Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Popovich.
Hi Jenn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been a counselor for over 15yrs, but how I started was by almost quitting. I think personal backstory informs professional backstory. I grew up in one of the ten poorest counties in Alabama – one of the ten poorest states. I was many things first. I’ve been a server, a factory worker, a poultry farmer, a secretary, a physical therapy tech, a retail worker, a realtor, a model, and I was accepted into the Peace Corps and then diverted to something else instead. When considering college, EVERYONE discouraged me from pursuing psychology, stating I would never make a living. I was still interested because I truly felt like I did not understand why people behaved the way they did. I wanted to understand. When I got my first job in counseling, I was not sure I was in the right place or right profession. I was very green. I didn’t know what I was doing. I wanted to quit often, and I began to wonder if I made a big mistake.
I moved to Savannah, GA next and lived there for 4yrs. I always say I “grew up” there, professionally, but this is also where my personal world started to unravel. I thought a geographical change would fix it when I moved to Austin in 2012. Spoiler alert – it did not fix it. If Savannah was where I grew up, Austin is where I went through all the rites of passage personally and professionally. I coordinated programs in multiple inpatient treatment centers for substance use disorders in the Austin area. I truly loved that arena, and it will always be special to me. Despite loving my new city and workspaces, my life began to fall apart personally, and I poured myself into work to cope until I could get through it. I did my own therapeutic work as I went. In the work, I discovered perfectionism is not relatable, scarcity issues make you shortchange yourself in every arena, and your core beliefs make or break you. In doing the work, I became a markedly better clinician. I can sit with you in your darkness or your weirdness and just hear you. I know the fear of saying things out loud because of judgment and shame. That was some yucky, hard work.
Once I came out the other side, I looked around and realized I was working all the time and needed to make changes. I slowly worked my way toward private practice. I formed a practice that spoke to what I know works. It is patterned after all the learning I have done professionally and personally, and what I see the world needs the most. Through this process, I started our Hiatus Retreats for taking breaks, honed the therapy portion of the practice, and obtained my yoga teacher certification to offer yoga services and therapeutic movement. After 4 years in private practice, I expanded to form a group with other counselors. Hiatus Wellness was formed in 2020, and I brought in people that all specialize in what we focus on. Everyone is a trained trauma counselor and focuses on mind-body connection. It took a while, but I like where I am today and I feel more aligned with my values. I made a space where I practice what I preach, and my professional life mirrors my personal. I believe “The story always wins”. Whatever you believe at your core about what you deserve and are capable of is what will manifest – for better or worse. I think that is what is relatable about me – my path has been very imperfect and full of mistakes and regrets, but I still rewrote that story. That is what I want Hiatus associated with. Capacity for change.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a bumpy, zig-zaggy road. I think my challenges are similar to other therapists- I needed to do some of my own work, and I needed to ask for help. Despite having my own training as a therapist, some of the struggles were overcoming my own family of origin issues and history of trauma. That stuff sticks to your beliefs and fears in a way that is hard to untangle. I really don’t appreciate the “everything happens for a reason” train most of the time, but in many ways I don’t know if my story would have taken the shape it has unless all the terrible, horrible hadn’t happened. It is so scary to bet on yourself and go out on your own. If my life hadn’t changed, I would have been too comfortable to leave. When my personal needs and goals changed, it forced me to care for myself better. I reached out to other private practice therapists for consultation and help on how to get started, and someone responded. She offered me a coffee chat, encouragement and feedback. I have been sharing space with her ever since.
As you know, we’re big fans of Hiatus Wellness. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a private practice that offers an umbrella of wellness services – therapy, yoga, and retreats. We have offices in San Marcos and recently expanded into a west Austin office, near Dripping Springs. We are probably best known for our trauma work (specifically EMDR and Trauma Conscious Yoga Method work), our workshops based on the work of Brene’ Brown, and our Hiatus Retreats. What makes us different and sets us apart is that we don’t try to do everything. We do just a few things, but we do them very well. We do deep group work, we hold magical retreats, we help you learn to regulate your feelings and connect with your body, and we advocate loudly for you to take intentional breaks and handle yourself with care. We are so proud that our brand and our name reflect exactly what we do – encourage you to take time out for yourself to do the work that keeps you well.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Always try to learn more, and always try to teach others. I am always willing to learn more. I am also a licensed supervisor for new counselors that need to participate in professional supervision to get their own license to practice. I try to handle new helpers in the ways I wish I had been handled along the way. I also think it is important to share your story. People relate to your humanity. It helps your people find you.
Contact Info:
- Email: jenn@hiatuswellness.com
- Website: www.hiatuswellness.
com - Instagram: @hiatusretreats
- Facebook: @hiatuswellness
Image Credits
Misty Mclendon Photography
