support and education

    • Developmental guidance and support

    • Behavior management strategies

    • Feeding problems and difficult mealtimes

    • Negotiating work-life balance in parenthood

    • Support for parents of children with chronic or acute medical conditions

    • Support for parents of children with developmental delays or disabilities

    • Medical traumatic stress

Logistics

Location: Currently, I am offering telehealth services to patients throughout the state of California. In-home services for children in the Los Angeles region can be provided if clinically indicated and mutually agreeable. Home-based psychotherapy allows me to observe your family’s patterns of behavior firsthand and provide treatment in your natural environment. It also allows you to receive support without the added pressure of arranging for childcare or navigating traffic.

Fee: I am an out-of-network provider and do not contract with any insurance companies. I can provide you with a superbill each month that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement, based on your plan benefits. If you do not have or intend to use insurance, you have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your care is expected to cost.

What to expect: Therapy sessions last approximately 45 minutes. I provide both time-limited, focused treatment as well as longer-term treatment. The length of treatment and the frequency of sessions depends on your needs and the treatment approach we select. In early sessions, we will discuss treatment recommendations based on your specific goals. 

Getting started: Please call 424-229-2646 or email jennifer@jenniferhershfieldphd.com to set up a complimentary, brief phone consultation. This call is intended to introduce you to my services, let me learn about your needs, and allow us to decide whether we are a good fit to work together.