Connect
To Top

Meet Jess Perez

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Perez.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It all began with a promise from my mother. My mother promised years ago, as I incessantly begged and pleaded to move far away from everything I’ve ever known, that as long as I got a college degree, she would give her blessing to move anywhere my heart desired. I don’t think she or anyone else for that matter ever doubted my intentions either, as I have always been very driven, determined and to be honest quite, stubborn when it comes to something I really want. Graduation day came and went and I had already purchased a one-way ticket to Los Angeles in hopes of nothing more than to simply be able to have the opportunity be my 100% authentic true self, that being a lesbian who at was still very much “in the closet.” I chose Los Angeles because at that time, I believed it was the most accepting place in our country of the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. I longed to feel safe, to be seen, to be heard and to most of all, have access to LGBTQ+ affirmative mental health care for my own ongoing struggles with depression and evolving identity. I moved to Los Angeles with the intentions and hopes of applying my undergraduate degree in Public Relations to work in the entertainment industry in some way or another. However, like most individuals who relocate to Los Angeles with a dream, reality smacked me in the face. The job in the entertainment industry didn’t happen and I fell into the juice/wellness industry by chance and moved my way up the corporate ladder for a few years before falling into a deep puddle of existential crisis. I loved working in that industry don’t get me wrong but I was left longing for something more. I had considered psychology as a degree initially when I was 18 years old enrolling in my undergraduate studies, however, ultimately decided I wasn’t ready just yet. Five years post undergraduate studies, I presented to my then girlfriend, now wife that I had decided to go back to school to get my master’s degree in clinical psychology. She wasn’t surprised as she knew I had been unhappy and equally lost for quite some time so I had her full support. I have always been a nurturer or a natural when it comes to taking care of others and holding a space for others to share their feelings and emotions. I realized ultimately that I just wanted to be the LGBTQ+ identified and affirming therapist to others that I never had access to growing up. Fast forward to now, three years since enrolling in my master’s program, I have a thriving private practice located in the heart of Los Angeles in West Hollywood, California. I am employed and work under the supervision of Hallie Gnatovich-Gates, LMFT #52775. I specialize in working with the LGBTQ+ community, individuals struggling with trauma and I also work with teens.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This has been the hardest road ever and I second guess myself every day if it’s worth it. Not for the sake of my own sanity but for the sake of my wife’s! All jokes aside, it is hard, very hard, but the reward of this career outweighs the hard days tenfold. I spent the first 27 years of my life seriously questioning if I were someone who could ever truly “love” their job, perhaps even bitter. Being a therapist is the greatest gift I have ever been given.

Jess Perez Therapy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is a baby and still very much growing. I began seeing clients in October 2018 and currently have a caseload that consists of LGBTQ+ individuals, teens, individuals working in the entertainment industry and those who are also struggling with depression and anxiety. I am also trained in a trauma therapy modality known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR therapy. EMDR therapy primarily focuses on the desensitization of memories and negative cognitions associated with traumatic memories or events with the client. What I feel sets me apart from other therapists is my own personal experiences connected and associated with the varied modalities of treatment offered with my practice in addition to a warm and inviting approach. My goal before even beginning my master’s program was to work towards normalizing the entire idea of mental health, mental illness and mental health awareness as a whole.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
The idea of success for me simply means to be able to pay your bills, put food on the table, a roof over your head and to be able to do what you love every day. I didn’t become a therapist with the hopes of being wealthy, I became a therapist to help people. If in the process this allows me to help provide for my family and be truly filled with passion when I show up for every day of work, well I don’t know what is considered more of a success than that.

Pricing:

  • $125 per 50 min session (individual, EMDR & teens)

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in