Meet Jacqueline Montgomery

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jacqueline Montgomery. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jacqueline, really appreciate your meeting with us today to talk about some particularly personal topics. It means a lot because so many in the community are going through circumstances where your insights and experience and lessons might help, so thank you so much in advance for sharing. The first question we have is about divorce and how you overcame divorce and didn’t allow the trauma of divorce to derail your vision for your life and career.

Overcoming Challenge – Navigating Love, Loss, and Newfound Clarity

For 44 years, I was married to my high school sweetheart. That kind of love feels like it’s supposed to last forever — and in many ways, it still does, though not in the form either of us originally imagined. He was more than a husband; he was my lifelong companion, the person who knew me best through all the seasons of life. Saying I spent over half my life with him carries a heavy mix of love, loss, gratitude, and sorrow.

When we made the difficult decision to divorce, it wasn’t out of anger or bitterness but from a place of quiet understanding that our paths had diverged. Even then, we chose to live together until the divorce was final, treating each other with respect, kindness, and even moments of joy. We laughed, we cried, and we communicated more honestly than we had in years. We faced depression together, supporting one another through the dark valleys, and honored the true value of our many years shared.

But the hardest part for me, the part that challenged my heart in ways I never expected, was helping others revive their marriages while mine was quietly unraveling. I stood beside friends and clients, offering hope, tools, and encouragement to rebuild what was broken, even as my own marriage was ending. It was deeply painful to counsel others on love and reconciliation while I was learning to say goodbye. That juxtaposition forced me to dig deep, to confront my own grief, to be honest about vulnerability and strength, and to hold space for both loss and healing.

Through that process, I developed profound empathy and a clearer understanding that love can take many forms, and sometimes the greatest act of love is knowing when to let go. I learned to recognize and appreciate the authentic contributions we each made to our marriage, the good, the imperfect, the enduring. In the midst of personal heartbreak, I found a new kind of strength: the courage to face endings with grace, to communicate with honesty, and to honor a shared history without bitterness. There was no winner, no villain, no blame. Only two human beings brave enough to love for four and a half decades, and tender enough to let each other go with grace.

That kind of journey doesn’t leave you the same. It shapes how you see the world, how you handle conflict, how you speak to the hurting parts of yourself and others. I walked away with deeper empathy, emotional maturity, and a sacred understanding of what it means to truly honor a season even when it ends.

And in that way, love still lasts.

That journey reshaped me, deepened my emotional resilience, and taught me that even when love changes shape, it doesn’t have to disappear. It simply evolves — and sometimes, that evolution brings the greatest peace.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Thank you for this opportunity to share a deeper part of my journey. Professionally, I am dedicated to healing, both of the soul and the spirit. For many years, I have been deeply involved in trauma healing, counseling, and personal development, with a special focus on helping those who feel broken, overlooked, or forgotten. What makes this work so profoundly meaningful to me is the sacred privilege of walking alongside people as they rediscover their worth, reclaim their hope, and rebuild their lives.

My work isn’t just a career; it’s a calling shaped by my own life experiences the joys, the struggles, and the seasons of transformation. What excites me most is witnessing those powerful “aha” moments, when someone realizes that healing is possible, that they are not defined by their past, and that their future can hold peace and purpose. It’s in those moments I see true restoration not just of individuals, but of families and communities.

Through Healing Horizons 101, the nonprofit I founded, we are expanding our programs to reach more people who need a safe space for recovery and growth. We’re launching new workshops and support groups focused on grief, trauma, and caregiver burnout, topics close to my heart. Our approach blends evidence-based practices with faith-based principles, recognizing the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

What I want folks to know about my brand is that it is grounded in compassion, authenticity, and hope. Healing is not linear, and it’s not easy, but with the right support and guidance, it’s absolutely within reach. I am committed to creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to take back their lives.

Thank you for allowing me to share this story. It is my hope that through this work, more people will discover their own path to healing and renewal.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three qualities have shaped my journey in the most profound ways: resilience, emotional honesty, and compassion.

Resilience is that quiet, stubborn strength that keeps you moving forward, even when life feels heavy or uncertain. It’s not about never falling down, but about finding the courage to get back up, sometimes again and again.

Emotional honesty changed everything for me. It’s about being brave enough to face your true feelings, to speak your truth, and to connect with others on a real, human level. That kind of honesty can be scary, but it’s also deeply freeing and healing.

And compassion, both for myself and for others has been my guiding light. It’s what reminds me to be gentle in the hardest moments and to offer kindness even when it’s tough.

For anyone starting their own journey, I’d say: embrace your challenges as opportunities to grow, speak your truth with courage, and never forget to be kind to yourself along the way. These qualities will carry you farther than you can imagine.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

A book that has played a deeply important role in my personal and professional development is actually my own—Exposed to Versions of Yourself, releasing this fall. Writing this book was more than just putting words on a page; it was a journey of peeling back the layers of my own life, confronting the many versions of myself that have come and gone through joy, pain, growth, and healing that I could share with others traveling the same path.

One of the most valuable insights I share in the book is the idea that we are not defined by a single story or moment. We are complex beings, shaped by every version of ourselves—our past fears, our brave attempts, our failures, and our triumphs. Recognizing and embracing these versions allows us to heal the fragmented parts within and move toward wholeness.

Another nugget of wisdom from the book is the power of vulnerability. It’s through exposing our true selves—our imperfections and struggles—that real connection and transformation happen. It takes courage, but it opens the door to deep healing and authentic living.

Finally, the book highlights the importance of grace—toward ourselves and others—as we navigate the messy, beautiful process of becoming who we are truly meant to be. Grace is the thread that weaves together the broken pieces and helps us step forward with hope.

Exposed to Versions of Yourself is my heartfelt invitation to readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery, healing, and renewal. It’s a labor of love born from my own story, and I’m excited to share it with the world this fall.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.healinghorizons101.com
• Instagram: healinghorizons101