We recently connected with Andrea Cabrera Jakucs and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Recently, I took a leap of faith and hired an associate psychotherapist to join my private practice. This has been a long-time dream of mine, but several challenges held me back—including recovering from the Eaton Fire, adjusting to life as a mother of two young children, and overcoming my fears about whether I could provide enough clients to support another therapist.

Even though my psychotherapy practice has been full multiple times in the past, stepping into growth felt intimidating. As a perfectionist and high achiever, taking risks doesn’t always come naturally. Yet God had other plans.

At a Catholic therapists’ retreat in Simi Valley, California, I unexpectedly met Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Elizabeth Tapang, who is now a valued member of our team. Since joining the practice, she has steadily built her caseload and helped more individuals access compassionate, quality mental health care.

Today, I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to grow our practice and serve more clients. Sometimes the greatest blessings come when we step forward in faith despite our fears.

Andrea, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a licensed psychotherapist, Filipino immigrant, mother of two, military wife, and a Catholic. I am the founder and owner of Wellness with Andrea Jakucs & Associates, a group psychotherapy practice based in Pasadena, California.

At Wellness with Andrea Jakucs & Associates, we provide virtual psychotherapy services to adults throughout California, with a special focus on serving Filipino Americans, Christians, and other diverse populations seeking compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. We offer therapy in both English and Tagalog and specialize in helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, grief and loss, relationship challenges, anger management, and major life transitions.

Our practice utilizes a variety of evidence-based and trauma-informed treatment approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Brainspotting, Interpersonal Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Seeking Safety, Problem-Solving Therapy, Christian Counseling, Stress Management, and Anger Management.

To make therapy more accessible, we accept several major health insurance plans, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and private-pay clients. In addition to providing psychotherapy, I offer mental health and wellness workshops, speaking engagements, clinical supervision, and facilitate a monthly Filipino American Mental Health Professionals consultation group via Zoom.

My path to becoming a psychotherapist began while working as an assistant administrator in my family’s residential care facility for adults living with serious mental health conditions. As residents shared their stories and struggles with me, I discovered a passion for helping people heal, grow, and improve their quality of life. That experience inspired me to earn my Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California and pursue a career in mental health.

Today, I am grateful to combine my passions for psychotherapy, education, and entrepreneurship. As a therapist and business owner, I enjoy helping individuals improve their emotional well-being while raising awareness about mental health within our communities. Although I have been featured in the Los Angeles Times and Fox News, what brings me the greatest fulfillment is witnessing the healing, growth, and resilience of the clients we serve. It is a privilege to be part of their wellness journey.

To learn more about our services, visit wellnesswithandreajakucs.com or follow us on Instagram @wellnesswithandreaj.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

My mother and grandmother have had a profound influence on my leadership, management, and entrepreneurial journey. Both are successful entrepreneurs who built thriving businesses through hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to serving others.

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, I had a front-row seat to the realities of business ownership. I watched my mother work late into the night and consistently make herself available to support her employees, friends, and family. I often sat in on company meetings with both my mother and grandmother, observing how they led their teams with professionalism, generosity, and respect.

Through their example, I witnessed the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship firsthand—the long hours, difficult decisions, financial pressures, and personal sacrifices required to build and sustain a successful business. At the same time, I saw the fulfillment that comes from creating opportunities for others, serving the community, and achieving meaningful success.

Their influence helped shape my own approach to leadership as a psychotherapist, business owner, and founder of a growing group psychotherapy practice. The values they modeled—hard work, resilience, integrity, and compassion—continue to guide me in both my professional and personal life.

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

I recently realized just how important my gym time and overall wellness routine are to my mental health and well-being. As a business owner, the work never truly ends, and it’s easy to convince myself that there are more important things to do. But I’ve learned that self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

I’ve made it a priority to get to the gym at least twice a week because it’s my time to recharge, reflect, and have fun. Those few hours provide me with clarity, peace, focus, and renewed energy. Some of my best business ideas, blog topics, and creative solutions come to me during a workout.

As a psychotherapist, I often encourage clients to prioritize their mental wellness, and this is a reminder that I need to practice what I preach. Taking care of ourselves allows us to show up more fully for our families, careers, and communities.

The gym isn’t just a place to exercise—it’s my sanctuary. It’s where I strengthen not only my body, but also my mind, resilience, and sense of purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: wellnesswithandreajakucs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswithandreaj/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnesswithandreaj
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreacabrera6/
• Twitter: https://x.com/wellnessandreaj
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wellnesswithandreaj