Meet Jaclyn Wahlberg Johnson

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

Jaclyn, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

As an entrepreneur with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression, launching Desert Sun Ranch Academy forced me to face my mental health head-on. There are days where my anxiety is so intense that I can’t bring myself to do even basic marketing due to crippling fear that people will think my program is a terrible idea. I tend to overthink everything and struggle with hyper-independence, which makes it hard to ask for help.

What helped was realizing that my mental health wasn’t just a personal struggle – it was affecting the mission I cared so deeply about. My cofounder Julie and I had honest conversations about our strengths and boundaries. We divided responsibilities in a way that honored both of us: she thrives in conversations and relationship-building, while I’m strongest behind the scenes with systems and program development. I truly cannot overstate the importance of surrounding yourself with people you can be honest with.

I’ve also learned that families deeply appreciate authenticity. The more I’ve been honest – about my mental health, about our values, about the process – the more meaningful the connections have become. People respond to realness.

And I can’t overstate the importance of professional support. I take medication. I go to therapy. I had internalized a lot of stigma around those things, but they’ve helped me stay grounded and present. Exercise and nutrition are also non-negotiables for me now. It sounds simple, but in the thick of it, self-care really is survival.

Mental health struggles don’t disqualify you from doing hard things. But they do require that you build support systems, trust your team, and show up honestly – even when it’s hard.

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

I wear a few hats professionally, but they’re all rooted in the same passion: creating spaces where children with disabilities feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

I’m an occupational therapist and cofounder at Desert Sun Ranch Academy, a microschool in Queen Creek for students in grades 1–5, with a focus on special needs. We focus on therapeutic, individualized education in a small, peaceful environment that honors each learner’s pace and personality. It’s incredibly meaningful work – especially because we get to build deep relationships with families who’ve often felt overlooked or misunderstood by traditional systems.

I also work with Gye Di, a local nonprofit dedicated to intensive therapy and advocacy for kids with complex physical disabilities. We just opened a fully accessible therapy clinic, and our big vision is to build an inclusive indoor recreation center where kids of all abilities can play together. It’s exciting, bold, and exactly the kind of change I want to be part of.

Most recently, I helped launch Strides of Growth, an equine-assisted learning and therapy nonprofit. We’re just getting started, but already building community through horseback riding, social emotional learning, inclusive summer day camps, hippotherapy, and self care events surrounded by farm animals.

What makes my work special is the belief that kids with disabilities deserve more than “services.” They deserve joy, belonging, opportunity, and most importantly, the belief that they are capable of BIG things.

Professionally, I’m in a season of building my career vision and refining my approach. There’s a lot in motion: Gye Di is preparing for more community events, including a big adapted Fall Festival in October; Desert Sun Ranch Academy is growing and welcoming new families; and Strides of Growth is developing partnerships to expand access to our programs. I am incredibly busy but so eternally grateful for all of my opportunities.

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

Looking back, the three qualities that have had the biggest impact on my journey are flexibility, patience, and a deep connection to my “why.”

Flexibility has been crucial. Nothing ever goes exactly how you imagined it, especially when you’re working in education, healthcare, or nonprofit spaces. Kids have different needs every day. Systems change. Plans you think are solid don’t make sense in the real world. Funding shifts. The ability to adapt without falling apart is essential. My advice? Get comfortable with discomfort. Learn to pivot, not panic.

Second is patience – not just with others, but with yourself. Growth takes time. Progress is messy and is rarely if ever linear. You will question yourself, and that’s okay. What matters is staying the course, even when it feels like you’re moving slower than you “should.” Be gentle. You can’t rush meaningful work.

And finally, you have to remember your “why.” This world will drag you down. Your inner critic will get loud. You’ll hit walls. But if you can stay grounded in why you started and who you’re showing up for, as well as what you want to change in the world, it gives you fuel when motivation fades. I have heard that only 10% of business startups are ultimately successful, and I have personally understood why this is many, many times when things have gone awry. Write your “why” down. Revisit it often.

We’re all our own worst enemies sometimes. But if you can be flexible in the chaos, patient with the process, and fiercely rooted in your purpose, you’ll keep moving forward, even when it’s hard.

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?

One book that’s had a lasting impact on me is Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon. I don’t remember any single piece of advice that stood out above the rest, but what stuck with me was the raw, honest insight from parents raising children who were profoundly different from what they expected – whether due to disability, identity, or circumstance. It completely shifted how I view the work I do.

One quote in particular sticks out to me: “People engage with the life they have and find pride and purpose in it.”

This quote deeply resonates with me as an occupational therapist working with children with disabilities and their families. It captures the heart of what I do: helping people find meaning and confidence within the life they’ve been given – not the one they may have imagined.

In my work, I often meet families at vulnerable moments – when a diagnosis is new, when a milestone feels out of reach, or when daily routines feel overwhelming. But over time, I’ve seen families shift from grief and uncertainty to pride and purpose. I’ve watched kids discover their unique strengths, and parents learn to advocate fiercely and love unconditionally in ways they didn’t know they had in them.

This quote reminds me that my role isn’t to “fix” a child or make a family fit into a mold of what’s considered “normal.” Instead, I help kids to unconditionally understand their worth and capability to have a life that they are proud of and have agency in. I support the whole family unit as they learn to engage with the life they have, and I walk alongside them as they create new definitions of joy, growth, and success.

This outlook has shaped every part of my practice. It helps me show up with compassion, creativity, and deep respect for each child’s individuality and each family’s journey.

Far From the Tree reminded me that difference isn’t something to fix or fear – it’s a part of what makes us human. Supporting families means showing up with empathy, curiosity, and deep respect for the journey they’re on, especially when it doesn’t look like anyone else’s.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://desertsunranchacademy.org, stridesofgrowth.org, gyedi.org
• Instagram: @desert_sun_ranch_academy, @strides_of_growth_az, @gyediaz
• Other: Email inquiries to admin@desertsunranchacademy.org