We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Baker recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
BOLD JOURNEYS There came a point of time in my life where I began to recognize the effects of cultural and racial assimilation. Through this I began to honor the ways that assimilating with the dominant culture came from a place of survival and an innate desire to belong. I can honor those parts of myself for how they served me and also recognize the ways that it has also suppressed parts of myself and no longer served me well. I am a proud multiracial, black, queer, native identified person who holds multiple identities. I am used to being the “only” in the room. These identities shape me, my experiences and are impactful despite how others see me or choose to define me. As a first-generation college graduate, land and homeowner I know that I am my ancestor’s wildest dream. I believe strongly that by speaking up and telling my stories I am honoring my lineage. I am not only honoring but healing the collective lineage of the past and for the future. I did not grow up with horses or a desire to tend to land and yet here I stand today as an entrepreneur and owner of a private practice that offers equine facilitated psychotherapy and wellness offerings that includes retreats with my herd of 3 horses in nature. I had to sit in a lot of uncomfortable places and have so frequently been the “only” or the “other” in the room on multiple levels. I am now able to feel more comfortable speaking out and up when things do not feel right. I am grateful to have made it to a time and place where, I no longer feel I have to be silent when ignorance shows up in the room. The parts of myself that I had to hide to succeed in the past have become the very parts of myself that have become so impactful to others in my work.
Being a QPOC therapist who partners with horses in this work offers me an opportunity to draw the parallels of colonization and the power differentials, systems of oppression, and the impact it has on the general relationship we have to horses in this country. One of my primary areas of passion and work is in offering individual, group therapy and wellness workshops aimed at bringing awareness and healing practices for Race Based Stress and Trauma and working toward prevention of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. I have worked in this field for almost 20 years and have dedicated my practice and learning towards somatic psychotherapies that place emphasis on relational based practices and treatments. I continue to work daily towards connecting the parallels between communing with land and horses to build resilience and relational repair between communities of color and the systems of power and oppression that we find ourselves in. I think my experiences offer me unique and deeply meaningful perspective on my relationship to horses and the power structures that be. I find that it really adds depth to the work I do with my clients as well. It hasn’t come without challenges and I try to balance the challenge with appreciation for the passion and fire it builds within me in order to challenge these systems and stand up for myself and my herd.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Jennifer (She/Her) is the co-founder of True Nature Integrative Health. Jennifer is a licensed psychotherapist, yoga teacher and horsewoman. Jennifer strives to create a safe, collaborative, and supportive space to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your experiences and personal dynamics to promote a more balanced and fulfilling life. She offers the opportunity to work from a mind, body, and soul connection, and enjoys offering healing work with horses, that includes somatic and nature-based therapies. Jennifer is committed to a therapeutic process that fosters a strong and stable sense of self, creativity, and resiliency, while valuing diversity and each individual’s unique journey and goals.
Jennifer has completed post graduate studies from The Trauma Conscious Yoga Institute, The Heartmath Institute and is certified in Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy by The HERD Institute where she is also part of the faculty.
Jennifer pulls from a foundation in Humanistic/Experiential therapy, Somatic practices, Polyvagal Theory and Psychodynamic frameworks which honor mind, body, and soul integrative approaches. Jennifer has worked in a wide variety of settings including community mental health, hospitals, residential facilities and the correctional system. These experiences have given her a compassionate understanding of the complex systems in place that often become obstacles to our birthright of joy and liberation.
Jennifer is a culturally sensitive, LGBTQ+ affirmative therapist, with a deep commitment to BIPOC community. She holds an experienced and compassionate understanding of the sociocultural and systemic factors that influence individual development and wellbeing. There is great value in the experience of being understood and feeling free to be our authentic selves.
True Nature Integrative Health aims to provide a supportive journey toward restoring balance and harmony in your life. We utilize an embodied approach to wellness. Our mission is to provide integrative therapies that foster mind-body wellness for all beings. We specialize in blending equine facilitated psychotherapy and wellness, yoga, qigong, somatic therapies with horses and nature. We offer individualized psychotherapy, groups, and retreats.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As long as I can remember I have been someone who can see the vision or larger picture while also catching the nuances of others stories and what they are expressing which includes the non verbal language and energy of the moment.
I also possess an extremely good memory and what people tell me generally sticks so i am able to recall pieces to others stories across time which seems to be helpful in my work as a therapist. At times it can be frustrating to those I am in relationship with when there is a debate about what was said or wasn’t said. So maybe it is a blessing and a curse.
Another quality that has helped me is perseverance. Once I get a vision and an idea its game on and I continue to push toward the vision until its complete. This along with creativity and flexibility has helped me to create my work and life passion. It is and always will be a work in progress so I always remind people to view it as a journey and never be afraid to stop learning and discovering along the way.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
When I made the leap to move from the city to a 5 acre farmette with horses may people thought I was crazy. Afterall I have no experience in land tending or caring for horses on my own land. It has been a labor of love with literal blood, sweat, and tears. I partner with the horses I work with and use a relational approach that honors them as sentient beings. I am always longing to collaborate or connect with like minded people, especially other people of color who appreciate getting back to the land and soil and connecting with horses and nature for wellness. If this is you I can be reached at truenatureintegrativehealth@gmail.com. I also offer many workshop and retreat opportunities throughout the year and welcome participants and collaborators.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.truenatureintegrativehealth.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truenatureintegrativehealth
Image Credits
Andy Karol
