Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Layla Jasper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Layla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

If you are a psychotherapist playing with the idea of going into private practice, I want to encourage you to explore what lights you up about this. Do you see a more sustainable work life balance? More freedom in how you show up for and with clients? Living wage and room for expansion and exploration in your career? I was one year into my associate license, working at a group practice, when I realized that I wanted to build one of my own. I didn’t want to feel burnt out with a high case load and low wage, with limited time for hobbies and friends. I also didn’t want insurance dictating how I did my work as a professional or how my clients accessed care. I knew I wanted to build an equitable practice that pushes past the bounds of what psychotherapy is thought to be. I leapt into private practice, believing that I could make mistakes, learn as I go and lean on others who could help me. I met with clients in the community and in parks until I could get an office downtown. I offer “Out & About” sessions, telehealth and hybrid options so I can meet clients where they need it most. Instead of insurance, I have a sliding scale fee with pro bono spots available. I approach my practice with experiential, somatic and expressive arts lenses facilitating the exploration of embodiment to reprocess trauma and build safety in the body. Some of this is in the therapy room, some is in the community, the dance floor and other times we are by the ocean or in the forest. We may be dancing, drawing or on a guided meditation; all for healing and coming home to self. I did study policy, planning and administration, and had held leadership positions in nonprofits, so I had some skills to transfer over for creating a private practice. However, if you feel that the things you’ve heard are true; that private practice is overwhelming, financially risky and isolating, it’s really not true, or rather it doesn’t have to be true. You can find an accountant for support, networking with other professionals who have started their own practice and explore what niche you can serve based on your experience and what brings you joy. I was scared and uncertain, but believed in myself and the support I could provide for others. I held my vision and took small steps towards it. I made and continue to make connections in the community and live out what I encourage others to embrace in their life. I can be my full self- psychotherapist, dancer, performer, artist and human- imperfect, just figuring it out as I go.

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.

I am white, queer, non binary and from the Bible Belt and I have worked in community mental health and educational settings for most of my life. My background is complicated, like most backgrounds are, involving push and pull between who others wanted me to be and who I wanted to be. I was able to leave a life that was not meant for me and find new life in authenticity. Kentucky only allowed for me to explore certain paths for my future, deeply entangled in religion. After graduating with my Master of Social Work, I moved to the West Coast and discovered the words for my passion for movement and healing. I trained in mindfulness and somatic healing; all to build embodiment and the felt sense of safety. I survived domestic violence as a child through adulthood with dance, gymnastics, sports and music. As a psychotherapist, I now understand how music, movement and rhythm are critical in healing trauma in our nervous systems from individual to collective levels. My practice serves all ages, with a focus on trauma, complex trauma, LGBTQAI2S+ and neurodivergent folks. I am relational in my approach, knowing that the most effective intervention is the relationship and attunement with the therapist. Outside of the session room, I facilitate trauma-informed dance classes, relaxation workshops and I perform as a neo-burlesque dancer. The reclamation of pleasure and sensuality is important for myself and the people I have worked with, especially as survivors of interpersonal violence and/or religious trauma. This fact has inspired my performance career, where I dance as Whimsy; exploring creativity, story telling and sensuality with a focus on playfulness and hip-centric movement.. and props, many kinds of props. I am committed to approaching mental health and community care with a decolonized lens, naming the systems of oppression and problematic history of social work itself in harming BIPOC folks. As someone who grew up without language for who I was, it is important to explore my authentic self and inspire others to do the same, especially those who have been systemically marginalized and disconnected from their bodies.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

As psychotherapist and a dance facilitator, I think the most helpful thing for succeeding in these fields are your ability to reflect on your own biases and your ability to take accountability. We all have our own lenses that we see the world with, informed by our beliefs, childhood, environment, etc. and can act out of biases that we aren’t even aware that we have. We must be able to hold that awareness of biases, be committed to our own presence and regulate our nervous systems so clients can find grounding with us when they can’t find it in themselves. This skill is helpful for moments of rupture or conflict when you need to take accountability because shame can be dysregulating and can shut down repair or action. As a relational therapist, being able to move through these difficult emotions well in a therapeutic setting can create more safety for your client and models healthy relationship in a way some clients may have never experienced. This is important as a dance instructor as well, as the dance industry can bring self doubt, comparison and replay harmful patterns that are in our larger society around race, class, ability, gender, etc. We can use our trainings, knowledge and skills to create spaces for connection, but transformative work also requires the therapist or facilitator to reflect and take accountability, striving for repair after ruptures or missteps.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Collaboration and connection have been so important to building my reputation in my community. I want to weave myself into the fabric of my community, to collaborate and compliment rather than compete. I am active in my community, attending events, exploring classes at different studios, supporting various efforts to bring more healing movement to Bellingham. Understanding my lane and how it fits in the larger picture helps highlight specific needs I’m meeting in the community. I facilitate lectures to students who are seeking a similar career, provide community classes and workshops at discounted rates and have a sliding scale fee for therapy services. My commitment to understanding the community and creating equitable systems of providing services has helped me build and maintain my reputation. And truly, just discovering and embracing my authentic self has taken me very far. I want to inspire other people to embrace their authentic selves, even in small ways, especially other folks who have been historically marginalized or told they don’t exist or belong.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jasperconnections.com and www.wildlywhimsy.com
• Instagram: @_the.dancing.therapist_ and @wildlywhimsy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jasper-Connections-PLLC/100094504796281/#
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/layla-r-jasper/