Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessika Sands.
Jessika, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started undergraduate school knowing I wanted to major in psychology. What I did not predict was the addition of a criminal justice major, then a sociology major shortly after. Given one of the commonalities among the three, forensic psychology was the next logical and exciting step, which led me to leave Illinois to settle in Colorado to attend the University of Denver’s Clinical Psychology Master’s Program with a specialty in Forensic Psychology.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey in this field was not an easy or simple process. It took many risks, rewards, unknowns, experiences of failing (both real and perceived), learning to trust others and myself, and leaps of faith to get where I am today. My practice began in 2015 but was not my sole employment until 2019.
I leaned heavily on my family, friends, and colleagues when the risks I took led me to hard life and business lessons about what it means to fail at something. Being somewhat of a perfectionist, not succeeding at “everything” the first time felt overwhelming, but I wouldn’t change a single event looking back on the hardest times I experienced because of the growth that came from it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a dually licensed psychotherapist and the owner of Sands Collaborative Therapy, a private practice that specializes in complex trauma, dissociative disorders, and chemical addiction. The clients I serve are the most resilient humans on the Earth and I have the privilege of getting to work with them every week.
I feel proud of both the work I do and more so of the clients I get to see and the hard work they put in to see the change they desire. I also provide consultation for clinicians in the field wanting to work with complex trauma and dissociative disorders, including and specifically regarding dissociative identity disorder (DID).
I utilize several advanced therapeutic modalities that are specifically targeted toward working through complex trauma, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting (BSP), and utilize Attachment Theory and the Theory of Structural Dissociation of the Personality in my work with clients. I find fulfillment in spending time with each client in their unique journey and am grateful to get to hold space for their growth.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Resilience is the first word that comes to mind, but I think gratitude is more important. Taking moments to pause and reflect on what I have and what I am grateful for has become more important to me than pushing through difficult times or tasks. The moments of pause lead to a refreshing change of pace.
I have also come to value and emphasize taking breaks to rest and replenish. When I am not working, I enjoy my downtime alone reading or getting into a new show or movie, spending time with friends and family, traveling the world, playing beach volleyball, and exploring new places.
Contact Info:
- Website: JessikaSands.com
