Meet Jenn

PRACTICE OWNER

CLINICAL DIRECTOR

SERVING AGES 3+ FOR INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, PARENT CONSULTATIONS, AND THERAPIST SUPERVISION

JENN BIRCH, EDS, LCMHCS, RPTS, NCC

Jenn has been providing therapy services to children, adolescents, and families in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding Triangle area since 2007. With over 18 years of counseling experience, Jenn is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Religion from Meredith College (2004), where she completed an internship with Wake County Public Schools, and Master’s and Educational Specialist Degrees from the University of Alabama (2006 and 2007).

Prior to private practice, she worked with women, adolescents, and children in a women’s counseling center, as well as with severely physically and sexually abused children in a children’s advocacy center. Currently, Jenn specializes in working with neurodivergent kids and their families, particularly the twice exceptional population with multiple diagnoses including ASD, PDA, PANDAS, Anxiety, ADHD, NVLD, AuDHD, and sensory needs. 

My style

Jenn works from a child-centered counseling approach, but uses a multitude of techniques including Psychodynamic, Jungian, and Adlerian approaches in order to best assess and meet specific counseling goals with clients. She focuses on treating the whole child and enjoys working with parents of neurodivergent children (having several of those herself), and collaborating with other providers and schools to best set individuals up for social/emotional/academic success. She focuses her efforts on all aged clients, from toddlers to parents, with limited clients hours as she has increased her supervisory and clinical supervision, along with collaborating with fellow Birch Therapy colleagues for the best client care within the practice. 

Currently, Jenn juggles her time between four children (ages 15, 14, 10, and 7), supervising new child therapist licensees, and meeting with parents to help navigate the joys (and trials) of parenting. If she is not in the office, she is hoping to be at the beach or pool with a good book in hand.

Certifications

  • NC LCMHCS  #6787

  • NCC Approved Clinical Supervisor #ACS-4622

  • Registered Play Therapist Supervisor #S3312

  • National Certified Counselor #220403

  • Circle of Security Parenting® Facilitator

  • Circle of Security Parenting Classroom® Facilitator

  • Board Member, Center for Cooperative Parenting

  • Parenting Coordinator

Training & Education

  • Pathological Demand Avoidance and the Playroom

  • Supervision within Play Therapy

  • Intense Clinical Supervision Training: Best Practices

  • Thinking Psychoanalytically: The Basics Psychoanalytic Center of the Carolinas

  • Attachment and Psychoanalysis: Developing the Capacity for Secure Relating in Adults

  • Enneagram Growth: The Art of Typing

  • Racial Equity Institute, Phase 1

  • Sandtray Therapy

  • The Neurobiology of Attachment NICABM

  • Child Development for the Play Therapist

  • Polyvagal Informed Therapy Master Class

  • Implementing Play Therapy Intervention with Neurodivergent Children

Publications & Media

  • Birch, J.M. & Carmichael, K. (2009). Using drawings in play therapy: A Jungian approach. The Alabama Counseling Association Journal, 34(2), 2-8.

  • “Jennifer Birch on children, emotions, parenting, and faith,” Wintering Faith podcast, June 15, 2021.

  • “Cooper, Cohen, NC Education leaders call for reopening more schools,” WRAL, February 21, 2021.

  • “NC Senate to take up bill requiring schools to have in person learning option,” CBS17, February 3, 2021.

  • “NC therapist says mental health crisis among kids is growing,” ABC11, January 29, 2021.  

  • “On the pandemic’s hidden front line, children and teens struggle with the mental stress,” Raleigh’s News & Observer, December 27, 2020.