Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Lee.
Hi Jennifer, 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?
My professional journey has been an interesting one. Prior to becoming a licensed professional counselor, I taught French at a couple of high schools for a total of 12 years. I always loved learning French and had a passion for teaching. As the career changed over time (as most careers do), I found I was enjoying some aspects of the job more than others. I was really engaged with students and colleagues who came to me and needed to talk things through or get advice. I remember meeting with my personal therapist at the time, and experiencing a feeling of panic that all of my previous work experience and education had been for my specific career of teaching French. With the help of my therapist, I explored career options that still embraced the aspects of the job I loved, and I found myself back at school for a masters in counseling. For the first year, I was taking a full course load of graduate school classes and still teaching French full-time, and then as the program progressed, I had to finally say goodbye to teaching. I have always been a very driven person, so from my internship to owning my own business, I learned a lot about the field of counseling, how to find my niche and “ideal client” population, how to market and network, and how to prevent myself (and help others) from burning out again in the future. It has been a really positive change in my life, and I no longer feel burned out or stuck in a career that no longer fits me.
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?
I would not say the road has been smooth per se, but it sure has been interesting! When switching to therapy, I found I had no background knowledge in how to network with other therapists or group practices, I didn’t really know how to market myself, and I had no idea how to create and run a successful website. Over time, I have learned how to do all of these things! I now have a network of therapists with whom I can consult on challenging issues, and share ideas for specializations, and share the challenges and successes of being a business owner.
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?
My therapy practice, Creating Balance, has a few different focuses and specializations. My overall goal is to help clients create that balance in their life between work, relationships, hobbies, and everything else life throws your way. I really enjoying helping clients who are experiencing burnout, anxiety, perfectionism, depression, those wanting to explore gender expression and sexuality, and I am working on becoming more specialized in dissociative identity disorder. I love working with LGBTQ+ folx, and am a proud ally and member of the Queer Affirming Therapist Guild in Kansas City. As a small practice, I offer flexible session times and see clients Mondays-Thursdays between 10a-7p. I often have evening time slots available, and can offer both in-person and telehealth options based on what is the best fit for my clients.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I absolutely love reading, both for pleasure, as well as digging into topics that might be beneficial for clients. Work-wise, a few of my favorites are: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA; Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab; and Dissociation Made Simple: A Stigma-Free Guide to Embracing Your Dissociative Mind and Navigating Daily Life by Jamie Marich, PhD. I have many more, but these are the ones I reference frequently or have been reading more recently. As far as personal reading time, I tend to be a fan of T.J. Klune, Emily Henry, Christina Lauren, Ali Hazelwood, and Jillian Meadows to name a few. I also love a good podcast, and often find myself laughing along with Good Hang, and Smartless. I find that engaging in different types of books and podcasts help me relax while doing daily tasks or hobbies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creatingbalance-llc.com
