We recently connected with Julissa Vasquez and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Julissa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you ever experienced a time when your entire field felt like it was taking a U-Turn?
When I made the decision to pursue a degree in Clinical Social Work I did it because in my heart it was the thing that fully resonated with, and that felt in alignment with who I truly was in the world. Yet, despite my enthusiasm for the work, there were those around me that did not have much respect for my choice in career or understood why I would elect to go into a field where one could essentially struggle to make ends meet.
Sixteen years into this field, and so thankful that I did not let the negativity of others affect me (not that it would have dissuaded me anyway, as I’ve always been strong in my convictions; and far from struggling to make-ends-meet). I have been delighted to bear witness to a beautiful shift on how this profession is viewed and its perceived value. There has been a remarkable shift in the openness, attitude, and respect toward mental health in general and how we, as a society, value it as an integral part of holistic wellness. Over time, conversations about mental health and therapy have not only become normalized, today they are actively encouraged.
Many moons ago, I launched a company called Let’s Talk About It. This was to be an online platform for mental health providers and consumers to get connected via an App. Consumers could choose to receive support via a confidential chat or via Telehealth sessions in video format. The App was to have an algorithm to identify key-words in which clients asking for support via chat would get routed to a therapist that specializes in that particular area; and they could access their therapy appointments via the internet from anywhere that was convenient to them; thus increasing access and making therapy more accessible.
I truly believed in my vision, I knew that leveraging technology through the utilization of the Internet/Telehealth as a means of eliminating barriers and increasing access to mental health services was revolutionary and exciting! Yet, many were still apprehensive about this. It took over a decade for the rest of the world to catch up with my vision. I had given up working on Let’s Talk About It, but as you can imagine I almost fell back on my chair when I saw the first ad for Talkspace. Today we have a slew of companies with a similar model: Talkspace, Betterhelp, Headway & Alma just to name a few, all platforms that list therapists who provide mental health services via an online platform with somewhat of a similar model.
It was in the midst of the devastation of the Covid 19 pandemic that many things changed for me, and I suppose for all of us. The idea of Telehealth, something still somewhat unfamiliar, was no longer novel. It became a lifeline for all of us, and has remained a new way of life. The pandemic has forever changed the landscape of how we all live & communicate with one another. Today, Telemedicine is not only normalized, it has often become the preferred method of communication by both clients and therapists for its convenience and accessibility.
During the pandemic, the demand for mental health services grew, so much so, that the demand became overwhelming in ways I could have never imagined. It was far from easy—there was so much loss, so much pain—but we were all going through it together. In those moments, my work gave me a profound sense of purpose and connection to the world. I became the lifeline that supported others so that they could continue doing their work. I came to understand how vital my work truly is and that feeling was priceless.
When people heal from their traumas, they become healthier, more well-adjusted versions of themselves, and this transformation has a ripple effect on their lives, their relationships and families. Healthier individuals make for healthier parents, who in turn raise well-adjusted, thriving children. I am honored to be a part of the collective healing that shapes future generations. My ability to do this work feels like a sacred gift I was chosen for, one that I am deeply honored and grateful to have received.
Life has shown me that when you do something you love, from a place of love, and without being attached to the outcome—you will always have what you need to sustain yourself.
The world is constantly changing, the key is to stay true to your heart and your path. Sometimes, the world may not yet be ready for what you have to offer, and that’s okay. It just means you may need to wait for the change, for the world to evolve, so it can meet you where you are.
Julissa, 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?
I am a strategist, problem solver, and visionary who is invigorated by finding solutions to complex problems in the most creative ways imaginable. I am a lifelong learner, who is always curious about the human condition, and deeply passionate about sharing my knowledge with others. My life’s mission is to help leave this world a better place by aiding individual souls in healing and achieving their greatest potential.
In my fifteen years of experience in the social work field in the areas of program management, program development, community health, education, clinical direct practice and entrepreneurship, I have amassed invaluable tools that have shaped both me and my work. My creative problem-solving nature, coupled with a strong desire to help others, has been the catalyst behind my company Integrate – Unconventional Healing and Integrate Your Soul-Therapy for Everyone.
Integrate Your Soul is a group psychotherapy practice based in New York City and servicing clients in New York, New Jersey and Florida. Integrate Your Soul is also a nonprofit organization aimed to increase access and eliminate barriers to mental health treatment to underserved populations. I along with my team are a group of dedicated clinicians all specializing in niche areas we are personally passionate about, some of which include: intergenerational trauma, relationships, ketamine assisted psychotherapy, religious trauma & cult recovery, migration trauma, intersectionality between disability & mental health, postpartum depression. We are advocates, community activists, trauma-informed, culturally competent therapists rooted in promoting social justice and providing quality care in areas we deeply connect with through our lived experiences.
Today, I continue to expand my therapeutic practice by integrating novel approaches such as Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, talk therapy, and coaching to create personally tailored holistic wellness plans for my clients.
I earned my Master’s Degree from The Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work in 2011. My post-graduate work focuses on individual, couples, and group therapy, all grounded in a trauma-informed lens. My therapeutic trainings encompasses Psychodynamic, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Solution-Focused modalities to name a few.
I am particularly passionate about helping people with navigating relational experiences in the personal and professional sector, self-empowerment & manifestation, intergenerational trauma, healing from intimate partner violence, life transitions, anxiety, depression, women’s issues, and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. I also train fellow clinicians on the Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatment modality as a member of the leadership team of the Ketamine Training Institute (KTC). I also provide clinical supervision, and mentorship to upcoming social workers as an Advisor at Columbia University. I am also a contributing author in the award-winning book “Latinx in Social Work Volume II.”
I am a native of the Dominican Republic, and a proud Afro-Latina. I live in gratitude for my experiences, the people I meet, and for my God-given gifts and talents.
I am always honored to be part of someone’s journey and deeply appreciate those who are part of mine. Above all, I am personally committed to the inclusion, equity, healing, uplifting, and celebration of all people of color.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’ve had to pivot many times in my life. That’s because the biggest lessons I have learned in life and in business often have come from the things that I do not want to do ever again.
Years ago, I used to own a hair salon, I had such great ideas for the space. The problem was I had a vision, and it was a great vision, but no skill or desire to do hair. After a while I began to feel stuck because I found myself losing money and losing interest started to get in a loop. I lost the passion for the vision and got consumed in the business aspect of the work, bill paying etc. until there was no joy in it. It just felt burdensome. I have wasted so much time and money to get this lesson.
I have learned that any business that I own has to generate income from the fruit of my labor; whether that is from my ideas, actual labor or vision or real estate which essentially has very little risk involved but I will never defer my income earning potential to what someone else can generate & hand me.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
Absolutely not. My profession brings me so much joy. It never feels like work, and that is truly how I know this is what I am meant to be doing because I would not rather be doing anything else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.integrateyoursoul.org/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julissa-m-v%C3%A1squez-lcsw-b19a6a32/
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
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