Jenna Pulkrabek, MSW, LICSW

05/28/2026

This morning I had the opportunity to present to an awesome group of Cambridge-Isanti Schools Special Education Coordinators at the East Central Regional Library for their end-of-year retreat.
Thank you for the time and engagement—no better way to start a Thursday!

05/28/2026

The wisdom of Dove Chocolate in the therapy room!

Sometimes we need a sweet treat to cap off a hard session and this one ended even sweeter with a dose of encouragement.

05/27/2026

I genuinely LOL’d when I stumbled upon this the other day…right on the heels of me telling someone “I’m sick of taking the high road!”
(Our phones are listening!!)

And…it got me thinking about “being the bigger person”, holding grudges, and forgiveness:

Holding a grudge is like emotionally subscribing to a problem long after the free trial should’ve ended. It’s expensive!

At first, resentment can feel protective…even empowering. But over time, replaying the hurt drains more energy from the person carrying it than from the person who caused it.

The nervous system doesn’t always know the difference between a current threat and a remembered one. So every mental replay can keep the body stuck in stress, tension, anger, or hurt.

Forgiveness doesn’t have to mean reconciliation, excusing behavior, or suddenly trusting someone again. It can simply means deciding they no longer get permanent office space in your mind.

05/26/2026

A cognitive distortion is what happens when the brain confidently narrates “reality”… while missing key facts.

It’s the mental leap from:
• ‘They haven’t replied yet’ to ‘They’re pi**ed at me,’
• ‘I made a mistake’ to ‘I’m a failure,’
• or ‘This happened once’ to ‘This will always happen.’

These thinking patterns can feel incredibly real, even when they’re inaccurate. Sometimes the mind is insightful — and sometimes it’s just a dramatic little pest with a megaphone.

What’s your knee jerk cognitive distortion?

Mine? I know #7 pretty well…

05/20/2026

Anyone need a quick reminder on how powerful our mindset is?

It may sound silly to some, or new to others, but you get more of what you focus on. Truth!

Feeling tired? You’ll feel more tired the more you talk about it.
In pain? You’ll feel every tender spot more acutely the more you mention it.
Stressed? You guessed it…the more you tell others how overwhelmed you are, the more stressed you’ll become.

Truth is you’re also hard to be around when your focus is on the negative…Yup! I said it.

So, focus on gratitude. Try a “get to” vs. “have to” perspective. This isn’t about toxic positivity and neglecting reality. No, this is about choosing where you’re going to put your energy and learning the power and impact your words and thoughts have over your life. ✨🤩

05/19/2026

I’m so grateful for all the support, love, and enthusiastic encouragement you’ve shown me as I prepared to say “I do!” 🤍 🪻🌹🌸🌼🤍

Now that the wedding whirlwind has settled, life can ease back into a sweet routine — and I’ll be heading full steam ahead back into the therapy room!

04/18/2026

I snagged this really helpful resource from Johnson County Mental Health Center and needed to share it!

The complexity of emotion has come up often in the therapy room and so often we have difficulty putting word or naming what a mix of emotions is leading us to feel. I hope this can be a helpful guide to navigating the depth of what we feel.

Be well!

04/05/2026

He is Risen! Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Easter filled with hope and happiness. I pray that you are reminded of the gift of new beginnings.

Be well.

03/10/2026

How cool is it that March is both Women’s History Month and Social Work Month?! ✨

I remember sitting in my History of Social Work class at SCSU back in 2003 and learning about Jane Addams. As we talked about her and other bold women who helped shape the social work field, I had this moment of “oh… these are my people.”

Women who refused to color inside the lines, stay quiet, or look the other way when people were being mistreated—what a legacy to step into. It’s such an honor to try to make those pioneers proud in the work we do every day. 💛

Happy Women’s History Month and Social Work Month to all the strong, compassionate, justice-seeking women out there. Stay loud, stay proud, girlies! ✊

Be well,
JP

Clinical Social Work Association
NASW-MN Chapter

02/23/2026

You know I love sharing research and resources that I find valuable--and this book is of the highest value!

This book is dense, yet RICH with research and data that supports what so many of us have observed over the last 10-15 years: social media and screens are not good for children, teens, or adults. The introduction of the iPhone starkly reduced play-based learning and opportunities for social development in real time. I recognize the absolute irony in how I'm sharing this information--yet know the power of balance and moderation :)

If you are at all curious at how in-depth the research goes and the lasting impacts of social media use in all people, I encourage you to dig into this text. I'm currently listening via Audible but plan to buy a hard copy to have easy access to the figures and graphics.

Be well
...and get outside, pick up a real book, or talk to a stranger!

02/17/2026

Well well well!! 😍🤩😁

You’ve endured, you’ve persisted—and now you deserve support that honors your journey. 🌿 Jenna Pulkrabek uses EMDR to help you process trauma, reclaim your peace, and step into your inner strength. 💛

📅 Immediate day, afternoon & evening appointments available – call 763-600-2911 today to take that brave next step.

https://www.SerenityCircleCounseling.com