About
Jennie Kogan, LCSW
“The body always leads us home… if we trust sensation”
-Pat Ogden, somatic psychology pioneer
Bravely Belong
The mission: Bravely Belong facilitates radical compassion and belonging in everyday spaces through workshops, events, groups and therapy
The Philosophy: Every thought, feeling, behavior, and sensation we experience happens for a reason. While it would be nice if we could change unwanted patterns or people by willing them away, we often can’t. Individuals as well as parts of individuals want to be seen, understood and believed, rather than be criticized and fixed. Through curiosity, creativity, compassion, courage and playfulness, I believe unexpected connection can flourish.
How this works with groups: Almost every event has some combination of big and small group conversation as well as playful exercises to warm up the room. To foster a sense of community, one must consider safety, authenticity and vulnerability. All events offer varied ways to participate that support different comfort levels of sharing at different times.
How this works with inviduals: Through reflective listening and exploratory questions, I support people connect with a sense of compassion, spaciousness and curiosity towards all parts of themselves. Through radical acceptance, seemingly impossible change can start to be possible.
My approach is relational, somatic and collaborative. I am primarily an IFS or internal family systems* therapist, so often incorporate the framework and tools from this approach into my work.
Some examples of questions you might hear me ask include:
Where do you feel that in or around your body?
What are you concerned might happen if you stop vaping?
Is that a part of you that feels insecure or is it all of you?
Is there anything that feels oppressive about this?
Testimonials
“Jennie is a deeply thoughtful, socially informed, empathic, and insightful therapist. She weaves the meaningful encounters that unfold in therapy with a strong grounding in equity‑centered practice, creating a generative foundation for transformative change. Her approach blends deep relational presence with a commitment to systemic change. Through their humor, their empathy, and the thoughtful way they approach both therapy and life, I continue to learn from them."
-Leah Oliver, colleague
“I think it’s so special that you’re always able to foster these environments where people can come together to be a little silly and vulnerable.”
- Hui, event participant
“I love love love these spaces you curate and don’t want to miss it.”
- Ilana, event participant
What Informs My Practice
Master of Social Work Degree, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
Trainings:
Internal Family Systems
Level 1 IFS Institute
IFSCA
Colleen West IFS for Complex Trauma
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Youth for Environmental Sanity: https://yesworld.org/
Poor Magazine: https://www.poormagazine.org/education
Bend the Arc Jeremiah Fellowship: https://www.jewishpartnership.us/
Eyewitness Palestine No Bans no Border Delegation: https://eyewitnesspalestine.org/
And now, the personal…
Why I want to do all this?
I’m angry. Capitalism inculcates us with messages of comparison, inadequacy and individualism. If we compete with each other and buy buy buy, most of us will continue to suffer and mostly feel alone. Social injustice is overwhelming and while we need organizing and systematic change, it all of that starts from within. Shame is something I’ve struggled with throughout my life, feeling as though I needed to change myself in impossible ways to achieve love and belonging. Some of the most magical moments of my life have been when I have shared something I am ashamed of and I’m met with “you too!? I thought I was the only one.” Let’s be in the messiness that is human together instead of trying to smush ourselves down in order to fit in to something we were never meant to.
As Brené Brown says, shame grows in isolation, but with connection and empathy, it doesn’t stand a chance. With oppression thriving on isolation and division, I believe in the power of connection. I view my work as watering the seeds of connectedness that we all have within us. When we feel like we truly matter, so much can be possible.
