Meet Jessica Cortez of The Loom Connection, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Cortez.

Hi Jessica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been a Speech Language Pathologist for almost 16 years practicing in varying medical environments. I have always been interested in the area of Traumatic Brain Injury and became a Certified Brain Injury Specialist in January of 2024. While attending a Brain Injury Symposium at the Barrow Institute in Phoenix, AZ, I became acquainted with Dr. Kim Gorgens of the University of Denver. Her research into the high prevalence of brain injury in the criminal justice system and her involvement with Marchell Taylor and his Rebuild Your Mind movement, which offers free cognitive linguistic and mental health services to those in this environment, inspired me. Marchell Taylor, a brain injury survivor, who was once an inmate himself has built this program from the ground up. I have been honored to work with them providing free cognitive linguistic therapy to those who are involved with, or at risk to enter the criminal justice system. My practice, The Loom Connection, LLC provides cognitive linguistic treatment for those with acquired brain injuries in the general public and criminal justice system.

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?
There have been and are struggles always! Navigating starting your own practice and working with Medicaid and Medicare is definitely a challenge. It is also difficult to get services into the prisons. Red tape and differing chains of command in each prison and jail make it difficult to provide much needed cognitive and mental health services to those who need it in these environments. It is worth it, however, because many of my patients have seen their prison time dropped, have been granted work release and have even started their own companies with the strategies they have learned to improve their cognitive abilities. It is so necessary to provide these services to any who have survived an acquired brain injury to decrease the risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system, recidivism, loss of a job or a home.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Loom Connection, LLC?
At the Loom Connection we specialize in speech language pathology for individuals with acquired brain injuries in the general public and criminal justice system. We currently accept Medicaid, Medicare and private pay with the hopes to accept more private insurance in the future. We are also passionate about educating the public and other professions about acquired brain injuries and are open to speaking and educational engagements. The Loom Connection also offers coaching sessions for those who would like to make the most of their brain and decrease the risk of neurodegenerative disorders like Dementia by increasing their overall cognitive reserve.

We are so proud to provide this range of services in a person centered and functional environment. One’s cognitive ability is the most intimate part of their existence. Serving all, no matter their background, in a loving and no judgement atmosphere is the cornerstone of our work. We also love to include patient’s family and friends in treatment because brain injury affects more than just the individual, it affects all aspects of life.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Take the risk to dive deeper into something you are passionate about. It is so worth it! Earning certifications, taking courses to deepen your understanding of an area is not only good for your business, it is amazing for your overall brain health! Take advantage of networking events as you never know how the connections you make will give way to new opportunities that will expand your dreams to elements that you did not know were possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.loomconnection.com
• Instagram: @loomconnection
• Facebook: Jessica Cortez
• LinkedIn: Jessica Cortez
• Youtube: Jessica Cortez M.A., CCC-SLP, CBIS