Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Albright, LCPC.
Hi Jess, 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 always knew I wanted to be in a helping role, and ever since high school I had a passion for American Sign Language (ASL) and the Deaf Community. I got my undergraduate degree from McDaniel College, majoring in art, and minoring in education and Deaf Studies. I went on to get my master’s degree in school guidance counseling for the Deaf from Gallaudet University. My husband and I moved to Frederick so I could work at the Maryland School for the Deaf, but it turned out not to be the right fit for me. I reached out to therapists in the area promoting myself as an asset to their company since I was fluent in ASL and Frederick has a large Deaf community. A seasoned therapist took me under her wing and rather than hiring me, she encouraged me to start my own private practice in clinical counseling. I had never considered that as a possibility, but I decided to take the leap! So, I took a few more courses, completed all the necessary clinical client hours under supervision, passed all the licensing requirements to become an LCPC (licensend clinical professional counselor), and started my private practice, Counseling with Jess, in 2010. I have phased out of working with the Deaf Community, but I honor every step of that chapter.
As for my journey in becoming a children’s book author, that was never on my radar either! My daughter was experiencing bullying in school a few years ago. I had volunteered in her classroom, so I had gotten a slight feeling for the child who was doing the bullying. I explained to her that not all children feel loved and cherished at home like she does. And not all children have parents who want to address their own wounds and be fuller, more healed versions of themselves. I further explained that when someone is hurting, they often hurt others. We all have emotional backpacks and if we don’t address what’s in there, we can project it onto others. Then I went on to give her skills on how to protect her own backpack from this child’s hurtful comments and behavior. I told a few of my friends the oral story and how it had helped my daughter and they all told me to write a book. I laughed it off because all through schooling I hated to write. I dreaded it and struggled to get my thoughts out. But one day I was a work and thought, “What if I just tried? I’d tell my kids to try, so why am I any different?” So, I sat down, and the story just flowed out. I then decided to self-publish, so I hired an editor, and illustrator, and found my own printing company. The books get shipped to my home in bulk. I sign each book personally and mail them to the recipient. My daughter’s middle name is Rose, and because of her, “Rosie’s Backpack” was born.
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?
Is anything ever a smooth ride? 😊 There was definitely a learning curve to running a private practice. I never took any business classes, so I had to figure out all the pieces on my own. Luckily a had a few mentors along the way to help me work out some of the kinks. And since I run my own business, I handle and juggle everything, which can be a lot, especially once I had children because I want to be involved with as many of their activities as possible.
As for “Rosie’s Backpack,” it started of smoothly. I determined that I wanted to self-publish and not go through the long and daunting process of trying to get a large company to take on my book. I found a really neat website where editors and illustrators are listed. I posted a small part of my manuscript and several editors came back with quotes. Then I looked through the illustrators’ artwork and chose one that I felt could make my vision come to life. Things went south when it came to getting my book printed, though. I used a well-known company, was all excited, had 250 books delivered to my house, launched my website to start selling books, and started filling orders to ship out books. But to my surprise, so many of the books were printed defectively! Luckily it was a friend whose book was printed upside down! I hadn’t looked through all 250 for quality control, so I had no idea! So I inspected them all, only to find out that more than 85% of them had defects – some with giant white margins down the center where the pages weren’t printed correctly, some with bent and damaged spines, some where the spines didn’t even line up, and others with random marks on them. They also refused to refund my money until I got my credit card company involved. I felt defeated but got back on the horse and found another company. They empathized with my frustration with the first company and promised a better-quality product. Another devastation. They sent me proofs where glue had seeped out of the center binding and glued some of the pages together. I was floored! They literally had one job – to print books. Why was this such an issue? I was so close to giving up, but I truly believed in Rosie’s story and wanted to share it, so I pulled myself up again and found a third company. I was nervous to trust again. But they delivered a beautiful product – one that I could finally be proud of!
We’ve been impressed with Counseling With Jess, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve coined a term to describe myself: Mama-thentic. I’m a mama and I’m authentic! Being human can be so freaking messy and hard. I welcome my clients to show up as they are, and we work together to help them grow into their authentic, unapologetically true self. My approach is strength based at the core because I believe it is vital to focus on someone’s inherent internal resources and strengths instead of only looking at problems or deficits. This fosters resilience and empowerment, which we will use to address the struggles and problems they are trying to overcome. I also utilize many other therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
A large focus in my practice is conscious parenting – to a client’s actual children or to their inner child. Our brains and bodies remember painful past events, whether they are major or minor. And these experiences can manifest into a variety of cognitive, emotional, and even physical symptoms, causing us significant distress. We can inadvertently pass on these painful memories and patterns to our children or ruminate in them and get stuck. Through warmth, compassion, and humor, I guide and support my clients to work towards peace, change, and growth so that their past no longer controls their present. The greatest gift a person can give to themselves or to their children is the most healed version of themselves. It is my honor and privilege to help my clients actualize this pursuit.
I am proud of myself for many things. Business wise, I am proud of myself for taking the leap into private practice over 15 years ago! It was scary and unknown, but I believed in myself and my deep desire to make change. I also became an approved clinical supervisor (ACS) so I can mentor and supervise licensed graduate professional counselors (LGPC’s) as they work towards full licensure. I love how many more lives I can positively affect via the ripple effect. I am also proud of myself for writing a children’s book. I fought off self-defeating beliefs and took a risk! I love that I can be a role model for my kids in that way (and my other ways!). And I am most proud of myself for being the mama I am. I have pushed myself to grow in countless ways so that I can show up for my children as my most healed version. They are amazing humans that bring so much light to this world, and I learn from them everyday. Having a private practice allows me the flexibility to be with them as much as possible and re-experience the world through their eyes. In my family we work hard and play hard. Sometimes joy can be hard to find in life, but we chase it down!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I was actually a professional barefoot water skier (that’s where you go super fast and you don’t use skies. You just use your feet). I waterskied in the ski show at Sea World of Ohio when I was in high school.
Pricing:
- Paperback: $12.99
- Hardcover: $19.99
- (these are for “Rosie’s Backpack”)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.counselingwithjess.com
- Instagram: @counseling_with_jess
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057667209216 (Jess Albright, LCPC, Psychotherapist)
