Jennifer featured in the SD Voyager

Jennifer Rickard in the SD Voyager
Recently, I had the honor to be featured in the online magazine, SD Voyager, which highlights local entrepreneurs and businesses throughout San Diego.  It was a pleasure to share my journey toward becoming a marriage and family therapist and my passion for the field.  Fostering health and wellness for individuals, families and our community is the foundation for my work.  My favorite quote is by... Read More

Introducing Alejandra Chayet, M.A., APCC

Alejandra Chayet and sexual health
I am excited to share that Alejandra Chayet, M.A., APCC has joined me as an associate in my practice.  I first got to know Alejandra while I was a clinical supervisor at Rady Children’s Hospital in the Outpatient Psychiatry department.  She stood out as a competent, compassionate and skilled clinician.  Her passion for advocating for her clientele was admirable, and she pushed herself to excel... Read More

What Brings You Passion?

passion connects us to self and others
As 2017 comes to a close, I reflect upon the year as I sit by the fire and look out over the frozen lake.  Many of you may not know that my roots run deep in the north woods of Minnesota and Wisconsin.  While my home is in San Diego, I greatly value my upbringing in Midwestern culture.  Nature has always been my guiding force and my spiritual home.  Trees share their wisdom of strength,... Read More

Awakening Counseling Center Interior Design

therapy office décor
In December, our office suite was featured in Fresh Practice Design, a website that highlights therapy office décor.  Therapists often put a tremendous amount of time and energy into creating a therapeutic environment that fosters healing.  In our suite, our mission was to create a beautiful, healing space that honors our clients inner journey.  We serve diverse clientele, and we want everyone... Read More

My Holiday Letter to you all

my holiday letter to you all
Thank you.  Thank you for being you and sharing this journey with me. As the holiday season approaches, I am reminded how blessed I am to have such a wonderful personal and professional life.  I feel such gratitude to all the people who have chosen to walk along side me in this journey.  I am truly honored on a daily basis that I am a witness to the rawness and resiliency of our shared humanity,... Read More

Self-care without compassion can add stress to your life.

self-care without compassion adds stress
Coping strategies.  Stress management skills.  Mindfulness practices.  Wellness tools.  These are all terms we are familiar with in Western culture as we desperately seek ways to assist us in managing our hectic lives.  I, too, continually explore a variety of methods of self-care tools to manage my own stress as I strive to find that proverbial “balance” between my work, self and family.  Yet,... Read More

Five ways to create intimacy and connection in your sexual relationships.

When we talk about intimacy in relationships, we often focus on sex. Is our sex life satisfying? Are we in-tune physically and sexually? However, sex does not always foster intimacy. Creating intimacy in your relationships means creating deeper connections and vulnerability with each other. Yet, we crave connection, but often fear vulnerability. Therefore, sex can actually be a distraction to... Read More

Inspire awe in your life.

Have you ever experienced a moment of being awestruck?  It’s an electrifying emotion capable of stopping us in our tracks to be completely in the moment and experience.  It is the feeling of being in the presence of something beautiful, vast and greater than ourselves. We can all remember those immensely inspiring moments such as meeting the Dalai Lama or witnessing the birth of your child;... Read More

Ways to Begin Practicing Mindfulness

Cultivate small moments of present moment awareness throughout your day. Tip 1: Practice one-minute meditation. Too busy or not motivated to meditate for 30 minutes a day? Martin Boroson demonstrates the power of even small moments of mindful awareness in his fun video “How to meditate in one moment”. Tip 2: In addition to sitting meditation, you can also cultivate mindfulness informally by... Read More