A Little History
Jennifer grew up in a family that lived internationally and valued travel, this contributed greatly to shaping parts of her that appreciate the wild and colorful variations of who we are as humans. In her early 20’s, living in NYC, she felt she had found her path when she discovered the profession of becoming a homebirth midwife. As a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife), Jennifer owned her own practice, serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
In her early stages of training, she also joined a Mystical Christian School through which she owned and operated meditation centers. This organization turned out to be a group of high demand and high control, filled with all the classic cult tactics of manipulation and influence with spiritual and religious abuse sprinkled on top.
To hear more details about how Jennifer got into her cult, and then got out, you are welcome to check out Episodes 1 & 2 of the Project Hope Podcast. She hosts this podcast to help families and friends with loved ones in groups of high control. The podcast features survivor stories, stories from the perspective of family members or close friends, educational content, and interviews with experts in the field.
After 11 years in this organization, Jennifer left in 2012. After a number of years in corporate America, Jennifer began her next phase of career training as she studied coercive control, received a Masters in the field, and became trained in a specialized approach to help educate and support those who have experienced it.
Jennifer’s Approach
Since many of the individuals that Jennifer works with have experienced psychological manipulation and betrayal, she does all she can to build trust and foster their personal empowerment. This means that the process and approach is collaborative and tailored to the individual. It is also research based and trauma informed.
Jennifer’s approach is not traditional. She will share personally if she thinks it may help, and she will ask permission before doing so. She has found this to be very important in working with survivors of coercive control in high demand groups or relationships, as well as in cases of spiritual and religious abuse. Individuals are encouraged to challenge or question any concepts she might put forth. While the information she provides is typically research- based, even science and research evolve and change!
Jennifer values connecting people to options and choices that might be best for them. She is actively engaged with other practitioners who serve those who have suffered from domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sex trafficking, cult abuse, high demand groups, religious abuse, spiritual abuse, and trauma in general. She also collaborates with counselors and therapists who themselves have come out of abusive groups of high control / high demand. Jennifer welcomes inquiries regarding resources that are specific to your personal needs.
*Please note: Jennifer French Tomasic is not a psychotherapist.
If you’d like to be in contact, please join Jennifer on instagram and facebook where she provides both professional and personal content. This is a forum for support, community, education and reconnection.