Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Domingo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back at internships and apprenticeships can be interesting, because there is so much variety in people’s experiences – and often those experiences inform our own leadership style. Do you have an interesting story from that stage of your career that you can share with us?
It’s strange to think back at my time as an intern in both my undergraduate program internship and my graduate program internship for a few reasons, to start they both felt so overwhelming at the time, still being in school still learning so much that have both prepared me, and not prepared me, for my experiences ahead because life is very unpredictable and you can never prepare for everything. When you are in the mental health field you come across people who are at times in the lowest point in their life and reaching a hand into the dark just hoping someone will be there for them, and at times guide them. This, when starting out, can be very scary and overwhelming because when you offer that metaphorical hand you don’t know the pain, grief, and despair that can be a part of the hand reaching out for help, it is both scary, and momentous at the same time. During both of my clinical internships I was assisting with very high-risk, and extremely vulnerable populations and to be present for those individuals was one of the most rewarding experiences. Whether it was talking with someone who called the national suicide prevention lifeline and talking with them through an extremely difficulty moment, and either waiting with them for emergency services to arrive or provide mental health stabilization and then connect them with resources for further mental health assistance in their area it is always an honor to be there with them. During both of my internships I made some of the most significant friendships I could have ever imagined, and those people are still a part of my life to this day and I am so grateful to them every day, they are always present in my life and encouraging me, and even giving me that hand I need when I have fears of stepping into the next phase of my life. Looking back at that time in my life was the scariest, the most rewarding, and I am very grateful to have had both of my internships.
Jessica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a licensed clinical social worker and I provide individual therapy sessions to those diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. I have the pleasure of working with individuals experiencing many concerning issues as well including wanting to break generational traumas to make their lives better for themselves and their next generation. As adults, we are responsible for resolving the traumas that have happened to us, to pick up the pieces and put ourselves back together, not because we are to blame for our experiences, but because we are the only ones who CAN change them. That can feel unfair, and it is, there is no doubt about that. On the flipside it can also be empowering- you are the catalyst for personal change, you can always take a turn or step in a different direction, you can always act differently, feel differently, and (with the right tools and assistance) start the healing process for yourself. This is what I help my clients with by offering a safe, non-judgmental space where you can feel seen, heard, and understood, and this could possibly be the first time someone has ever felt that way. This is part of what mental health professionals do every day, and this is what I love to do.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
If I could go back in time and choose a different profession, a different path I would still pick what I am doing now. My journey in this profession not only allows me the opportunity to be a witness to the amazing things people can do regardless of the hardships and struggles, I see it every day. I am given the opportunity to be allowed into the lives and minds of people who trust me with their fears, struggles, wins, and growth and I celebrate those wins with them and remain present with them in those struggles as we work towards moving them in their goals that align with their personal values. This profession has also given me some of the best friendships I could have ever imagined and these people have helped me grow so much as a person and in this profession. This profession has also lead me to my partner who I would have never met otherwise and I am so grateful for him and his endless support as well.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
In my own life I had to learn to take a step back from my, at times, hyper independence, and learn to let other’s help me if I were to grow as a person. Growing up, for a variety of different reasons, I kept my emotions to myself and tried to solve my own problems thinking I was the only person who could because it was my life, my experience, and no one else would understand and this lasted well into high school where I started to really reflect on my experiences and struggled a bit both with my own emotions and experiences, and in school. At one point in high school an English teacher noticed certain signs and helped me to journal my experiences and encouraged creative writing to process some feelings through theater classes and encouraged me to see the school guidance counselor, this of course I resisted greatly at first because how can someone help me through my experience it was my life, not theirs. Math is not my strongest subject and when I was struggling a bit my math teacher after class, because next period was my lunch period, took me to the school guidance counselor’s office with the only intention of helping me to sign up for extra math help. After meeting with her several times she made an impact on me and not only did she get me back on track with my classes, and grades, but through our time together got me to open up. This woman was able to connect with me, a closed off teenager, and made me realize that people can share similar experiences, similar difficulties, coming from different life experiences and offer guidance, support, understanding, and what she did was offer me a hand and eventually I took it and that was the start of me really truly letting people in on my experiences, my difficulties, and I came across a great deal of people willing and wanting to offer any assistance, even if that assistance is just an ear, someone to talk to. At times I still try to do things on my own before allowing other to help, but now when I know I need it I just ask and my support system is always there.
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Java Shots Photography by Java Sahler