Dr. Jennifer De Costa, LMFT - Therapist in Hawaii

About Jennifer

Dr. Jennifer De Costa is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with more than two decades of clinical work. She practices in Hawaii and brings steady, practical support to people facing family and parenting challenges as well as other life stresses.

Her tone in sessions is warm and respectful, and she aims to meet people where they are. Her work covers a broad range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, and coping with life changes.

Background and approach

She also addresses compassion fatigue, addictions, intimacy-related issues, anger, self-esteem, and career questions. Additional focuses include adoption and foster care, aging and geriatric issues, blended family concerns, caregiver stress, and isolation or loneliness. Jennifer uses approaches that center the person and their story.

She leans on client-centered methods to build trust and on narrative techniques to help people reframe difficult experiences. Motivational Interviewing is part of her toolbox for supporting change when people feel stuck. In sessions she aims to be interactive and empowering.

She works with clients to map out concrete goals and steps. The plan is a collaboration that highlights strengths, not just problems. People who choose her for family and parenting-related help often want straightforward guidance and a respectful listener.

She offers several ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Therapy is arranged through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening carefully and following the client’s lead. In practice that means sessions aim to build trust and help people name what matters most right now, which is useful for family and parenting stresses and emotional concerns.

Motivational Interviewing helps when someone wants to change but feels unsure how to start. The approach uses gentle questions and reflective listening to clarify goals and strengthen motivation for change, often helpful with addiction, career shifts, or lifestyle adjustments.

Narrative Therapy helps people look at the stories they tell about themselves and their families. Rewriting those stories can reduce shame and open new ways of relating and problem solving, especially around grief, blended family issues, or caregiver stress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to a person’s goals, needs, and preferences and then suggest which methods to try. Sessions can evolve over time as goals change, and the plan is adjusted collaboratively.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy family lives. Video and phone sessions let people meet from home, while live chat and text-based messaging provide ongoing support between visits. These options make it easier to fit therapy into caregiving schedules, work routines, and other daily demands.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Narrative Therapy

Looking at the story you have come to tell about yourself, and where it came from. The work is in separating the problem from your identity and finding accounts that fit you better.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she help with?

She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, addictions, intimacy-related struggles, anger, and self-esteem.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style is interactive, supportive, and empowering. Sessions focus on strengths, practical steps, and collaborative problem solving.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 22 years of experience working in therapy settings and supporting people through a variety of life and family concerns.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, credentialed as HI LMFT MFT-272, and practices from Hawaii.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What formats are available for meeting online?

Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How does cost and billing work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin the process?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 22 years
Licensed: Hawaii
Languages: English

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