Episode 176: FLASHBACK — Healing and Identity: Navigating Dual Cultures and Building a Thriving Private Practice [featuring Jacqueline Garcia]

In this flashback episode, I talk with Jacqueline Garcia of Therapy Lux. Jacqueline opens up about her personal journey as a therapist in private practice, navigating social media, and the importance of authenticity and self-discovery.

Jackie shares some of her struggles in her personal and professional life, specifically about immigrating from Mexico to the United States at 12 years old, and how she has fully embraced her Latina heritage.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Embrace your authenticity on social media: Jacqueline shares her experience of showing up authentically on social media as a therapist and how it made a significant difference in connecting with clients and building a supportive community. Highlighting your personality and being true to yourself can have a powerful impact on your practice.
2. Find grace in the private practice journey: Starting a private practice can be a scary transition, filled with ups and downs. Jacqueline advises giving yourself grace and space to feel your emotions throughout this process. Remember, everyone's journey is different, and it's important to acknowledge and honor your own path. Jacqueline brings attention to the discrimination faced by individuals who do not speak a language perfectly. She emphasizes that this discrimination is often masked by expectations of perfection, while many people in our country only speak one language and make little effort to learn another. As therapists, we have a unique opportunity to challenge these biases and advocate for inclusivity and understanding.
3. Use slower periods for self-reflection and growth: When facing slower periods in your practice, rather than panicking or doubting your success, embrace the opportunity for self-reflection and evaluation. Take this time to assess your niche, offerings, and personal alignment. Remember, slower periods can be a valuable chance for growth and perspective shift.

Note from Jackie: 

My name is Jacqueline Garcia, and I am a bilingual, Spanish-speaking Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 7 years of experience working with children, teens, adults, and families. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from California State of San Bernardino. After completing my B.A., I attended California State University of Fullerton where I earned my Master's Degree in Social Work. My clinical experiences range from mental health outpatient programs, non-profit organizations, field-based community mental health, and private practice. I grew up in Tijuana, Baja California until I was 12 years old. My parents migrated to the U.S. to pursue a better life for me and my siblings. As many of you know, middle school years can be difficult, to say the least. As a teen, I struggled adjusting to a new culture, new language, new friends, new trends, you name it! However, these transformative years made an impact in my life and led me to the path of becoming a therapist.

• Jackie's Website: Therapylux.org
• Jackie's Instagram: instagram.com/therapylux

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***This episode is the 2nd of 10 episodes that All Things Private Practice is re-releasing for 2025. Please enjoy, and we'll be back with new content, resources, and guests in a couple of months.

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Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Receptionist for iPad, Alma, & All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats!

✨ The Receptionist for iPad

Thanks to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.

The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option.

✨ Alma

Thanks to Alma for sponsoring this episode.

Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details, and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more.

✨ All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats

All Things Private Practice has some amazing retreat experiences coming up in 2025 and 2026.

Join us in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Summit from July 14th to 17th, 2025! We have an incredible lineup of 12 speakers and offer 12 MBCCEs. If you're a leader or aspiring to start a group practice, join our Leadership Retreat in Chania, Crete, from September 6th to 11th. In 2026, we have two retreats in Queenstown, New Zealand. The first is for Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs from March 1st to 8th, and the second retreat, Beyond Private Practice, focuses on moving beyond one-on-one therapy and creating alternative income streams from March 15th to 22nd.

Spaces are limited, so check the links to sign up today. Doubt yourself, do it anyway!

• Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Summit in Scottland: empoweredescapes.com/scotland-july-2025-summit
• Leadership Retreat in Chania, Crete: empoweredescapes.com/greece-retreat-2025
• Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs in Queenstown, New Zealand: allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-neurodivergent
• Beyond Private Practice in Queenstown, New Zealand: allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-income-streams

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

I want to thank Alma for sponsoring this episode. Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details, and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more.

All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats

All Things Private Practice has some amazing retreat experiences coming up in 2025 and 2026. Join us in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Summit from July 14th to 17th, 2025! We have an incredible lineup of 12 speakers and offer 12 MBCCEs. If you're a leader or aspiring to start a group practice, join our Leadership Retreat in Chania, Crete, from September 6th to 11th. In 2026, we have two retreats in Queenstown, New Zealand. The first is for Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs from March 1st to 8th, and the second retreat, Beyond Private Practice, focuses on moving beyond one-on-one therapy and creating alternative income streams from March 15th to 22nd. Spaces are limited, so check the links to sign up today. Doubt yourself, do it anyway! Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Summit in Scottland: https://www.empoweredescapes.com/scotland-july-2025-summit Leadership Retreat in Chania, Crete: https://www.empoweredescapes.com/greece-retreat-2025 Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs in Queenstown, New Zealand: https://www.allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-neurodivergent Beyond Private Practice in Queenstown, New Zealand: https://www.allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-income-streams

The Receptionist for iPad

I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode. From new patients faced with an empty lobby and no idea where to find their therapist to clinicians with a session running over time and the doorbell ringing, some of the most anxiety-ridden moments of a therapy appointment happen before a session even starts. The Receptionist for iPad, helps you tackle some of that pre-appointment apprehension and anxiety. The Receptionist for iPad is an easy-to-use digital client check-in system that helps your visitors check in securely to their appointments and notify their practitioners of their arrival via SMS, email, or your preferred channel. No more confusion, and less lobby checking or having clients sign in on paper logbooks. It can even help you upgrade and update your demographic information for your clients as well and even validate parking. Start a 14-day free trial of the Receptionist for iPad by going to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice. Make sure to start your trial with that link and you'll also get your first month free if you decide to sign up.