We recently connected with Tasha Jackson and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tasha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Over the course of your career, have you seen or experienced your field completely flip-flop or change course on something?
As a full time social work major, my goal was to graduate and become the best social worker that I could be . I wanted to find a great company to work for and help every single last client that I came in contact with. Fast forward, I did graduate. I am the first In my family to do so which is a huge success for myself. I immediately became employed by a mental health agency following graduation.
The field was not exactly how I imagined, and I unfortunately could not help every client that I came in contact with . There were many existing layers and barriers that clients held up and I completely understood . Some clients spoke freely about their challenges and flaws, while others enjoyed activities over speaking to someone they did not know.
I came across a client one day who participated in family yoga during the summer. My client had 2 children . One of our goals that we were working on was “strengthening family bonds”, her bond with her children . She worked full time , she was in school, and they were in school. She knew that their relationship could have been better, therefore we created challenges that could assist her with meeting her goal. We scheduled for the family to engage in one activity every 2 weeks for 3 months. They chose family yoga.
After their 6th session, they decided to continue to attend their classes. As we continued to meet, my clients became more vulnerable during our sessions. You really could see their relationship strengthening , and they seen it too.
After working with this family and so many others , I realized that “ talk therapy” does not solely work for everyone . You have many who can tell you everything that they’ve gone through with no hesitation and for others , that is not easy . But adjuvant services to talk therapy in addition to meeting with a professional can be very beneficial to those who are facing many challenges.
At that point , a light bulb went off . Why not start a mental health wellness center ? Why not provide a space where individuals can receive a multitude of services to increase their mental wellness? I began researching , looking at similar models and found that massage therapy had many non physical benefits. Massage therapy is known for decreasing stress , assists with sleep for those who struggle with insomnia, it can be a form of mediation and also aids with depressive like symptoms.
At this point, it was time to take a risk. Instead of going straight into a masters program for my social work degree, I began enrolling in programs that could help me launch my idea. I started with massage therapy and successfully graduated from Cuyahoga Community College’s Massage Therapy program. I have so much more on my to do list .
Why is this so important to me ? Because my community needs this . Our communities need this. A “ safe place” , a space where you are given an opportunity to take the necessary steps to increase your mental wellness .
Tasha, 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?
My name is Ta’Doshya Jackson (TJ) and I am a social worker and massage therapist. I am a proud alumni of Ursuline College ( Bachelor of Arts degree; Social Work) and Cuyahoga Community College with a certification in Massage Therapy. My goal as a business woman, is to introduce therapeutic practices that are adjuvant to mental health services; Holistic health .
Massage therapy is a therapeutic service that can increase healing, decrease mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety, and can also bring homeostasis to the body, bringing the body and mind together as one; alignment . My goal is to help strengthen my community mentally so that they can recognize and reach potentials that will set them up for success on their health and wellness journeys.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
I think it’s important to be open and willing to learn . In my field , things change rapidly and I have to keep up if I want to stand out and stay in business.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Being persistent in marketing . Marketing is challenging in itself and it can become stressful and overwhelming. But, I’ve learned to dedicate as much time in a day to my business as I would do at my regular job . I also build rapport with clients . The relationship is very important because if your authentic and good at what you do, take time to know your client , they’ll promote you as well . They send friends, family and associates . It is okay to have a great rapport with your clients while maintaining professional boundaries .
Contact Info:
- Website: https://restorationbar.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: @restorationbar.mbs
- Facebook: Restoration Bar LLC
Image Credits
@restorationbar.mbs @bratzbrain_