Jennifer Villarreal

She may specialize in grief therapy, but few folks are as sparkly and cheerful as the gorgeous Jennifer Villarreal, 28. This 20/30 Group beauty loves life and easily lights up a room. And she makes life a whole lot better for the young people she counsels at Four Rivers Behavioral Health.

Jennifer Villarreal, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it! And I love your last name — Villarrrrrreal. Is that how you pronounce it.
No, no, I can't roll my rs. I just say Villarreal.

Three syllables? Not four?
I say all four, I just butcher the pronunciation. Actually, Eugene Nunez at the Argentinean Grill pronounces it correctly. I go there just to hear him say my name.

Eugene is darling.
Yes, he is. I think he's taken, though.

He is. I already tried to recruit him as an iDate of the Week. Santiago's taken, too. Are your people from South America as well?
No, my dad's family is from Spain — he's part Castilian Spanish and part Navajo Indian. My mom is German. So I'm half German and half everything else. I got her coloring instead of my dad's tan.

You're a melting pot!
Yes, I guess so!

And you're a California girl.
I am. I'm from Riverside, Calif., which is between Los Angeles and San Diego. I moved here three and half years ago and I love it.

What brought you to Paducah?
My mom's family is from Illinois. My mom and dad sold their business in Riverside and moved back to be closer to family. After I got my master's degree, I moved here, too.

What's your degree in?
I have a master's in counseling psychology from California Baptist University. It's a small liberal arts college in Riverside.

What do you do now?
I'm a therapist at Four Rivers Behavioral Health. I work with kids and young adults, 4-21. I specialize in grief — but I also talk with consumers about autism, defiance issues, substance abuse. It's like being a newscaster — your emotions go up and down all the time.

Wow, 4 year olds have to deal with grief?
Yes, grief and loss. And it can be anything — the loss of a parent, the loss of a dog. Kids have to deal with the same things adults do, they just usually show it in a different way.

How do you help them?
We do lots of play therapy. I often go home with Play Doh or sandbox sand under my fingernails. I'm always trying to get kids to express their feelings, verbally or non-verbally.

What about the older kids?
I teach a social skills class and facilitate a conflict resolution group. And I work with kids at Ballard County Schools, which I love. I also do some public speaking and local news interviews. So sometimes you'll see me on WPSD-TV or the local channel 3.

But Jennifer, you're so bright and cheery — and gorgeous — all the time. How is it you've made a career out of grief?
It's just where I got my start. When I was in college, I volunteered for a counseling center's children's grief workshop. I started by reading kids books about grief and sitting in on group therapy sessions, and before it was all over, I was in charge of the grief and divorce workshops at the agency. I don't think it's so much that I chose grief — I think grief chose me.

But you're so happy!
Yes, I'm a very positive grief counselor. I just love life — I do. So it's really what comes out of the counseling that's so rewarding. Those smiles during or after a session brighten my day. I just love the kids I get to work with.

Do you have any issues yourself?
Hah! Well, it's great to have professional co-workers — we all give each other free advice. I can be having a crisis and have a mini session with a co-worker — and I'm good as new!

Wow, how convenient is that? What do you do when you're not working?
I'm on the board of the 20/30 Group. I'm the philanthropy chair. We're always eager to get more people involved in the group and in the community.

I love the 20/30 Group! Give us an update on what's going on!
We have a strong leadership board, and we've planned several really great events that are coming up. For example, on February 22, we're doing a fun prohibition after-party to follow the Paducah Symphony's Metropolitan Mood concert.

So if people want to join that group?
They should send an email to the president, Jessica Byassee, and we'll add them to our email list. It's a great group — we'd love to get more people involved.

What else do you love to do?
I love to travel. Next summer, I'm going to Italy for three weeks with my best friend Britta. She moved to Riverside from Germany when we were both in the third grade, and I remember our teacher sitting us next to each other and saying, "OK, you two be friends now." And we've been best friends since then. She's my heart — she's the other half of my brain. We talk at least once a day!

She and her husband are going to be stationed in Naples, so she and I are going to visit Rome, Florence, Venice — all of it.

How fun! I used to travel a lot with my BFF. But three weeks! How'd you score three weeks of vacation time?
I've saved it up.

Smart woman. And you like her husband?
Yes. They are the perfect couple. I was in their wedding. I've been a bridesmaid seven times.

SEVEN times! Do you have all the dresses?
Yes. But most of them aren't that bad. One I really did shorten and wear again!

Oh, how funny. And are the couples still married?
They are. I'm a total good luck charm.

I believe it! Have you met any cuties in Paducah? I bet you get asked out all the time!
I get asked out very infrequently! Paducah has some interesting choices to offer. My friend Brian — who definitely needs to be one of your iDates — pulls me out of my cave.

Well, what kind of fella would you like to find?
You know, my list of traits has gotten shorter as I've gotten older. It used to be that I wanted to date someone taller than I am. I'm 5'10", and I'm usually wearing heels. That's tough to find — and now that's not important to me anymore.

I'm really looking for a Christian guy who's a hard worker. I suppose a lot of people can fit into that category!

Well, it's definitely a foundation! And you love di Fratelli's?
Yes, I always seem to order a magic glass of Riesling. It always seems to be full, even though I know I'm drinking it.

That's because of the magic bartender.
He's my favorite! Those eyes!

He's awesome! And what about your email address, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)! Where did that come from?
My mom started calling me Missy Petunia when I was little, and I just kept it for my email address. She instilled in me a love of all things flora and fawna.

Missy Petunia! That's so cute!
You're going to use that for evil purposes aren't you?

Never! Like you, I use my powers for good, not evil! Happy holidays, Missy Petunia Villarrrrreal!
Happy Holidays, iList Paducah!