Jennine Powell shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Jennine, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, I’m learning from three powerful sources that continue to shape me both as a therapist and a business owner.
First, my 5-year-old daughter is my daily mindfulness coach. Parenting isn’t just about applying strategies—it’s about emotional regulation and connection in real time. She’s constantly reminding me to slow down and truly be present. Whether we’re stopping to admire a bug, smelling flowers (literally), or leaping off the dock into the water with unfiltered joy, she teaches me to experience life fully—not just push through the next task. That sense of wonder and presence directly impacts how I show up for my clients and my team.
Second, I’m learning from my incredible staff. They teach me so much about relational dynamics, collaboration, and what it means to lead with both heart and structure. Every supervision meeting is a chance for me to grow—both in how I support others and how I continue to refine my role as a leader.
And third, my Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) community is a constant source of learning and inspiration. I’m currently co-creating the EFT Triage Conference in Las Vegas with Dr. Lisa Palmer-Olsen, which will focus on addressing ruptures, betrayals, and emotional bleed-outs in relationships. Pulling together top EFT trainers for this event is not only deepening my clinical skills, but also teaching me how to build something impactful and collaborative on a larger scale.
So whether it’s the wisdom of a child, the insights from my team, or the brilliance of my professional community—I’m in a rich season of learning, and I’m loving every minute of it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Jennine Powell, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and the owner of Estes Therapy in San Diego. I lead a team of rockstar therapists who specialize in helping couples and individuals heal from relational wounds, build secure attachment, and navigate the messiness of life with more connection and clarity.
What makes Estes Therapy unique is our heart-forward, real-talk approach—we’re not afraid to sit in the hard stuff with our clients and guide them through it. Therapy with us isn’t one-size-fits-all; we bring clinical depth, creativity, and a human touch to everything we do. I co-authored the book, “Help for High-Conflict Couples,” and often train therapists worldwide on how to work with complex relationships. I’m also fiercely passionate about supporting therapists in doing their best work, which is why I’m co-creating the EFT Triage Conference in Las Vegas (2025) with Dr. Lisa Palmer-Olsen. It’s focused on helping clinicians work with relationship ruptures, betrayals, and emotional injuries—and it’s going to be big.
Outside of therapy, I’m a mom, a recovering overachiever, and someone who believes deeply in slowing down, connecting with nature, and jumping off docks with joy. Whether in the therapy room or on a stage, my mission is to help people show up bravely, love deeply, and heal loudly.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
There isn’t just one person—it’s been a collective of incredible influences that shaped how I work today.
My father was the first to ignite my business brain. As a businessman himself, he taught me to think strategically, pay attention to the numbers, and take ownership of the behind-the-scenes operations that keep a business thriving.
Clinically, I owe so much to the Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) community here in San Diego. The local EFT therapists have helped me sharpen my therapeutic skills and deepen my ability to work with couples in meaningful, transformative ways.
Then there’s my powerhouse group of women in the group practice owners’ circle. They’ve walked with me through some of the hardest parts of running a practice—navigating tricky HR issues, improving clinical quality, and staying sane while doing it all.
And finally, my employees—my team at Estes Therapy—have taught me the importance of systems, communication, and clarity. Leading them has pushed me to create structure and support that allows everyone to do their best work.
So, it’s been a rich mix of business mentorship, clinical growth, community wisdom, and leadership lessons—all of which continue to teach me every day.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly? All the time—sometimes daily. When I am in the trenches, juggling the emotional weight of clinical work, running a business, managing a team, and trying to show up fully in my personal life, it has been suffocating. There are days when the to-do list feels never-ending, the challenges pile up, and I question if I can keep going.
But what pulls me back every time is my why—the clients, the clinicians I support, my family, and the deep belief that healing and connection are worth fighting for. I let myself have the moment (or the meltdown), and then I get back up, dust myself off, and delete the resignation letter I had pre-written in my brain.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The EFT Triage Conference 2026 in Las Vegas.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes—many times, actually. One of the big ones was landing speaking events. I worked hard to become a trainer and speaker for therapists and business owners, and eventually got the opportunities I thought I wanted—virtual events with hundreds of attendees, sometimes 600+ people. These were located all over the world, not just in the US. On paper, it was a huge success.
But in reality, it left me feeling disconnected and honestly, a bit deflated. I’m a people person to my core—probably an extreme extrovert—and speaking into a camera without seeing faces, reading the room, or interacting with attendees just didn’t light me up. Without real-time feedback or connection, it felt flat and unsatisfying, even when the content was strong.
After repeating that experience a few times, I realized something important: I need the in-person energy. The eye contact, the nods, the laughter, the conversations afterward—that’s where the dopamine comes for me. That’s what makes it feel worth it, the payout. It pushed me to rethink how I show up as a speaker and helped me get clearer on what actually fuels me, not just what looks good from the outside.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://estestherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estes_therapy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandiegotherapist/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Estes_Therapy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EstesTherapy/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/estes-therapy-san-diego-2
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0sNCqcauorLGmWkNdUC5QA
- Other: https://helpforhighconflictcouples.com
https://spokanecounselinghub.com
