JENNY JONKER: BUILDING A CANADIAN GROUP PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE | EP 165

MEET JENNY

Jenny Jonker, MSW, RSW, is the founder of Dragonfly Counselling and Wellness, where a human-centered, trauma-informed approach is central to her work. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in complex trauma and integrates EMDR, CBT, DBT, and ACT. A refugee of war from Nicaragua, Jenny draws on her own lived experiences with resettlement, grief, and PTSD to build authentic, compassionate connections with clients. She and her team are committed to creating safe, welcoming spaces for all, offering therapy, workshops, and clinical support in both local and Indigenous communities like Six Nations. At the core of her work is a belief in healing through connection, cultural humility, and empowerment.

Learn more about Jenny on her Psychology Today, Instagram profile, and practice website.

In This Episode

• Jenny’s entry into therapy 
• First private practice experience 
• Marketing and building a group practice 
• Jenny’s advice to listeners

Jenny’s entry into therapy 

Jenny’s first degree was actually in International Relations, and when she graduated, she began working with refugees and immigrants as a way of giving back. 

‘From there, I ran a programme called SWS workers, which is Settlement Workers in Schools, in Hamilton for a number of years. There, I met a school social worker who drastically changed my life and encouraged me to go into social work.’ – Jenny Jonker 

From that inspirational meeting, Jenny went on to complete her BSW and MSW. She worked in school boards, a sexual assault center, and child welfare, and eventually went into private practice when she started working on reserves. 

First private practice experience 

So far, Jenny has really loved her group private practice work, even though it can be challenging. Her Canadian private practice is in various partnerships with other organizations. They also offer supervision.

‘I wanted to create something with intention. I wanted to create something for the reason I had left agency work before, and continue on with that dream, and it was to create something that was meaningful and intentional and represented the populations that we work with.’ – Jenny Jonker

These intentions have helped guide Jenny in her decision-making process, especially when it comes to hiring the right staff and offering the best services for their client base. Her intentions even came into play when naming her practice “Dragonfly”. 

‘The name Dragonfly was very intentional. Dragonflies are a symbol of transformation and growth … and one of the symbols that had always come to me was red dragonflies.’ – Jenny Jonker

The future of Dragonfly counselling 

Jenny has started to outsource work that she finds tough doing, such as her SEO and various aspects of running the business. Outsourcing marketing is a great way to save up your time to focus on what you love to do, and get your business seen without too much stress and worry. 

In the future, Jenny still wants to keep Dragonfly more intimate and small, and would only grow it larger if she saw the need to do so. 

‘[For the future], we want to continue to do good work and show up for people. [To] make this more of a home for the clinicians, for myself, and for the clients that we have, and to provide more services with intention.’ – Jenny Jonker 

Jenny’s advice to listeners 

Don’t be afraid to lead with your story! Because your genuine stories are impactful for clients. Share ethically and openly, because it shows your clients that you are a fellow person going through life, just like they are. 

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