Jennifer Holt is a certified EMDR Level II Therapist, a spiritual counselor, an author and a sacred song practitioner. She has Masters and Doctoral degrees in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. As a certified EMDR Level II Therapist, she helps individuals recover from trauma, grief and loss. In most cases, through a very effective combination of techniques including EMDR, reparenting, NLP and forgiveness/spiritual work, her clients are able to completely reclaim their lives (see Techniques page for more information). In addition to working with grief and loss, Jennifer helps clients who are interested in clearing obstacles to personal change, and creating lives of contentment, peace and fulfillment. Through her seminar business, Jennifer provides independent consultation and continuing education seminars for a variety of private and public institutions (please see Seminar page). Jennifer has published numerous newspaper and magazine articles on personal growth, spiritual transformation and other subjects, in both academic and non-academic publications (please see Author page).

Jennifer has also volunteered within the U.S. prison system extensively, and served for many years as a death and dying midwife. Jennifer's experiences with grief and loss, inspired by her clients and her work with women prisoners, are now available in the inspirational book, Sacred Gateway of Grief and Loss: Freeing the Imprisoned Soul (Indigo Heart Publishing, 2009). Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential, wrote, “Reading Dr. Holt’s book is a healing experience in itself. Her compassionate wisdom teaches us how to keep opening our hearts wider and wider, without limits, which results in unconditional love and acceptance of oneself and others. Her ability to combine depth with humor, psychology with spirituality, empowers us to nurture our own heart-commitment to all beings.”

Jennifer's "sister project," Ecstatic Groove: Sacred World Chant Infusions (Salima's Whirled Peas, 2009), showcases haunting mystical chants from Sufi, Gregorian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Native American, Hawaiian and African spiritual lineages. Martin Keller, music reviewer for Amazon.com, commented, "The songs are fantastic!" By infusing the sacred chants with techno and hip hop elements, new relevance is given to the devotional world music arena. With each song, Jennifer’s soulful, mysterious voice and ethereal harmonic toning deepen our connection to Source, and to the inner knowledge that all spiritual music radiates from the One. Jennifer wishes to dedicate these songs, inspired by her work with women prisoners, to building bridges of peace among all people and religions of the world.

Both products are available through Indigo Heart Publishing, http://www.indigoheart publishing.com. For information about Jennifer's teleseminars, sacred song invocations, and workshops, please contact her at drjenniferholt@yahoo.com.

Creating Peace Within: Conflict Resolution Techniques

This workshop focuses on an examination of the factors that get in the way of creating peace within ourselves. Participants will discuss feelings, such as anger, stress, and anxiety, as well as thoughts relating to such feelings, preventing inner peace. Participants will also discuss behaviors that may be the outcome of such feelings, such as conflicts with family and employees/ employers. In addition, the workshop will provide practical information about how to solve conflicts peaceably (including role plays), as well as tools to create more inner peace.

Compassion Fatigue and Caregivers

What happens when the healers need healing? Too often, caregivers put their own needs aside in order to care for others, both in their careers as well as at home. Those employed in one of the many healing professions, such as nursing, therapy, teaching, or social work, for example, work long and intense hours to help those in crisis. Often these same caring people find themselves in the role of caring for others in their personal lives as well, with their own families, and as the caregivers of aging parents as well. Unfortunately, if time and energy is not given to replenish the energy sources, compassion fatigure can result, including depression, fatigue and more severe physical problems. This workshop is an opportunity to understand the condition, recognize the symptoms and take measures to shift from only caregiving, to care being taken towards oneself first, in order to better serve the needs of others.

Removing the Mask: Interventions for Clients with Low Self-Esteem.

Self-esteem increases the possibility of finding happiness in life and learning how to cope with life’s disappointments and changes. Self-esteem is vital to psychological well-being, and affects virtually everything our clients think/say/do, how they see the world and their place in it, how others in the world see and treat them, and the ability to give and receive love. This class offers the blueprints necessary for clients to increase self-esteem and self-confidence through journaling, discussion and exercises. 

Chemical Dependency Issues for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals.

Many unique and difficult issues are faced by GLBT people challenged by addictions to drugs and alcohol. Workshop participants will learn:

• basic background information about the GLBT culture
• the nature of homophobia
• unique CD issues for this population, such as HIV/AIDS
• current research
• common negative family dynamics
• practical information about working with GLBT clients, including prevention, intervention, treatment and continuing care approaches
• hands-on experience via mock case presentations and/or role plays.

When Someone Faces Death: Caregiver Concerns

When Someone Faces Death: Caregiver Concerns is a four-hour workshop for health and counseling professionals, as well as anyone impacted by the death of someone close. The workshop will provide practical information for working with clients and loved ones who are facing death personally, as well as how to help aid the grieving process when others close to them are experiencing the dying process. A video will be shown of individuals in the dying process, followed by a group discussion of issues raised. Participants will:

• Learn basic background information about death and dying, including demographic statistical information
• Discuss the types of grieving, including healthy, complicated, and delayed
• Participate in an examination of the validity of popular stages of grief models
• Examine personal and societal fears and other feelings about dying
• Discuss the psychosocial impact on clients/loved ones when someone close to them dies
• Learn practical tools for caregivers, such as communication with family and hospital/hospice personnel, encouraging the creation of wills, funeral arrangement choices, taking the time listen to the dying one’s own fears
• Participate in a discussion of spiritual concerns for those in a dying process

BIOGRAPHY

Jennifer has studied in-depth with several mystical schools including the University of Spiritual Healing and Sufism (M.A., Ministry Program), Arica School of Mysticism, Agape Center of Truth (with Michael Bernard Beckwith), and Nyingma Institute (Tibetan Buddhism). She has also studied sound healing and medicine work with Tibetan Buddhist teachers, personal growth work with author Dan Millman, and Tensegrity and lucid dreaming with shamanic author Carlos Castaneda. Jennifer is also a professional vocal consultant and sound healer, specializing in personal transformation and healing through the voice and throat chakra. She was the founder and leader of feminist folk-punk band Tetes Noires, and released three musical recordings including a CD on Rounder Records produced by the Violent Femmes (Clayfoot Gods, Tetes Noires, 1987). The band received critical acclaim from such sources as the New York Times, the Village Voice, Spin Magazine and London’s New Music Express. As a professor, Jennifer has taught psychology and sociology college courses at a variety of colleges in Minnesota, including the University of Minnesota. St. Cloud State University, and the University of St. Thomas.