We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer A. Pope, LCSW-C a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Most people don’t know, but I’ve witnessed giving back to others and helping the community my entire life watching my grandmother as a community activist. J. Pope & Associates, LLC was created to assist our clients in managing, healing, and treating complex mental health issues using applicable , tangible, and creative methods. Witnessing so many others in my community struggling with trauma and mental health issues inspired me to focus on being a healer and community advocate. So much so that I not only started my mental health private practice, but also writing a mental health workbook (Music Is My Therapy) and establishing a non profit organization (The Pope’s Foundation) solely focusing on lowering the stigma of mental health in urban communities. Establishing a team of dedicated and skilled therapist just as passionate on this mission, we offer flexible scheduling and virtual services to make our unique skills more accessible to those who seek our help. As a black woman from the inner city of Baltimore, I was determined to break through the glass ceiling of the stereotypes and be a representation of creating my own lane and my own table. Everyday operating J.Pope & Associates, LLC and The Pope’s Foundation is not work when it’s your passion. Showing up, advocating, educating and taking the therapeutic journey with my clients is an honor and my duty to serve others in a way I can only describe as my manifested dreams to reality. It is my goal to not only live out this dream but also inspire others to live theirs too.
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?
In an environment of so many barriers, I always had big dreams. I’ve always known I would help people and be an entrepreneur. Being the person that everyone talked to for advice or to vent came naturally to me, I’ve literally done it my entire life. Once I realized this was a career focus, I was all in on forging my educational path to become a mental health therapist. Founding and operating J.Pope & Associates, LLC is more than just my dream becoming reality, it’s truly my purpose. Helping people become the best version of themselves and healing from past trauma is not just the nature of my business, it’s a calling. Utilizing the skills and education I’ve received in owning and operating a business can easily be viewed, where I’m from, as overachieving. Achieving this as a single mother raised in East Baltimore is defying some big odds. I’ve always challenged myself to beat the odds against young black girls from Baltimore City. I’ve been blessed with an amazing support system and parents that motivated me to do more, be better than I’ve seen, and do all I can to achieve my dreams.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of the best ways to develop skills is to study your craft and work on the lower levels of your desired field. Volunteering is also a great way to gain experience and see the hands on day to day work of your career path. Anything you do should be grounded in passion, measured by impact, and approached with genuineness. When you find your niche’ and allow your potential to grow into a skill, your passion will drive your impact and you will never feel like you’re working, but only fulfilling your purpose.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Naturally we always feel we can or need to do more. This feeling will occasionally have us in a position that is overwhelming. We all have points in time where we add just little too much on our plate of obligations. When I feel like this I take some time to step back and re-evaluate my obligations then prioritize. Also if certain obligations can be completed by someone else, I delegate to give myself the time and focus to work on the things I’ve prioritized. It’s always a good idea to get some help when you feel overwhelmed.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jpopeconnections.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/j.popeconnections
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/j.popeconnections
- Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/JenniferPopeLCSW-C
Image Credits
Photographer: Mykia James of Uniquely Framed Make Up Artist: Kristen Hood of Uniquely Framed
