Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny.
Hi Jenny, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi! My name is Jennifer “Jenny” Nagg and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor. I have a telehealth counseling practice: Waxahachie Therapy. I would love to share with you how I got my start. From my earliest memories, I was the counselor in my friendship and family circles. I was very young when I realized I could sense others’ emotions and motivations, and I felt drawn to explore what made people behave the way they did. I was in 6th grade when I felt this sense of knowing that I was supposed to be a counselor. It felt like a calling on my life and it’s always been who I am not just what I do. Helping people tell their story has been a common theme in my life and my relationships.
Looking back, I realize that some of that desire to understand people came from wanting to protect myself. But it was also about something deeper: a genuine hunger for connection and healing. When you ask a therapist why they wanted to become a therapist, you need to be prepared for a long answer. Like my clients, I also have a background that set the stage to intimately understand this work. I’m a strong believer in therapy and it’s power to stop generational cycles of trauma. My personal background has helped me to have a deep appreciation for what my client’s have gone through. We all go through seasons in life with painful events. However, if given a chance to be expressed, we can find so much purpose from our own pain and suffering. If we can create meaning and purpose from these events, we can move through these seasons incorporating all parts into the story of our lives.
I went on to study at the University of North Texas. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Early Childhood Development and Family Studies in 2002, and later completed my master’s degree in Counseling in 2006. UNT’s program was intense and experiential. We practiced in rooms with two-way mirrors, where our sessions were watched live, recorded, and reviewed by professors and peers. I remember feeling SO nervous before my sessions. I wasn’t sure I was could do it. I did a pretty good job of trying to convince myself that I wasn’t good enough. I kept repeating to myself: Just do it. To my amazement, my anxiety would quickly fade, and I’d be completely immersed in my client’s story. That’s when I discovered my power wasn’t in performing, it was in being vulnerable and fully present. Grad school was also like good therapy. You really dive right into understanding how your own past affects how you show up in all relationships, including as the counselor.
My internships during graduate school were diverse and formative. I counseled college students, led group therapy with men in jail, responded as an on-call rape crisis counselor at local hospitals, and worked with both perpetrators and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Each experience shaped the kind of therapist I wanted to be: empathetic, grounded, and very human. It was a season of gaining more than just education. It gave me insight and greater self awareness over my own story. It also showed me that we are often more similar than we are different. Shortly before I graduated, I met my husband and it wasn’t long before I relocated to Ellis County.
After graduation, I began my career at Freedom Counseling in Ellis County, a nonprofit Christian counseling agency. I was blessed with great supervisors who believed in me. Back in 2007, there were very few counselors in Ellis County. Our agency needed to serve a wide range of clients with many different concerns. I worked with children as young as three years old, teens, adults, couples, and families. It was an incredible amount of experience in many different areas of counseling. It was truly an opportunity of a lifetime. I soaked it all in and gained so much knowledge from this experience.
When my daughter was born in 2014, I made the difficult decision to step away from working full time. I loved being at home with my girl and it was a sacred season in life that I cherished. After a long battle with infertility, the deep joy of parenting after such a long wait is extra sweet. However, I could not deny that I also felt a loss of identity that came with stepping away from my career. I missed counseling, the energy, that sense of purpose, the connection, and the rhythm of the work I love.
I decided to start counseling again using a virtual platform even though I was somewhat skeptical of how it would feel? How could a virtual session replicate the intimacy and energy of in-person therapy? Would I lose the nonverbal cues? Could I still build the same kind of trust and rapport? I had a hundred reasons not to do it but I decided to try anyway. And to my surprise, it worked. Not only did it work, it thrived. Telehealth counseling allowed me to ease back into the work I loved without sacrificing the time I wanted with my daughter. Some of my former clients returned, and slowly but surely, I found my way back. And in 2023, I officially launched Waxahachie Therapy. It felt like the culmination of two decades of vision, intention, and growth. My lifelong dream of having my own private practice was indeed a reality.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting my own practice was not easy. The business side of things and technology were completely foreign. As a matter of fact, it felt like learning a new language. I rarely had to use a computer for anything so I had no idea to set up virtual meetings. I had to teach myself how to create a website, navigate legal paperwork, set up HIPAA-compliant technology, and manage insurance panels. I asked a lot of questions and spent days reading and rereading the same material until it made sense. Technology and social media are especially tough for me. I kept returning to the mantra I used in graduate school: Just do it. One step at a time, I kept moving forward. I allowed myself to feel the frustration, but I didn’t let it stop me. I prayed a lot. I used the same positive self-talk I teach my clients. I gave myself grace and I allowed myself to struggle.
When I announced the opening of my practice on Facebook, it wasn’t long before I was fully booked. I haven’t had to advertise or pour money into marketing. My practice has grown by word of mouth, referrals, and the support of my incredible community. I’ve learned that it’s not about having everything figured out; it’s about showing up consistently, authentically, and vulnerably. That’s where the magic happens. Showing up in vulnerability is what inspires others to do the same.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Waxahachie Therapy is a virtual private practice offering telehealth counseling services to clients throughout Texas. For now, I’m the only provider. It allows me to be intentional, present, and deeply connected to the clients I serve.
What makes my practice unique is the experience clients have in session. Therapy with me doesn’t feel clinical or cold. It feels like sitting with someone who gets you. I will sit with you in the mud of your hardest days and help you make sense of it. I’m known for being down to earth, compassionate, and often, a little funny. My sessions are real, raw, and unfiltered but always respectful and safe.
I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, self doubt, attachment wounds, trauma, and dysfunctional relationship patterns. Many of my clients are processing trauma or trying to understand the “why” behind repetitive emotional cycles. I help people unpack their stories and look at how the past shows up in the present. Your story is still being written and therapy can help you understand more about yourself.
I’m not a therapist who sticks rigidly to theory or model. I gather from CBT, psychodynamic, trauma informed, person centered, etc., but overall, I am very eclectic. Each session has its own needs and I prefer to stay open and flexible. The heart of my work is relational. I believe my client already carries the answers inside; I just create a space where they can explore and get curious. Therapy isn’t about fixing people. It’s about walking with them while they find healing, insight, and resilience. It’s about telling the truth, making space for hard conversations, and yes, laughing in between the tears.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the long-term relationships I’ve built with clients. Some have been with me off and on over many years, reaching out during different life stages. There’s something incredibly special about witnessing someone’s growth across the lifespan. It’s truly a privilege and an honor and it makes for a very fulfilling career.
Getting started is easy. I offer a free 15 minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit. Sessions are typically an hour long, once a week, and can be done from your phone, tablet, or computer. I accept most major insurance plans, and for clients not using insurance, sessions are $150.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to share my story! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.waxahachietherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waxahachietherapy?igsh=dmxuMnkyemRpOXhy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CbeWyocLK/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-nagg-m-ed-ncc-lpc-32593a239
