Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Jefferies, M.A. .
Hi Tamara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got started in my work back in 2005 when I became a peer counselor at a rape crisis center in San Francisco called Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR). As soon as I sat down with my very first client, I knew that this was the work I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was a moment when everything aligned for me. Soon after becoming a peer counselor, I expressed interest in facilitating their support groups and so I became a co-facilitator of their support groups and did that for the next 5 years. In the meantime, I started my graduate program in Somatic Psychology—the study of the Mind-Body Connection—because at some point while working with the women at the crisis center, it occurred to me I did not have sufficient tools to help them with what they were going through so I decided to continue my education and get those tools.
I graduated with my Master’s in Somatic Psychology in 2011 and because I had built such a strong relationship with the Rape Crisis Center, they started referring their clients to me and that’s how I began my private practice. I was seeing women one-on-one, offering women’s empowerment workshops, as well as practicing bodywork and energy healing (akin to Reiki). It was my goal to create a practice that was comprehensive and holistic. By this time, I was also certified as a yoga teacher. And so I combined all of these tools to create a one-stop-shop for healing for women who were survivors of trauma.
Since then I have traveled and worked internationally, I opened a wellness center up in Lake Wylie, South Carolina in 2016, and have most recently relocated here to Charleston and moved my practice online offering virtual Telehealth sessions. I now see male clients as well. And my focus remains on helping trauma survivors heal. Last year, I began public speaking on topics of wellness and healing trauma and have spoken at a few summits.
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?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road. I think the biggest challenge when you’re starting a practice is getting clients. I was lucky when I began my practice, to have that connection with the crisis center because they referred women to me. But once I moved out of that area, building a new practice in other places, particularly when I went abroad and attempted to grow a practice in South America, there were lots of challenges to that. Not only are you trying to build clientele but find the right location to house your practice. And for the longest time, I had the dream of opening my own wellness center and that saw many stops and starts. Until I moved to Lake Wylie South Carolina and experienced one synchronicity after another and it seemed almost without effort, I had my wellness center within months, a beautiful building right on the lake. Relocating to Charleston, I face similar challenges of making connections and building clientele in a new place. One positive of the pandemic, though, has been moving so much of our work online. Now I can connect with clients who are all over the world.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I created Grow & Thrive Wellness to be a one-stop shop for healing. I consider myself a guide navigating you through healing life’s worst traumas and into discovering life’s greatest joys. By combining the latest research in somatic psychology (the study of the mind-body connection), depth psychology (the study of the unconscious, subconscious, and dreams), neuroscience, and mindfulness, I create customized sessions for individuals ready to do the work of healing and transforming their lives. I take you from where you are–stuck, lost, frustrated, depressed, anxious, and stressed–to where you want to be–vital, purposeful, grateful, connected, and joyful. Although trauma is my specialization, I’d say my strength is helping you go deeper within yourself. I’m always saying to my clients it’s important to discover what’s underneath this. And there is always something underneath! My clients leave me feeling empowered to better handle life’s challenges, having healed the old wounds they’d carried for years. My goal is to help you rediscover your joy, passion, and purpose. I’m proud that my practice delivers on its name: Grow & Thrive! That said, I’m extremely proud and excited that this summer I will be self-publishing my first book, The Empowered Woman’s Guide to Healing Trauma. It’s the culmination of years of work, study, and personal experience offering effective yet simple tools for healing trauma. I’m looking forward to organizing workshops/book signings at local bookstores in Charleston and surrounding cities to bring this work to the women who need it.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Well, I like to keep up with current events and the economy, so I get email newsletters from Morning Brew, The Skimm, The Hustle, The New York Times, and the Economist. I love to read and my books are my most cherished possessions. The books I turn to that keep me grounded, uplifted, and inspired tend to be spiritual or I turn to poetry. I love the spiritual poetry of the Great Sufi Master, Hafiz, and the writings of Kahlil Gibran, author of The Prophet. The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus is also a favorite. I also have this gem by Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, called Prayers and Meditations for a Meaningful Life. It’s wonderful!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://growandthrivewellness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growandthrivewellness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growandthrivewellness
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvteTdTU3RbOziL7ew4l5mQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/grow-and-thrive-wellness-charleston
