Today we’d like to introduce you to Ja’Nisha Robinson.
Hi Ja’Nisha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a teenager, like many that I’ve been granted the opportunity to hold space for in my heart, I struggled with many stressors that led to me struggling with my own mental illness issues. This marked the beginning of my passion to become the ‘me that I needed’ when I was younger.
In college, as a Psychology major, I began early attempting to connect with the youth and community around me. I became a mentor working in a program that allowed college students to travel to poverty-stricken areas around the city to assist them in learning about and applying to higher education programs after college.
After this opportunity ended, I began participating in research that allowed me to identify reoccurring themes of interracial discrimination in the African-American population. My love for studying the behavior and psychology of human interaction grew immensely. I knew afterwards that I wanted to go further in my quest to help other.s. While in graduate school to. become a counselor, I worked as an academic coach and mentor to first generation college students, while participating in research teams of which the focus of their research was reducing offender recidivism.
Shortly after graduate school, I created a scholarship entitled, “Changing the World One Mind at a Time,”. Each year I award two recipients majoring in a social science a scholarship to increase the presence of professionals in the mental health field. Upon moving to the city of Dallas, I worked with the ACT team and provided case management for individuals struggling with severe and debilitating mental illness. In my opinion, I would do myself a great disservice if I did not live every day of my life doing all I can to help others in whatever way I can.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of my favorite quotes reads, “The greatest thing is, at any moment, to be willing to give up who we are to become all that we can be.” Has the journey been easy? No. Has the journey been worth it? Absolutely. Being able to provide an avenue to peace and healing for so many is the perfect life for me. It did, however, require me to get to know myself fully, even the parts of me I didn’t like nor did I want to come to terms with. I had to lay all of my biases and insecurities out on the table before beginning this profession, and I had to leave them there. And still, each time I walk into a session with a client, I have to leave my pride on the table outside of the room.
It’s a shocking reminder each time that life is an experience that each person will experience differently. It’s a gentle reminder that everyone is different, everyone goes through things, and yet still healing and connecting with other is capable. It’s a refreshing reminder to receive. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At this time, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate. I specialize in trauma and and depression. I utilize a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach primarily. I have worked in the mental health field since 2017.
I have experience in working in the following settings: inpatient, outpatient, residential treatment centers, substance abuse recovery, school and private practice. I recently wrote a FREE E-BOOK on preventive coping that can be downloaded on my website. This book is a self-help guide to creating a preventive coping plan to apply to everyday life that will help readers cope with daily life stressors in a healthy way. I included 5 preventive coping skills in this book, as well as three free worksheets to help readers apply the skills daily. I’m currently offering free therapy to residents of TEXAS in any city.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in luck or coincidence. I believe that life is designed the way that it’s supposed to, we’re all connected and that things happen the way they’re supposed to and when they’re supposed to. Everything in life is temporary, whether it’s highs or lows. This is our harsh reality, but also, our saving grace.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ATMwithJacy
- Instagram: @allthingsmentalwithjacy
- Twitter: @ATMwithJacy
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/janisha-robinson-dallas-tx/842492
