Jacklynne Marder
Psychotherapist & Trauma Informed Yoga Instructor
How did the path to becoming a therapist start for you?
I came into the therapist role very early on in life. Growing up, I was fascinated by humans, leaning in with curiosity to all the adult’s life stories whenever I would go to a party with my parents. I have always had a natural curiosity about why we have certain patterns and behaviors as humans. This led to me studying Psychology in college at CU Boulder and during this time I started my own therapy for the first time. I became inspired to help others in the same way my college therapist was profoundly helping me in our sessions together and the rest is history!
What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of working in this field?
The most rewarding part of being a therapist for me is witnessing the transformation and healing my clients go through when they commit to really digging deep and commit to the work. It is so deeply fulfilling walking alongside others as they go through a healing process and transform long standing patterns they thought they could never get past. The most challenging part is when I thought I worked through something and it presents itself in session in something the client is working through. In these triggering moments, it can be difficult to maintain neutrality and not project any of my own stuff into the room.
How do you maintain your own mental well-being day to day?
Having a daily morning grounding practice is super important for me. I typically wake up, journal, and meditate every morning. Other favorite self care activities include hiking, beach walks, yoga, and dancing.
What advice do you have for someone seeking support in their lives that isn’t sure where to begin?
Start with making calls to different therapists and see who you vibe with over the phone. Finding the right therapist is like dating- it’s super important to find someone you have chemistry with and connect with. Without the right fit, it will be hard to really go deep and open up in sessions. It may take a few sessions to really know if the therapist is the right fit, but trust your intuition in this process.