I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California, specializing in eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, OSFED, ARFID) and co-occurring issues such as body image distress, body dysmorphia, trauma, OCD, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and depression. As a mother of three, I have developed an additional passion for supporting parents who are navigating their own mental health recovery or whose children are dealing with mental health challenges. I provide individual, couples, and family therapy. You do not need to have an eating disorder to work with me; we can discuss whether we are a good fit based on your primary concerns.
My private practice is named Go With the Grain Therapy for a couple of reasons. First, it includes a food pun for my clients who need help welcoming a variety of foods back into their lives. More importantly, this name reflects my overall philosophy and therapeutic approach. I am committed to joining you on your journey and working with your limitations rather than against them. I recognize the times when my clients need a push or a dose of accountability, but there is a time for pushing and a time for creativity. Ultimately, what supports one client's recovery process may not work for another. The more I can go with the grain of the individual—truly understanding the 'why' behind their behaviors or symptoms—the more effective the therapy will be.
My Approach
The majority of my work is guided by Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, an evidence-based approach that acknowledges the various parts within an individual. For example, someone might have a perfectionistic part, a part that fears failure, or a part that seeks comfort through harmful behaviors. Alternatively, a person may have one part that desires recovery from their eating disorder and another that resists it. Often, people assign moral judgments to these parts. In contrast, IFS encourages individuals to practice compassion and understanding toward these parts as a pathway to healing. This approach especially speaks to me because of its ability to reduce shame and self-judgement while still working towards change.
Alongside IFS, I incorporate other evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which are particularly effective for building skills and providing concrete tools to utilize between sessions. I also integrate elements of Somatic Experiencing to help clients strengthen the mind-body connection and alleviate somatic symptoms of stress.
Professional Background
My journey with eating disorders began in 2015, when I held patient support and administrative roles at an eating disorder treatment facility (residential, PHP, and IOP levels of care) during my undergraduate and graduate studies. I completed my practicum at a community mental health center specializing in DBT, managing various severe mental health issues such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. After earning my MA in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2020, I returned to the eating disorder treatment setting as a Primary Therapist, providing individual, group, and couples/family therapy. Subsequently, I transitioned to a group practice focused on eating disorders and body image issues, where I became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist before founding Go With the Grain Therapy.
Education and License Information
Jennifer Villaseñor
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) #135465 (current license valid through 10/21/26)
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University, San Diego
Certifications and Trainings
- Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS): A Revolutionary & Transformative Treatment for Permanent Healing of PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Substance Abuse, and More
- Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing, Step by Step: Master the Body-oriented Approach to Trauma and Stress Disorders
- Completed an externship for Emotionally Focused Therapy for working with couples
- Trauma-Focused CBT
Reach out for a free, 20-minute virtual consultation or to begin scheduling sessions!
I provide evidence-based therapy services to individuals and families navigating eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, OSFED and ARFID, as well as body image distress and co-occurring issues. Sometimes, change feels impossible due to barriers in our life. I work WITH the grain of the individual to ensure that body image therapy and eating disorder therapy feel supportive every step of the way.