We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordan Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jordan, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I think what ultimately changed was my mindset about where I choose to spend my time. I remember being in my early 20’s and focused on being successful in what I thought would be my long-term career. I found myself working 60+ hour days and somehow not getting all the tasks on my list complete. There were times when I felt like I would check off a task just for it to be replaced with something new. I found myself feeling guilty when I would take time off. Eventually, I was able to pull my head up above the water of work and realize that my early 20s were gone and I was missing out on experiences, memories, and life. I finally made a decision to truly seek out that balance. I realized that my ambition was standing in the way of my happiness. Now at 28 years old, that ambition has not lessened. Instead, I have redirected it towards a field that I’m passionate about. I stress to myself, my family, my friends, and most importantly, my clients, the need to create boundaries in order to achieve work/life balance. Now this balance looks different to everybody. I try to ensure at least one day out of my week is dedicated to self-care. As a graduate, working both full-time and part-time positions, I make intentional use of my working hours and rarely let it interfere into my personal time. Over the years, I have been able to clarify what values are important to me and I use that to guide where I spend my time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Psychology has always been something that has interested me. I love learning how people think and respond to certain situations. I have a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I am now a Masters Level Therapist. I currently work for Tameika and Co Therapy, LLC as a therapist, and I see adult clients who have concerns regarding anxiety, stress, depression, grief, career concerns, boundaries, and work/life balance, to name a few. I am so excited to work with T&Co. as it is a newly formed group practice and allows me to gain first-hand knowledge of what it takes to own your own practice. I truly love the private practice setting because it allows me the freedom to use therapy practices that are best suited for the client. I especially love working with young professionals. I am able to relate to the experiences in their ambitions, while offering them new fresh perspectives on maintaining balance, creating boundaries, and managing stress.

Over the years, I struggled with figuring out what was important to me. I had to consistently wrestle with what I thought I should be doing versus what I really wanted. I found that the struggle was actually between my perception of what others wanted me to do versus what I was passionate about. This is how I found myself becoming my own obstacle. When I finally removed the mountain I had placed in front of myself, I found that all the people who I thought were pushing me one way or the other, were standing on the other side ready to support me in whichever road I decided to travel.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start the day with brunch at First Watch. They have great mimosas and I love the vibe! From there we would head to either the Atlanta Aquarium or beautiful Botanical Gardens or BOTH! Atlanta has such great places to visit. We may have to make a stop at Lenox Mall but we would end the night by seeing our favorite artist at State Farm Arena.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The most important person that has supported me my whole life would be my mom. She continues to challenge me to focus on what will make me happy, and continues to be a safety net when I need it. I thank the rest of my family, friends, and mentors that encourage me from afar with their calls, texts, and even funny memes to make my day. Lastly, thank you to my amazing internship and post internship site supervisors for their mentorship and guidance.

Website: https://www.tameikaandco.com/jordan-nelson

Instagram: @mhcounselor_jordan

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