Meet Angela T. Jackson

We were lucky to catch up with Angela T. Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Angela, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from adversity and obstacles that span from childhood up to now. That looks like a combination of neglect, rejection, discrimination, abuse, illness and the list could go on. Although my story includes that of closed doors and road blocks, I persevered through the no’s and setbacks and pressed my way to overcoming. I’ve heard it said this way before…This doesn’t mean I’m “stressless” however, it does mean that I stress “less”.  Struggle is inevitable. Because of this, one of my core values is resiliency as this is what helps me to navigate life’s ups and downs. I press!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the Founder and CEO of The Jackson Impact Mental Health Solutions LLC; a private practice established in the heart of the pandemic. I’m affectionately known as “the face” of The Jackson Impact. I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Tennessee with National Counselor Certification holding a Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University, Nashville.

I have worked with a wide range of clients with a wide range of challenges impacting their lives through compassion, empathy and care. I extends my reach in underserved, BIPOC communities where mental health care is highly stigmatized. My therapeutic approach is client-centered, solution-focused and humanistic in nature.

I have served 12+ years in the helping field blazing trails as a mentor, educator, advocate, therapist, clinical supervisor, author and speaker. I have been featured in publications such as the Nashville Voyager and CanvasRebel magazines, Gallatin News and quoted in the Independent Appeal. I have had the privilege of presenting at the Success Women’s Conference, the Level Up Conference, the Black Champions Network of General Mills and have been featured on international platforms. I was a nominated and one of the top 100 finalists for the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Joy Awards as well as a 2022 and 2023 nominee and finalist of the Sister Leader Conference Awards. I volunteer as a support group leader for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (Tennessee Chapter) and an ambassador for various organizations impacting the Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis community near and far.  As a believer in Christ, I have been known to facilitate workshops that merge faith in God and mental wellness.

I believe that all people are capable of change urging the community not to suffer in silence, embrace difficult conversations, break generational curses and interrupt the stigma on mental health.

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

If I had to only choose 3 qualities that have been most impactful to my journey, then I’d say my resilience, open-mindedness, and self awareness.

In terms of resilience, my life has been full of challenges since childhood and definitely my young adult years, as well as struggles with chronic illness. It is often the ability to bounce back from difficult situations that sets successful people apart. When you face obstacles or setbacks, the quality of resilience allows you to persevere and keep moving forward, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. For me, my path has often been a lonely one or singular in nature. Often times, those close to you don’t see your vision until there is evidence, no matter how much you’ve accomplished in the past. By the time a new project or new foundation has been established, I’ve figured out who’s truly in my corner and new support systems have been created. Even beyond that, going at it alone is not such a lonely place. God has been the center of my resilience.

Open-mindedness has definitely impacted my journey. The world is complex place right now and being open-minded has help me to navigate change more effectively in my own life and especially in the field that I’m in. The need for mental health care is not limited to certain situations. Life has a way of prompting very unique needs and I need to be in tune mentally and opened to address people from all walks of life including ideas, experiences and challenges that are different than my own. Then, I “always” need to have an understanding of my own perspectives so that I’m not internalizing other peoples problems.

Now, self awareness is an ongoing level of evaluation. While the concept of knowing yourself and your own strengths and weaknesses is crucial, it’ can be difficult to say the least. For years I have questioned my own judgment and considered what others were thinking about my choices professionally, personally, spiritually, etc. Self awareness has led me to seek approval less and less. You know, I’ve gone through some embarrassing times in my life and God has shown me just how necessary those times were to build me and prepare me for this point of my journey. As the singer Marvin Sapp would say, I’m stronger, I’m wiser, I’m better. I’m not where I used to be and I’m grateful to see growth in me. Honestly, I’m at a stable, more confident place in life. I haven’t always been able to say that. Today, I am able to “own” my abilities, and my limitations, I trust my discernment and the knowledge that I’ve acquired. I also know what I don’t know and when to ask for help.

These are just a few qualities that have impacted my journey. If I had to share a word of advice to new entrepreneurs, single parents, those living with low self esteem or anyone who feels like their best just isn’t good enough, I say reflect on your life’s challenges to help identify your strengths. Always invest in your God- given talents because they are there to help you cope. Lastly, I suggest identifying the qualities that you value within yourself even when no one else can see your value. You will likely gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your own amazingly purposeful path.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
There is a scripture that says, “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2) In times of overwhelm, I usually slow down. I don’t quit. I seek God to “listen”. I look for answers and direction on whether I need to pivot in a situation or if a season in my life is over. I recall being faced with a confrontational situation and it was in that conversation that someone told me, “You are not a quitter.” Now, that comment was intended to be derogatory and it was intended to motivate me to carry out the other person’s plan. My reply? “No, I’m NOT a quitter. There’s a difference between quitting and postponing.” This is still true for me. When I’m overwhelmed, I have no problem considering how my mental health is being impacted and taking a break; a pause means I can pick right back up where I left off. Know your capacity and how much you can handle.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move