Health in the New Year
This month our Director talks about staying healthy in the New Year.
Happy January, Growers,
Well, it finally happened. After two years of distancing, masking, isolating, and doing all the sanitizing possible, I caught a cold recently. In the last two years, any tickle in the throat or unexplained sneeze was enough to bring up (valid) fears of COVID but thankfully this run-of-the-mill cold is all that managed to worm its way past my immune system (and thankfully I'm feeling much better now).
It’s different experiencing illness in a post-pandemic world. The ability to quarantine, protect those around me from infection and the ease at which I’ve been able to adjust has been a relief in an otherwise frustrating time (I forgot what a luxury breathing through my nose can be).
My main symptoms hit hard the other weekend, so I was quickly back to seeing clients, but with a renewed perspective. In therapy, the work we do is like having a cold no one can see. No one knows what we are going through on the inside because from the outside we seem fine. But internally, we are crying for a sick day, a break from the exhausting work, a chance to lounge in bed and watch The Price is Right (hey, does anyone know how to stream that?), a need for extra hydration, and fuzzy socks.
So this is my reminder to my clients, to you readers, and to myself. Don’t wait for a virus to take a break. You are already doing hard work, and you don’t need an excuse for extra rest. If you need extra support during this time, don't be afraid to ask for it. Our team is here and ready to support you through it.
Sending love and health,
Jacqueline
Therapist Spotlight: Director Traci Medeiros-Bagan
Learn more about GGOC Director: Traci Medeiros-Bagan!
We are so excited for you to get to know one of our Directors Traci Medeiros-Bagan a bit better!
Traci is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who works with Queer, Kinky, Non-Monogamous and Sex Worker Identified Individuals.
Traci offers individual and couples therapy as well as consultations for parents and other providers on LGBTQ journeys. They are also a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher and Reiki Level 1 Practitioner.
Traci’s caseload is currently full but they are still doing consultations and speaking engagements as they are available! They are also happy to help get you scheduled with another clinician! Read more about Traci below and reach out with any questions/inquiries HERE.
Traci Medeiros-Bagan, Director (She/They)
CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #86600
Yoga Alliance Certified RYT 200
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT GATHER AND GROW OC?
First and foremost, I’m grateful to be a member of this budding community! I also hold the title of Co-Director which includes a little paperwork and lots of dream manifesting. Last but certainly not least, I’ll be seeing a limited number of clients through Gather and Grow, training our therapists and creating educational content to share.
SCHOOL AND TRAINING HISTORY
I completed my BA in Critical Gender Studies with a Focus in Sexuality at UC San Diego and my MA in Counseling Psychology at Argosy University. My traineeship hours combined work at the Orange County LGBT Center and in a private practice. I’ve had a solo private practice in Orange County since 2015.
INDIVIDUAL FOCUS
Working at the intersections of vulnerable communities I have found myself working with a lot of folks around journeys of complex trauma. I don’t assert that I have all the answers. Rather, I’d like to think of my work as a gentle reminder that we all have the innate ability to heal and are fully deserving of this healing.
Find out more about Traci’s individual private therapy practice HERE and their private yoga coaching practice HERE.
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT BEING PART OF THE GATHER AND GROW OC COMMUNITY?
I love being a therapist, but being a therapist in private practice can end up being solitary work. I have been really fortunate to be a part of several amazing communities over the course of my life. These fortunate experiences have led me to believe that there is no better healing vehicle and goal than to gather and grow with one another. Gather and Grow OC isn’t just a group practice or a business, it’s an intentional safe space and community, one for which I am beyond excited to help plant the seeds!
Therapist Spotlight: Director Jacqueline Plante
Learn more about GGOC Director: Jacqueline Plante!
We are so excited for you to get to know one of our Directors Jacqueline Plante a bit better!
Jacqueline is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists who works with couples to support their relationship journey.
Jacqueline offers individual and couples therapy as well as periodic retreats and intensives for couples looking to grow in their relationship with one another!
She currently has openings for individuals and couples on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays! Read more about Jacqueline below and reach out to schedule an appointment with her HERE.
Jacqueline Plante, Director (She/Her)
CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #91084
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT GATHER AND GROW OC?
I am the co-director of Gather and Grow OC. I am one of the lead therapists and supervisors, as well as one of the educators who creates and facilitates workshops for Gather and Grow.
SCHOOL AND TRAINING HISTORY
I received both my Bachelor and Master’s Degrees from Cal State Fullerton. My Master’s program put heavy emphasis on clinical training and really set the foundation for who I am as a therapist. During my time as a trainee and intern I worked at the LGBT Center in Santa Ana, the Pacific Clinics Sierra Family Center, and eventually under supervision in private practice. Having such a diverse experience in training helped me to hone my skills and learn where to focus my energy to best meet the needs of my clients.
INDIVIDUAL FOCUS
In my solo practice, I really gear myself towards relationship work. Romantic, friendship, or familial, the foundation of who we are is often reflected in our experience with others, and I love working through that lens. I enjoy my work immensely, and continue to offer individual and couples therapy.
Learn more about Jacqueline’s individual practice: HERE.
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT BEING PART OF THE GATHER AND GROW OC COMMUNITY?
Gather and Grow was established when Traci and I started thinking about how we could better serve our community in a larger way. While I continue to emphasize the benefits of therapy, I also feel that the knowledge gained from my experience as a therapist is worth sharing on different platforms. Gather and Grow allows us to have a space to share new ideas via workshops, fun boot camps, or in consultation. We get to bring others to our table, and to encourage the importance of mental health in a tangible way.