Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn Groh
Hi Jaclyn, 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?
I love the sacredness of human uniqueness and have been drawn to the stories carried within us my entire life. Despite strong hard science skills and excelling in pre-med in college, I quickly realized that the medical and research paths I had planned to pursue would not give me the depth of emotional connection and exploration I craved. I found my way to psychology and women’s studies, becoming loudly passionate and invigorated by women’s health and mental health care needs. My graduate studies coexisted with the beginnings of my teaching career and I realized that not only did I have a desire to sit in the messiness of life with humans, I also have a desire to inspire others to think analytically, allowing them space to care for others, too. My clinical career has afforded me so many rich opportunities to be humbled by the intimacy of witnessing the life experiences of others all while navigating my own life experiences, too. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was in an emotionally volatile space in college. The treatment that granted remission from her primary cancer also brought leukemia which took her life a few months before I graduated with my master’s degree. I held so many roles in that season- a primary caregiver to my mother, a maternal figure for my adolescent brother, a supportive team player for my dad, a medical social worker, a collegiate level educator, a sister, a friend, a girlfriend. The grief of losing my mother continues to play a central role in every chapter of my life. She didn’t just miss my graduation a few weeks after she died, I have also had to navigate being a motherless bride, a motherless wife, a motherless mother. The depth of my heartbreak isn’t unique, and yet I am proud of how I have allowed it to break my heart open, gifting me an even deeper intimate ability of holding the hearts, stories, and pain of so many others. I have been mesmerized by the sacredness of humans, and in particular womanhood, and it continues to be the center of my work today.
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?
Struggle feels impossible to avoid in the journey of life, and while resiliency is never something we ask for, it is something that many of us find. I have struggled in so many ways throughout my life- from an eating disorder that coincided with significant medical and sexual trauma in middle school, to suffering a cardiac arrest in birthing my third child I am certainly not unfamiliar with the unpredictabilities and challenges life can deal out. While there are countless stories of struggle I could share, the theme of my struggles center around wrestling with what I am allowed to “need” or “want”. I work hard to care for so many others, and feel pulled to stay attuned with their needs and it can often cause me to lose any awareness of my own needs. I remember my therapist asking me one day, “what does Jaclyn want?” and quicker than I could even process her words I replied “there is no room for wants!”. So much of my tenacious work ethic has come with the cost of not being able to read what my needs and wants are. It’s a struggle to take up space, to communicate what I need, and to grant myself permission to live in the wholeness of who I am. A smooth road it has not been, but the lessons it brings me continue to gift me the empathy needed to care for others in the way I so passionately enjoy.
As you know, we’re big fans of Nurturing Wellness LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
After a decade of medical social work and home visiting clinical experience that came after volunteer doula work and years of nannying, I was utterly convinced that women and mothers are the carriers of this world and its future. I am so invigorated by the care, selflessness, and attunement that we so often witness within the power of femininity and this quickly led to the creation of my therapeutic practice, Nurturing Wellness. I care for women across their lifespan, providing empathetic person centered psychotherapy as they navigate the intricacies in their lives in a world that so often invalidates and undervalues women. The existential surroundings of today’s world has led to an unprecedented amount of stress for women to carry, and I am utterly convinced that this world survives on the backs of women’s silenced needs. I passionately empower women to live in their fullness, their boldness, and as their authentic selves by supporting them in healing from childhood trauma, reconciling deep emotional wounds, helping them navigate boundary setting, and simply by validating the beauty of their unique experiences. I support couples as well, helping them redefine the joy in their partnership through the many seasons of change that relationships navigate. We also have clinicians at Nurturing Wellness that support children and families as I have witnessed the pediatric mental health crisis coexisting alongside the maternal mental health crisis in our world today. The support provided at Nurturing Wellness is unlike what you will find at just any therapy practice- it is personalized, individualized, authentic, evidenced, and engaging.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I have spent a fair amount of time in my career educating others through seminars, national presentations, local engagements, and events. I love collaborating with clinicians and providing education and consultation as it reminds me of how much our clients benefit from our shared knowledge and expertise. Nurturing Wellness is not only here for your individual, couples, and family therapy needs, but also as a community pillar of knowledge and expertise in the clinical sphere.
Pricing:
- 150/individual therapy
- 220/couples therapy
- 190/family therapy
- Intensives priced uniquely
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nurturingwellnessllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurturingwellnessllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Nurturing-Wellness-LLC-100057054206149/
