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

Alright, Jasmine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

If I’m being honest, it was never my goal or dream to have my own private practice or build it into a thriving group practice where we provide mental health therapy to people from all walks of life, but here I am. In 2017, I thought that I was on the path of developing a successful blog via www.blessingsindisguize.com. But through my faith journey, I took the leap of faith and was placed under an amazing woman who helped me to establish the foundation of my practice.

From 2017-2019, I took so many trainings to become a successful business owner, along with increasing my knowledge to be of better service to the clients that I would serve. When I started Blessings In DisguiZe Counseling and Coaching, I had to learn how to get contracted with insurances, complete billing, and so much more. Those years really taught me the importance of being balanced as I also have obligations outside my practice such as being a wife, mom, collegiate professor, sorority member, and so much more! It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Since 2020, I have added five (5) clinicians to my team and moved from a two office suite to a four office suite. It’s been a roller coaster journey, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

My advice to any young professional starting out would be to find a good mentor. You need someone who has already walked the path that you are walking. They have already made the mistakes and they have the blueprint for your success. You can take it and improve it from there so you can be a helping hand to those coming behind you. My second piece of advice would be to find your niche and your target audience early on. I thought I was going to help every person and every issue that came walking into my office. However, I found pretty quickly that it’s not possible. Now that I have identified both of these areas, my work has become easier and my clients always get the best version of me because I have found my flow.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, my name is Jasmine Lynn Pope (Jazz Lynn) and I am a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation in the State of Ohio. Originally from Sandusky, Ohio (aka Cedar Point), I always knew that I would be in the helping profession, I just didn’t know exactly how. As I went through the test and trials of life and finding my own way, I found that I had a passion and a strong connection with those who are suffering with mental health issues and/or mental illness. Although I already had two (2) degrees, in 2014 I went back to school and in 2016 I graduated with my Masters of Science in Social Administration (Social Work) from the Case Western Reserve University. After obtaining my degree and my social work license, I worked in a. variety of capacities to gain as much experience as I could. This helped to push me into diversifying the way that I would be able to educate people about mental health and mental illness and how they could use their struggles with either to find their purpose in life.

Beyond sitting behind my desk at Blessings In DisguiZe Counseling & Coaching, I wrote my first book In the Middle: Learning how to Navigate the Process to Purpose in 2020. I host a local tv where we talk about the combination between mental health, ministry, and the marketplace. I have also developed a branch of my business that offers training and consulting to professionals in the field and/or those wanting to begin their own practices.

My most recent and I would say biggest accomplishment with my business is being the recipient of a $10,000 grant through Jumpstart, Inc. after completing their twelve (12) week business development course. This was my third time applying for the program. I share that to let people know to never give up on themselves and what they want. Today’s no can be tomorrow’s yes. When the timing is right, everything will fall right into place.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I am currently in the process of pivoting in my business right now. For the last five years, I have worked very hard in the business, But now is my time to transition from being just an entrepreneur to being an executive. My goal is within the next year to be less hands-on in the day to day of seeing clients (although I will never completely walk away from this) and working in the business to being more of the face of the business, I want to do more speaking engagements, write more books, and develop other ways to connect with people who are wanting to improve their lives. It’s not going to be easy, but I know that it is what’s necessary to take my business/brand to the next level.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

For me, there is nothing else that I would rather do. God gave me my voice for a reason and allows me to use it in a way that connects with people and helps lead them to healing and wholeness. Being a social worker, minister, author, and educator all go hand-in-hand. My love for mental health/mental illness and purpose all flow through each of these areas. I love what I do and no longer question why I am here. I know that I am meant to be here and doing what I am doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blessingsindisguize.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.lynn.a/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlynnent
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-pope-lisw-s-lmsw-265ab46a/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ZTattlet4il/videos

Image Credits
Jumpstart, Inc.; Bree Levesque