Jennifer Hayden

Profile

I believe that relationships are at the core of any effective therapy. It is important to me that the children and families I work with feel heard and respected. I am flexible in my approaches and how I deliver therapy. This allows me to be able to focus on the strengths of the child and family. I utilize interests, abilities, and passions to provide services that are engaging, comfortable, and impactful.  I believe that children and adolescents thrive best in therapy when they are allowed to express themselves in the way that is most natural for them. I utilize a blend of traditional talk therapy, art and play therapy techniques, and other active and creative interventions.  I also am very supportive of parents’ involvement in treatment to support the best outcome for the child as well as supporting parents in the hard work of parenting. I enjoy working with children and adolescents of all ages.

I have a busy house with 3 cats, a dog, a husband, and 2 children with Autism. It can be challenging, but we work hard to create a balance for our family. My youngest loves museums so you often might find us at Grand Rapids Public Museum on weekends. My husband and I are foodies and love finding great new places to eat in the area. My happy place is at the beach. While I love the ocean and visit as much as I can, I’m also lucky to live in Michigan and to be able to spend some of our glorious Michigan summer days on the beaches of Lake Michigan. I am happiest with my toes in the sand and a book in my hand.