A Snippet of My Story

I’m Crystal J and welcome to Esther’s Homegirls!

A little about me: I’m an eldest daughter, recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, singer, writer, and licensed therapist who also loves and appreciates Jesus.

My appreciation for psychology came as I was working through and making sense of my parents’ separation and divorce. I found that the change with my parents and my circumstances challenged how I saw myself and relationships as a whole.

As I got older and started forming more relationships with my peers, I began to question my worth and sense of self. I became very reliant on my academic studies, athleticism, and hyper-independence to define me. Jesus began knocking on the door to my heart at 12/13 years old. I opened the door slightly but did not know how to fully let him in. When I was 21 in college, soul searching, diving deeper into spirituality, I received a deep revelation that the person I was with at that time was not my person, and that God + Jesus was the only answer to heal the trauma and to fill the void that developed when I was a child.

Now I have become a therapist to help families and adolescents who are undergoing trauma and want break generational patterns. Separate from my direct clinical work, I had always envisioned helping girls and young women since I was a little girl. Now that dream and vision are coming true through this space.

My personal mission is to encourage young women to learn who and whom's they are, break the mental barriers and assist in renewing their minds, and to remind them they are not alone in any situation they might find themselves in.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (14). Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lamp stand, and it gives life to all in the house (15). Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify you Father Who is in heaven (16)."

Matthew 5:14-16 AMPC

Journey along with me, as I work through and share with you the lessons of living life with Christ, and becoming sanctified as we await the return of Jesus Christ.

With love,

Crystal J. (@withlovecrystalj)