My name is Deja Jackson, pronouns She/Her, and I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC). I have been practicing in the mental health field since 2016. I am passionate about helping my clients build a healthier quality of life by providing a holistic approach that is rooted in working with all individuals from multiple walks of life, with an understanding of how intersectional identities may affect someone and their worldview.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Education and a Master of Science in Mental Health counseling from Emporia State University. I am currently a doctoral candidate that obtained ABD (All but Dissertation) status within my current doctorate program for Counselor Education and Supervision with Minnesota State University, Mankato. My current research/dissertation focus is on the mental health of Black female student athletes, race-related stress/racial trauma, racial-identity, and individualism/collectivism. I began my career as a case manager in child welfare, then quickly transitioned to working as a community mental health counselor, as well as a mental health counselor in a college setting. Due to the multiple areas I have been privileged to work in, I was able to adopt an integrative theoretical approach.
I work with individuals (adults and adolescents, preferably ages 16+) and families, by providing treatment for anxiety, depression, phase of life issues, relationship issues, LGBTQ+ identities, career-related issues, sports-related mental health issues, and other intrusive symptoms that may cause a decrease in a quality of life. I strive towards a decolonized approach, specifically aimed towards supporting individuals with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) identities, and providing a culturally competent therapeutic setting that is often overlooked due to many therapeutic approaches being rooted in Western ideologies. Additionally, I am passionate about supporting student-athletes and the unique challenges they face with a holistic approach that targets their overall quality of life.
I value my role as therapist, and actively work towards building a strong rapport with my clients, having an active role within the therapeutic alliance, and assisting my clients with developing self-awareness, and appropriate coping skills to help improve self-efficacy and empowerment. I thrive in rapport-building, utilizing humor, understanding and respect of different backgrounds/cultures, and creating a safe and inclusive environment for my clients. I provide treatment for Narrative Therapy, Career Development, Existential Therapy, Racial Trauma, and Student-Athlete Mental Health-related Issues.
