Meet Brittney Jackson of Restoring You Wellness Center

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Brittney Jackson.

Hi Brittney, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was a small-town kid with big dreams. The town I grew up in currently has a population of 600 on Google! The passion that my 9th grade teacher, Mrs. Blount, had made me fall in love with psychology. So, I decided in the 9th grade that I was going to be a therapist. It took me more than the typical 4 years to graduate college because life happens, but I did it.

My initial major was psychology because I thought that was the path I wanted to take to become a therapist, but then an associate talked to me about the social work program, and I was hooked immediately. It just felt like a perfect fit for my career goals. Immediately after I graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work degree, I was accepted into the accelerated Master of Social Work Program at Western Kentucky University, and I completed my program in 1 year, followed by a Master of Business Administration. I guess I was making up for those additional years in undergrad.

I started my career in mental health right away, working for various nonprofit organizations and eventually for the state of TN, but in an unrelated field. During that time, I formed a nonprofit organization with my sister to help others pursue higher education, whether obtaining their GED, attending trade school, or enrolling in college.

I had the opportunity to move to Connecticut. It was ranked as the #2 state in the nation for careers in Social Work, so I took that opportunity and stayed there for 9 years. During that time, I served as the Lead Patient Services Director for End Stage Renal Disease for 13 states by day, and in the evenings, I provided counseling to children and families impacted by trauma.

I loved being a director and working to improve patient care, but my DREAM was to be a therapist, so I left that role to be a full-time therapist. Within a year, I was able to start my own private practice, and unbeknownst to me, the world would need it tremendously. Five months after I started my practice, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There I was, along with all of the other essential workers, trying to figure out how to help during a time of crisis. I did the one thing I knew how to do: I talked to people, I taught them how to cope, I listened to them, and I gave them a little bit of hope that things would get better.

I lost some of my patients during that time, but I continued to support others during their time of loss, and we were able to get through it together.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was not a smooth road at all. Being an entrepreneur means giving up a 9-5 job and trading it in for a 24/7.

I was a consultant for nursing homes during the pandemic, and due to the severe spread within those facilities, third-party counselors were banned until they figured out how to neutralize the spread of the disease. Clients were apprehensive about Telehealth services, and keeping the attention of a child for 60 minutes on a screen called for a great deal of creativity.

Ultimately, we were able to figure it out and meet clients where they were.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Restoring You Wellness Center, LLC (RYWC) is a private counseling practice and consulting agency located in Connecticut, Tennessee, and South Carolina. RYWC offers therapy options for clients of all ages struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, homelessness, relationship and family problems, and LGBTQIA+ issues.

During the pandemic, we launched our Outreach Program, Saving Our Community (SOC), which was based on the nonprofit I formed 6 years prior but shifted the main focus to mental health awareness.

SOC is a program that provides education workshops, information and referral services, and counseling to vulnerable populations. The program was developed to help increase access to mental health and social services within the community.

The program provides services to at-risk populations. These groups experience a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion than the general population. They often face difficulties that can lead to low levels of education and unemployment or underemployment. Our goal is to bridge the opportunity gap by providing programs that empower communities while addressing stressors that may impact daily functioning.

The SOC programs work to empower people to build on their own strengths and capabilities. Programs are entrenched in their communities and contribute to the community-building process. Our programs also help to link communities to social service resources to support individuals during their journey by addressing obstacles they may face.

Through this program, we have provided education about mental health and counseling to over 3,000 people in the past 4 years. We also provide food, clothes, and other basic needs to vulnerable populations. SOC is officially a 501c3 organization, so feel free to DONATE basic needs to help our clients!

I want readers to know that it’s okay to not be okay. There are people here to help you get through your crisis. Mostly, I want anyone who is struggling with setting goals or feeling like they want to give up. DON’T.

We’d love to hear about your fond memories from growing up.
My favorite childhood memory is making music and sharing it with my family and friends.

I often use music to connect with my clients, especially children!

Pricing:

• Career Coaching $500
• MSW Supervision $100
• Life Coaching $950
• Credentialing for Private Practice $2000
• Business Consultation $1000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.restoringyouwc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjacksonlcsw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restoringyouwc?mibextid=kFxxJD
• Other: https://Www.Wearesavingourcommunity.org