Jennifer A. Clear, MA, brings exceptional depth, resilience, and cultural humility to her role as a doctoral intern in the Kaiser Permanente Counseling Center (KPCC). She is part of the first cohort of CAPIC doctoral interns at the KPCC and a member of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) pathway of the Mental Health Training Program’s (MHTP) Trauma Track. With over two decades of service as a peace officer and detective, Jennifer’s professional journey reflects a commitment to justice, healing, and ethical leadership. Her early experience as a counselor in adult group homes, combined with her academic background in Philosophy, Politics, and Law, laid the foundation for a career rooted in community service and intervention with complex populations. Jennifer brings a wealth of lived experience and a unique perspective to her work as she manages a full caseload of complex cases, actively trains in a new trauma intervention modality, and contributes to the development of incoming KPCC trainees by offering shadowing opportunities and facilitating reflective discussions.
Throughout her 22-year law enforcement career, Jennifer demonstrated compassion and cultural sensitivity—particularly in her work with Spanish-speaking communities and as a crisis intervention team member. She conducted hundreds of 5150 evaluations and supported individuals experiencing severe psychiatric crises. Her dedication to training new officers underscored her belief in preparing law enforcement professionals to act with empathy, respect, and awareness in high-stakes situations. Outside of work, she volunteered as a child advocate in dependency court, deepening her understanding of systemic trauma and its impact on vulnerable populations.
Jennifer’s decision to pursue clinical psychology grew from a desire to provide meaningful, consistent support to trauma survivors—particularly those who, like many she encountered in the field, lacked access to sustained therapeutic care. These experiences motivated her to complete peer support training and pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. As an intern at the KP Counseling Center, now in her fifth year of clinical training, Jennifer brings a trauma-informed, culturally responsive lens to her work. She works hard to support a full caseload, with many of her patients presenting with complex challenges, including trauma, chronic illness, and interpersonal difficulties. Jennifer does not hesitate to volunteer to take on additional cases. Her dedication to her patients is matched by her investment in the development of future clinicians.
Jennifer embraces MHTP’s emphasis on collaborative learning. Her ability to model grounded, client-centered care supports the growth of new trainees and exemplifies the program’s mission. She frequently stays after her sessions to discuss her work with the trainees, offering an invaluable learning experience of practical application that cannot be captured by a textbook or a lecture. Her transition from law enforcement to clinical psychology reflects the power of lived experience in enhancing therapeutic practice and highlights the vital role that culturally attuned, trauma-informed practitioners play in mental health care today.
Contributed by: Mary Vertinski, Ph.D
