Hi, I’m Jennifer Matsunaga.
As a trauma-informed coach, I am guided by anti-racist, anti-oppressive and anti-colonial principles to support clients’ personal growth and transformation. The approach that I’ve developed to transform overwhelm and exhaustion and reclaim sacred time, energy and purpose is called “TENDING TO OUR ROOTS”.
As a Woman of Color who struggled to make ends meet for years as a young single mother working multiple jobs and returning to school as a mature student, I know the feeling very well of carrying the heavy weight of too much responsibility on your shoulders, feeling constantly overwhelmed and exhausted, chasing the clock, and feeling like you’ll never be able to catch or keep up. It can feel quite lonely and dark.
While we can certainly always improve our time management skills, develop better boundaries, and use the latest apps, software and tools to help us become better organized, (i.e. what we’re normally told to do) these only address the symptoms of the issue, not the roots of our overwhelm and exhaustion as ambitious BIPOC women.
After many years, student debt and a lot of hard work later, I earned a PhD and am a certified trauma-informed coach. Despite a stable career, I still found myself overwhelmed, exhausted and battling burnout. Something had to change. I wanted to change. Over the years, I have learned to approach overwhelm and exhaustion differently and how to reclaim my sacred time, my life, and my purpose. I would love to share everything that I’ve learned with you and to support you in your personal growth and transformation.
meaning behind the name longpine
When literally translated from Japanese to English, my last name - Matsunaga - means “long pine”. In Japan, pine is a symbol of longevity, strength, and endurance or perseverance. It is also an icon of Japanese New Year and in this sense, is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. These symbols are such an important part of personal growth.
Coaching supports these traits and processes.
Beyond this, I have been drawn to evergreens ever since I was a kid - possibly because of the Christmas connection! For those of us who experience snowy winters, though, their green presence can remind us that even in the coldest and darkest of seasons, life still thrives and flows. Standing under the canopy of white pine makes me feel grounded, safe, calm, and connected to my ancestors.
