We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jai Huntley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jai below.

Hi Jai, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

Alright yall, story time. So I was going into my second year of my graduate program. Before I officially hit my second year of the program, I was in the process of looking for my internship. I was looking for an internship for about 2 months. In the process of my search, I wasn’t receiving any call backs. During my search, I began to realize that the resources on the internship list were outdated. It was the week of the deadline to have landed an internship and I was growing stressed and discouraged. I came across a resource that I haven’t reached out to. It almost feels like it appeared out of the blue. When I reached out, they almost instantly got back with me and asked me to come in for an interview. Here’s a side-note: My application deadline was on a Friday and I was in the last week of needing to turn in my internship paperwork. During this week, my internship interview was on that Wednesday. By the grace of God I received an email the same day expressing that they wanted me to be part of their team!!! **Praise Break**

This is my 1st time ever really sharing this story and I just made the connection that this was God’s assignment for me. He needed me to be here. God tested how much I really trusted and relied on him. He may not have showed up when I wanted him to, but he was SO on time! I landed my 1st internship at a Rehab Facility! I may not have felt fully equipped but God knew that I would be equipped for this position based on my history of witnessing close family members struggle with addiction. I never knew or thought this is where I would have been, but now I truly understand why he’s lead me here to do this type of work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in North Carolina. I am a multifaceted clinical therapist with over 5 years of experience working with numerous types of clients. Within my clinical role, my work primarily consists of providing direct care to clients who experience addiction and co-occurring illnesses. I like to refer to myself as a wounded healer as I believe that my life experiences have guided me to engage In the work that I currently do. My process of helping others is playing a huge part in my own healing journey.

My philosophy is that therapy is a collaborative process where we work together to identify and address the challenges you’re facing. In identifying those challenges, I provide an eclectic approach to our therapeutic relationship as I believe each person is unique and no approach can be cookie cutter. Often clients have described my personality and approach as empathetic, caring, relatable, and having the ability to help reframe one’s negative thought patterns. Therapy is like planting a seed. Once rapport and trust has been established, I believe over time you’ll see the benefits as the seed transforms into a thriving plant, reflecting the personal growth and positive change achieved through your experience of therapy.

When I’m not engaging in my 9-5, I’m working on my babies (my 2 year old and my personal wellness brand). My greatest passion is to build a community for generations to help educate on the topic of mental health in a way that can be understood and related to so that people can protect their mental health on a daily basis. My efforts consist of using my digital media platform to create content on topics that others can resonate with.

Established in 2019, Protect Your Mental is a wellness space that focuses on the importance and prioritization of your mental well-being. We are committed to fostering a culture of compassion, resilience, and empowerment, where every individual feels valued, supported, and capable of protecting their mental’s on a daily basis.

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

Owww, this is a very good question. Lesson’s I needed to unlearn consisted of my co-dependent habits. I didn’t know nor fully understood how co-dependent I was until recently. When you’re in a relationship with someone who come’s from a different upbringing as you, you find out quickly how different your worlds truly are. I come from a lineage of individuals who has experienced generational trauma and broken homes/families resulting in implementations of unhealthy habits and overall hurt. So I’m sure you can only imagine the lens I was looking out of on a daily basis.

Now Jaí, how exactly were you “co-dependent.” Welp I’m glad you asked. I always believed that being there for others meant sacrificing my own needs. I thought that love and care equated to constant availability, putting others before myself, and even taking on their emotions as my own. It felt like my worth was tied to how much I could do for someone else. But over time, I noticed that this dynamic was draining. My relationships, instead of feeling fulfilling, left me feeling empty and disconnected from myself. I wasn’t thriving, and neither were the people I thought I was helping. That’s when I realized—this wasn’t love or care; it was co-dependency.

Unlearning this behavior wasn’t easy. I had to start setting boundaries and, more importantly, discovering who I was without the full input of others. I had to embrace the idea that healthy relationships are about mutual support, not one-sided sacrifice. It changed everything for me—my relationship with myself and how I connect with others. Now, I focus on building connections based on balance, respect, and self-awareness, not a need for validation.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Ugh, again such another beautiful and intentional question. Aside from training and knowledge, I believe that having a relationship with God has been the most helpful factor in my success. In my field, there are moments that require more than just technical expertise or learned skills—there are times when intuition, faith, and a deeper sense of purpose play a critical role. My relationship with God grounds me, giving me the strength, clarity, and wisdom to navigate challenges that may otherwise feel overwhelming.

When things get tough, it’s that faith that keeps me anchored. It reminds me that my purpose is bigger than any obstacle in front of me and helps me stay focused on serving others with integrity and compassion. There’s a peace that comes with trusting God’s plan, even when things don’t make sense in the moment. It allows me to approach my work with a sense of calm and conviction, knowing that I’m not relying on my abilities alone, but also on divine guidance.

For me, success isn’t just about achieving goals—it’s about staying true to who I am, living in alignment with my values, and using my gifts to make a positive impact. And my relationship with God has been the key to keeping that perspective.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://protectyourmental.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectyourmental_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProtectYourMental
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jai-huntley
• Other: Private Practice with Resilience Source
  https://www.resiliencesource.com/jai-huntley

Image Credits

Jordynn Nicholson
Madalynn Young Photography