We recently connected with Jessica Bush and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

When clients seek therapy, they often feel defeated and need guidance to reevaluate their goals. Remaining in a mindset of lack can be unproductive. I encourage clients to start each day with gratitude by identifying three things they appreciate to develop an abundance mindset. It’s easy to focus on what’s going wrong and overlook the small blessings in life. By cultivating a grateful attitude, you can better navigate disappointments without internalizing them. Remember, you can rebrand yourself anytime; believing in your ability to confront fear is essential. Developing self-compassion enables you to maintain a state of gratitude and embrace life’s possibilities.

Jessica, 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?

I want to start by acknowledging God for guiding me in my purpose. Mental health was never openly discussed in my family or community. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas called Newport. I remember asking my parents about mental health, but they didn’t have the answers. When I was seven, my grandmother on my mom’s side passed away, which caused my mom to fall into a deep depression. Seeing my mom emotionally unavailable to meet my needs at such a young age made me a hyper-independence child, always striving for perfection, which started my journey with anxiety. I sought her approval and wanted to be a priority in her life, but I recognized her challenges were more profound than my understanding. I also wanted to understand people’s responses to tragedies and learn how to identify my emotional needs. Initially, I wanted to become an attorney, but when I went to college, I found social work and became interested in understanding the human mind and behavior patterns. I knew that was where I needed to be to not only help myself but to break the negative stigma in the black community discussing mental health. I have spent 16 years collaborating with people of all genders and cultural identities, from children to adults aged 18 and older. In 2022, I started my private practice, Healing For the Soul, to provide a safe talk therapy place for women and men. I name my practice “Healing For the Soul” because I firmly believe that a person’s past does not have to dictate their current reality when you learn the core of who you are as an individual. My areas of expertise include anxiety, perfectionism, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, stress management, and relationship issues. I am passionate about helping my clients find their “YES” and tap into their inherent strengths. My approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and includes the treatment of eating disorders. I am pursuing a doctorate in social work to research how social media affects the mental health of African American women and the process of overcoming imposter syndrome, with the goal of publishing a book. I also do public speaking engagements on mental health awareness and how to build self-belief. I plan to continue working in my practice, where I love providing therapy. I will continue to increase my knowledge to offer up-to-date interventions to serve my clients and positively influence my community.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Stop allowing other people’s projections to dictate your path. It’s common for individuals to share experiences through their lens, but remember, your vision is for you to believe. People may not always agree, including those closest to you. I’ve faced discouragement and skepticism from others who doubted my potential based on their limited perspectives. Creating privacy boundaries is essential; you only need validation from within. Don’t let the world determine who you should be. Instead, tap into your power and embrace your authenticity.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I was raised with old-school values, treating everyone equally, from the janitor to the CEO. Your actions shape your professional reputation. While networking is a powerful tool, confidence, and approachability are essential for putting yourself out there. Being an entrepreneur is a spiritual journey. When you embrace this principle, you can genuinely show up and respect others, even in the face of disrespect. Learn to discern the type of people you want to work with and the environments you choose to network in. Always dress for every occasion, as you are a walking billboard for your brand.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healingforthesoul_901/?igsh=amd0ajJlMWtmZjAw&utm_source=qr#
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile

Image Credits

Instagram Quenlee_photography