We were lucky to catch up with Jacqueline Nova (Jablonski) recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jacqueline, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
People ask me this question a lot, how did you become a psychotherapist, or did you always know you wanted to be a “shrink” …? lol. The reality is it is never one thing, right? My entire life it has been as if there is an invisible string tied to my gut pulling me along. I have always known the power of trusting my own inner wisdom but following our gut is easier said than done. There were times I knew exactly what my next step was going to be and other times I took a leap of faith. Some experiences that I felt might’ve been mistakes later turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I tended bar for many years in my youth and that profession taught me a lot about human nature and got me comfortable with learning about people’s stories. After that, I became a schoolteacher. The ease and rapport I had with my students helped me to see that I had an added gift as an empathetic and active listener. Their trust in me was inspirational. This experience propelled me to go back to school for my second master’s degree, so I obtained the necessary qualifications for my next career move as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner. Once I graduated, I was able to go into private practice.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I was born in Smithtown, New York in 1976, and grew up ice skating, swimming, and exploring Long Island’s nature sanctuaries and rocky beaches. When I wasn’t running wild with my older brothers, I could be found reading books morning, noon, and night. Always a go-getter, I began working at age 12, establishing myself in the restaurant business, later bartending and affording myself an education. After acquiring a bachelor’s degree in Theatre, my love affair with the arts brought me to Manhattan where I acted in off Broadway plays. Quickly realizing that the most lucrative nights at restaurants coincided with opening nights of plays made it challenging to pay the rent. I got a day job and attended CUNY Brooklyn College at night. I earned my first master’s degree and became an eighth-grade English teacher (2005). It was around this time that my brother started experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. our strong bond led me to seek help for my brother which introduced me to the psychotherapy world. Working as a full-time teacher, I noticed the ease and rapport I had with my students. As an empathetic and active listener, they quickly trusted and shared with me. Inspired by my students and the need to help my brother, I attended CUNY Brooklyn College again, this time earning a master’s degree in counseling (2009). I completed the advanced studies degree in psychology and accepted my Mental Health Counseling license with honors, Chi Sigma Iota. After settling on the East End of Long Island, I hung my shingle and successfully built my private practice since 2013. In 2014, I met Dr. Richard Schaub who introduced me to Transpersonal Therapy and the many benefits of studying Clinical Meditation & Imagery. I have gone on to lead public meditations and teach Clinical Meditation & Imagery to other mental health professionals. In 2015, I completed a teacher training and became a registered yoga teacher which is an additional benefit when helping clients. Always a believer in whole-person healing, I incorporate mindful embodiment into my clinical work where indicated. I am currently working towards holding in-person Movements in Meditation.
The clients drawn to my work are highly sensitive individuals involved in creative and spiritual lifestyles and want a therapist who is appreciative of their choices. I have extensive experience helping clients work through anxiety, depression, and self-defeating thoughts and behaviors. Clients will care better for themselves, develop more successful relationships, and have more confidence in their decisions. Clients will learn to strengthen their voice, define their boundaries, and gain a more expanded view of their future. Out of a wide range of psychotherapy, yoga, and meditation skills, I help us to choose together the methods that are right for you, the client. And then, together, we develop self-care and discovery skills that you, the client, can then do on your own. I believe in empowering my clients. Together we come up with what works for you to manage your life better.
I specialize in helping people to explore and gain confidence in their choices about romantic relationships, friendships, family, and work dynamics. My clients know they have someone to go to – to help figure things out. We are not born with a personal manual, but we work on writing one together literally and figuratively. Once we are aware of our personal nuances, what soothes us, what nourishes us and what triggers us we can take the necessary steps to change our lives in ways that work for us rather than against us. The ultimate result is love for self, peace, and joy.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I was a fulltime grad student, I was also a fulltime schoolteacher, needless to say, it was a very hectic schedule and at the end of the program we were “encouraged” to sign on for the advanced program. At that point, I was feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Anyone who has trained in a wellness program knows how taxing it can be to go through this journey. Not only is it academically challenging but it is a emotionally challenging – even though it is a rewarding process, it can take its toll, as well. It needs to be, one cannot be a great practitioner without working on their own personal stuff too. In my opinion, it is the foundation of a good therapist. So, I decided to wait to sign on for the advanced program until I was feeling ready. Personal resiliency is sometimes rooted in one’s own ability to believe in oneself. After some time went by, I started to have my doubts about taking that time off. This was a challenging time for me, I wondered If I made a mistake. Choosing oneself is one of the hardest things to do. I resigned myself to trusting my intuition and believing in myself that I did the right thing and needed the time to restore and recharge. If only we could have hindsight in the actual moment because that decision turned out to be the best decision I had ever made. Within that time frame that I was taking a much-needed break the master’s degree program expanded their advanced degree choices to other mental health specialties. That opened the door for me to expand outside of the school counseling program and into the mental health licensure program. I signed onto the advanced degree program specializing in mental health, got licensed and was able to hang my shingle and open my own private practice.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
This journey has taught me to always trust myself, my intuition, my gut. I had an opportunity to study with a wonderful meditation teacher for a weekend in NYC. Without hesitation, I signed up for his course with anticipation. Paying the fee and looking ahead I was excited for this experience to come. In the meantime, things in my life started changing, who would’ve anticipated that I would be in a new office, move to a new home and things with my partner would start to be a challenge. I wondered if I should cancel the program and do it at a time when things seemed easier. My partner’s voice in my head, suggesting that I cancel and that I couldn’t possibly pick a better time made me second guess myself. I started to doubt my decision. I sat in quiet reflection and thought about what was important to me and my career and my own self growth, I apologized to my aggravated partner but chose to participate in the meditation program anyway. By the end of that weekend, I was asked by the program director Dr Richard Schaub if I was interested in being one of his teachers. Since then, we have become good friends. He is a colleague, mentor and friend, and someone I can go to – to help me figure things out. The lesson for me here was to check in with my own awareness and not let outside influencers take me off my path. Even when things seem tough, it is important to trust yourself, you never know where it will lead.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.calmclearlife.com
- Instagram: @calmclearlife
Image Credits
Photography Maria Bassett