Guest Blogger: Jessa Crisp
Website: www.jessacrisp.com
Target Audience: General Population, Mental Health/ Counseling Professionals
*Trigger Warning: Trauma, Cultural Identity
I don’t know if you are like me, but one of my greatest struggles right now is feeling like I have no place to belong. As an introvert that works as a mental health professional and is a PhD student in a Counselor Education and Supervision program, I know that I need extra time to care for my needs and I still struggle with not fitting in—anywhere. Since COVID-19 and the ongoing tension surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion, I have felt alone in the intersections of my cultural identities and the way my presence is supposed to fit into the jigsaw puzzle of this world.
The sacred search for what belonging means to me has taken me through canyons of loneliness and watersheds of tears (and yes, therapists are humans too).
Through courageous steps in this uncharted territory, I am realizing that who I am in all of my cultural identities matter—that it’s okay to give permission to one cultural identity to feel connected and to honor the grief that is connected to other areas of how I see myself.
For instance, as a first-generation Canadian who immigrated to the US to escape trauma, I did not want anything to do with the country of my birth for almost a decade. But over the past two years, I have been finding myself buying and purchasing Canadian branded t-shirts to communicate who I am to the rest of the world. I want to be known as a transplant, someone who is here in the US by choice and someone who misses the culture of her nationality.
Yet, trying to gain the approval of others is not belonging.
What if belonging is leaning into the life I make for myself and the life that creates calm within my autonomic nervous system? What if belonging invites grief to write poems of healing, just as belonging is the process of finding myself in nature and allowing myself to connect to things that bring me joy? What if belonging is the smile that slowly dances to my face and the bubble of hope that wells up within—the ability to give permission that it is okay to connect to myself and all of my identities?
It's okay to stop giving power to other people and begin fashioning an artistic place where I can belong to myself and honor all of who I am!
Jessa Crisp uses her childhood experience of severe abuse and trafficking to illustrate both the stark realities of exploitation, and the truth that healing transformation is possible. After her escape and recovery process, Jessa went to school and holds a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is doing her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision.
In addition to being a Nationally Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in Colorado, Jessa is a former foster mom, as well as the co-founder and former CEO of BridgeHope, a gender inclusive anti-trafficking non-profit that served over 457 survivors of exploitation over a span of five years. Jessa inspires others through speaking engagements around the world, gives hope through mentoring other survivors of human trafficking, and provides high quality training and consultation services to both NGO’s and government agencies.
Some highlights of Jessa's career include speaking with legislators at the Colorado State Capitol, training the Department of Homeland Security on issues related to trafficking, speaking at the National Character Leadership Symposium for the Air Force on topics related to the develop of resilience after exploitation. Jessa has been a consultant for OVC TTAC, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and Polaris Project. Additionally, Jessa has filmed with Real Women Real Stories and Fight the New Drug, and has been highlighted by People Magazine.
When she is not working, Jessa enjoys exploring Colorado's mountains with her husband John, finds delight in artistically expressing herself through photography, does self-care by doing jigsaw puzzles, and is passionate about deeply connecting with people over freshly brewed coffee.
April 2024
Comments