Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jasmin McGregor. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jasmin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?

Being a therapist and a school social worker is perhaps one of the most fulfilling careers. Being able to see and experience tangible change in a client or student’s lives and seeing them utilize the tools and resources given to them is an amazing experience. I often reflect on my first client in a therapeutic setting which I would say was the evidence I needed that I know what I am doing, and am great at what I do. During my grad school program at USC, I interned at a community mental health agency. It took a very long time for my referrals to finally pan out, and when they did my clients all spoke a different language than I did so I had to use interpretation services. I will never forget seeing the tangible and real life changes that a client over 25 years older than me made all while having a language barrier. That client wrote me a letter as we terminated letting me know that I hanged their life so much and they were so grateful for the work we did together. For that to have been my first actual client while still in school really solidified that I am doing exactly what I am meant to be doing.

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

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Jasmin McGregor is a licensed clinical social worker. Beginning her educational career at Chapman University, she received her BA in Psychology, and continued her advanced work at USC where she received her Masters in Social Work. With a passion for breaking the stigmas within the Black community, she currently has a weekly podcast of casual conversation in efforts to normalize discourse surrounding mental health. She is a mental health therapist, in private practice serving the greater Los Angeles, as well as a middle school social worker for the Black Achievement Plan. She creates a safe place for students and adults to check in and be held accountable for reaching their personal goals. Focused on the present to impact the future, she strives daily to empower and push those around her to improve themselves holistically. She is most proud of her work in de-stigmatizing mental health and recently provided back to school mental health tips for the LA Parent Magazine’s September 2023 edition. She is a driven and transparent social worker who affectionately known as the friendly hope dealer and stoves to empower all she comes in contact with to strive to be a better version of themselves. If she could tell a younger version of herself anything it would be that there are no such things as excuses. If you say you want something go out and get it, don’t just wish for it. Work for it.

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

Transparency and meeting people where they are is one of the most helpful ways to succeed in my field. Acknowledging our missteps and showing our clients it is okay to be authentically themselves is super important for the work we do. People who feel connected to their provider often engage more in treatment because they feel comfortable and seen.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think my capacity to build rapport with various individuals and to be able to ask the tough change eliciting questions has helped me to build my reputation within my market. Most of my clients recommend me to their friends and family because they enjoy the good work we do together and the progress they make.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://providers.therapyforblackgirls.com/listing/jasmin-mcgregor-lcsw/#:~:text=She%20is%20a%20mental%20health,with%20her%20followers%20on%20Instagram.
• Instagram: instagram.com/yourfriendlyhopedealerr
• Twitter: twitter.com/h0pedealerr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@seektherapypodcast359