We were lucky to catch up with Jaimi Martin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jaimi, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I’ve always found great satisfaction in seeing people grow, heal, and achieve their goals. As a therapist, I love exploring the complexities of human emotions, behaviors, and relationships.
In my private practice, Womanhood Counseling, I found myself, limited by traditional talk therapy, especially for those who had suffered trauma or had a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I found myself searching for another method to help clients. That’s when I discovered Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This is a therapy technique that helps people heal from traumatic memories and other distressing life experiences, by targeting memories that are stored in the body. My own personal EMDR therapy has vastly helped me overcoming many maladaptive behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. I have also witnessed rapid healing in my clients as well.
Another unique perspective my practice takes is how society affects our mental health. As a woman, and single parent to a biracial child, I have experienced socialites’ disadvantages. My practice has a focus on how outside influences affect our wellbeing. Especially as it pertains to motherhood; as a Perinatal Certified therapist, I work with families to transition into motherhood.
Jaimi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hi, my name is Jaimi Martin. I’m a licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified in EMDR and perinatal mental health.
I’m also a single mom to a charismatic 8 year old. My becoming a parent vastly influenced my work with clients. Having struggled with Postpartum depression and anxiety myself, I sought after therapy to only find myself unheard and unseen. I also found old childhood wounds flooding back. Wanting to feel better I stumbled upon a postcast advertising a Certificate program for therapist on how to support mothers and families thought the parental journey.
This program saved my life and now as a certified therapist in both EMDR and Perinatal mental health; I help many client’s overcome the symptoms of trauma and postpartum anxiety and depression.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Phew! Starting a business with no experience or background in this area is wild! The old saying of “you don’t know, what you don’t know” is so true in this situation.
I definitely had the passion to provide therapy, and I loved expanding my knowledge clinically, but I had no desire for the business aspects of running an organization.
I spent many hours at a local coffee shop, reading books that were beyond my comprehension, and listing to podcasts that were helpful but not to my particular situation, and I had no friends or colleagues who had adventure out into private practice. What I found the most useful is looking at others in my field and seeing what I gravitated towards.
There was also the pressure of needing to make an income while also obtaining startup costs. Which like most business owners know, it’s a slow process to get into a financial prosperous state.
After a few months of research, I did all the legal tasks to open and operate my business. I started with a few clients, and slowly that built up from there. I was feeling good and confident about the strides I was making, that is until the COVID pandemic hit.
Following the pandemic, I went from having an up-and-coming business to losing it all. Yet, during that time of uncertainty, both personally and globally, I kept going, like we all did, and now my business went from a soul practice to being incorporated. My take-way, is keep going; you got this.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A major pivot for me, and what landed me in the place where I am now, is motherhood. I started off my career working as a Social Worker. I loved my role and was deeply passionate about it.
As a Social Worker I had the opportunity to work in many environments, Schools, hospitals, jails, and social services agencies. I had the privilege of working with individuals in their most Vulnerable time. This work was an amazing experience, that has fueled my work now as a therapist.
Becoming a mom, I no longer had the freedom to work long hours, as many Social Workers are required to do.
Also, my priorities shifted; I fell in love with my son and wanted to ensure I had more of a work-life balance, while persuading my passion.
Becoming a therapist and working for myself, although incredibly hard, is what allowed me to be present for my son, and ensure my own personal identity, which is often lost in motherhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.womanhoodcounseling.com/
- Instagram: womanhood_counseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womanhoodcounseling/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimi-martin-lcsw-64601140
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/impacts-of-a-rough-upbringing-on-transition-to-motherhood/id1125550872?i=1000490324337
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/jaimi-s-martin-san-diego-ca
Image Credits
Britta Hershman