We recently connected with Jen Phippen and have shared our conversation below.

Jen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I had been thinking about starting my own private practice for years prior to finding the courage to take the leap in 2020. I was being creatively stifled and facing serious burnout working as a Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker. Working in dysfunctional systems that were more concerned with profits over people inspired me to establish something different, something based on my values.

The first steps I took required an immense amount of courage and trust. There were the practical steps of setting up my LLC, my bank account and finding my office space and setting myself up with the right billing and operating systems. I opened up my practice in February 2020 after finding a space that I had extra offices to rent to other therapists. I had no idea at that time how COVID would completely change everything. I ended up closing the office by August 2020 and focusing on virtual therapy with the uncertainty looming with the pandemic. I have since landed in an office that perfectly suits my needs.

These first steps were crucial in getting me closer to my dream of starting my own business. I genuinely feel there are many parts of our society unraveling and we need courageous and heart centered entrepreneurs to pave new ways of serving our fellow humans. I had made many mistakes during this time and my vision has continued to evolve as I adjust to internal and external changes.

Jen, 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?

The name of my practice is Transform the Nest as a metaphor for what the therapeutic process can do to change family systems. I provide psychotherapy services to clients in Northern Colorado and specialize in working with caregivers of all kinds. I feel passionate about helping mothers find wholeness so they may support their families and themselves in meaningful ways. I am different than others as I deeply rely on my intuition and inner knowing as a therapist. I consider myself a psycho-spiritual therapist who helps clients find deep meaning in meeting difficult emotions with tenderness and compassion. As a trauma based therapist, I utilize EMDR, KAP (Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy) and ACT in my practice to help create deep and meaningful change in my clients lives.

I have a separate LLC where I offer psycho-spiritual mentorship services to women around the world. Through this business, I am offering group workshops to help women honor their sacred rage. I also created a Tarot deck called the Tarot of Transcendence as a tool to help others self heal.

I am most proud of my clients work and having the absolute honor of witnessing women heal and witnessing them lead lives aligned with their values and serving others in impactful ways. I have been hosting monthly healing circles for two years and the connection and love in these circles have been one of my biggest joys since starting my practice.

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

100% Yes. I feel so incredibly grateful to do work that is personally meaningful and also impactful to others. It feels like a dream sometimes that I get paid doing what I love.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

First and foremost, all the work by Joanna Macy. Most specifically, Active Hope. The teachings of Ram Dass and Mirabai Starr make my heart sing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jenphippen.com/ + https://www.transformthenest.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenphippen_lcsw/