We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jen Hershey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today 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.

Taking risks has always been a part of who I am. As a licensed therapist with a successful virtual private practice, I found myself constantly wondering what was next for me. I had already tried the usual ways of refreshing my practice by getting new office space, but that wasn’t enough this time. I had a feeling that I needed to do something more. As an Aries rising with a Sagittarius sun, I like to think of myself as unique and different. I knew that when it was time to pivot in my career, I didn’t want to do the mainstream thing and build a bigger practice with associates. I wanted to create something that would have a greater reach and make a big difference in the world.
That’s when the idea for the How We Get Thru app was born. I saw a huge gap in the market that was made even clearer by the pandemic. Therapists were full and burned out and everyone was needing more mental health support to get thru the twists and turns of that chaotic time. It became very clear that moms, especially, needed more resources for their everyday motherhood questions, and therapists needed a way to diversify their income and promote the amazing resources they have create
Creating this app was a huge risk for me. I was entering the tech space and competing with big companies (mainly men) that had already established themselves on the market. It was also rare to see a mental health app that was clinician-made and lead. But I believed in the importance of creating a platform to lift up everyday therapists who work hard to help so many people.
My husband(our app developer) and I have invested so much time and work into this project, and we hope to be able to provide for our family in the future through it. Launching the app at the end of March 2023 is both terrifying and exciting. But for me, there’s no doubt that this is where I’m supposed to be, even if it’s a flop.
Taking risks is all about learning more about ourselves and our capabilities. It requires us to be flexible and innovative, and it can lead to amazing opportunities and personal growth. I encourage anyone who is feeling the tug to try something new to take the risk and see where it leads you- you never know where you’ll end up!

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

Hey there! I’m a licensed therapist who’s been in the mental health industry for some time now. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing clients and running my virtual private practice, but post pandemic- I wanted to create something even bigger, something that could make a greater impact. And that’s where the How We Get Thru app was born! This app is a game-changer. As a mom, I saw a need for reliable and trustworthy mental health resources that are accessible right at your fingertips. And that’s exactly what we’ve created! No more endless googling and second-guessing whether the advice you’re reading is legit – with How We Get Thru, you can find all the trusted resources you need to help you feel calm and confident.
We offer curated, 30-minute courses that have been created by real therapists. And the best part? You can watch, listen, or read the transcript at your own pace because we know how busy us moms can get! We wanted to make it easy for you to implement change, so each course comes with reflection questions to help you dive deeper.
But wait, there’s more! We also offer a mental health directory, daily feelings check-in, mental health tips, and even a journal section to help you track your progress. We’re the one-stop-shop for all things mental health, and we’re here to help you get through it all.
What sets us apart is that we believe in the power of legit self-help and empowering moms to find the answers that are right for them. We know that mental health is not one-size-fits-all, and we want to create a space where you can find the right resources that work for you.
As a wife and husband team with two little ones under four, we never thought that an app born on a backyard trampoline could turn into a full-blown business. But here we are, using our unique skills and strengths to make this app a reality. We’re not afraid to take risks and go after what we believe in.
I’m incredibly proud of what the How We Get Thru app stands for. We’re not just a faceless app – we’re real people who care about your mental health journey. We’re on a mission to make mental health resources more accessible and inclusive for everyone. So let’s get through it together – join the waitlist today to get two months free when we launch in March 2023!

Have you ever had to pivot?

I always knew deep down that I wanted to pursue a career in counseling, but it took me a long time to finally make the decision to go to grad school in my late twenties. Looking back, all signs were pointing me in this direction. From my career counseling results after high school to my final major in college being psychology, and my work in administration for physicians – it was clear that this was my true calling. I have always been a deep connector and a good listener, and I am grateful that I was able to get out of my own way and pursue mental health. Now, in this next chapter of my life, I am determined to stretch the limitations of being a therapist to meet the ever-changing demands of the world. I recognize that the field of mental health can sometimes feel slow to catch up with the impact of technology, but I also understand that our regulations are there to protect our clients. As a therapist, I am always looking for new ways to help my clients without sacrificing the beautiful relationship between us.
The recent global events have forced many of us to reevaluate our lives and purpose. I too experienced burnout as a therapist while going through the same struggles as my clients and adjusting to motherhood. This is what led me to create the How We Get Thru app – a tool to help moms on a global scale. Although self-funded, we continue to pivot and make changes in order to offer the best product we can. We will be adding a web version of the app to help with our SEO and gather more data on what courses moms need and want. We also made changes to our home page within the app to make it more engaging and interactive.
Being a successful entrepreneur requires flexibility and a willingness to pivot, even when it’s hard. This is something I have learned both as a CEO and as a therapist – the ability to listen and connect with others is key to helping them feel empowered to get through life’s challenges.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As a therapist and a parent, I’ve faced my own triggers and emotional wounds while holding space for others and trying to keep up with the demands of daily life. There have been many moments when I felt exhausted, drained and uncertain of how to keep going. And what keeps me going is the knowledge that building resilience is essential not just for myself and my family, but for every mother who needs support to navigate the invisible load of caretaking. I’ve come to realize that the key to resilience is to ask myself: “How am I doing? What do I need? How can I meet those needs?” It’s a simple process that we often overlook, prioritizing the needs of others over our own. However, neglecting my own needs left me feeling drained, unable to meet the demands of the day.
Through the process of self-reflection and self-care, I’ve learned to take the time to care for myself so that I can show up for others with even greater strength and compassion. It hasn’t always been easy, but my journey towards resilience has been a personal one. I am faced with everyday challenges such as my two-year-old refusing to sleep in his own room, holding space for others’ painful and emotional wounds in my therapy practice, building an app, making room for friends, making sure my husband stays my husband and not just my CTO, while keeping up with all the birthday parties and school activities.
Despite these challenges, I am learning to prioritize myself and my needs. I’ve discovered that building resilience is a process, not a quick fix. By showing up for myself, I can show up for others with greater strength and compassion. So, I encourage all of us to ask ourselves: “How are you?”, and then ask again, “How are you, really?” and take the time to care for ourselves so that we can care for others in the most powerful and compassionate way possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: howwegetthru.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/howwegetthru
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howwegetthru
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/how-we-get-thru-llc/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@howwegetthru_?_t=8VtkgjVXoAo&_r=1

Image Credits
Erin Bathurst from Lovisa Photo. https://www.lovisaphoto.com