Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jacqueline Blanco.
Hi Dr. Jacqueline, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It feels vulnerable to share this, but vulnerability is courageous and builds intimacy, so I’m happy to discuss. Like many psychologists and other individuals in helping professions, I was a parentified child. This means that I faced adult-like responsibilities from an early age, often caring for my family and myself. I naturally gravitated towards a job where I continue to support others. Those early life experiences, combined with years of clinical training and work across diverse mental health settings, have prepared me for the emotional demands of psychotherapy. This has shaped me into the professional I am today.
Additionally, despite arriving to the U.S. as a child, I was born in Spain and had major obstacles in the way of my immigration status. I lost scholarships as a result and dealt with many other barriers until I became a citizen as an adult. This led me to develop a passion for conducting psychological evaluations with undocumented immigrants. Although psychotherapy is my main focus, I am able to help undocumented victims of domestic violence, trafficking, and other crimes, as well as, families who are facing separation and it’s incredibly rewarding.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think I’ve addressed some of these in the first question. When you are faced with so much adversity and many factors outside of your control, you really have to dig deep and find the power inside of you to turn it around. A therapist can be critically important in that process and my aim is to empower people, so that they may see a better life beyond their current circumstances.
Personally, I understood that I had influence over my life. I took smart risks and did not give into self-limiting beliefs. A lot of individuals believe they cannot move forward when things are hard and this is understandable since emotional struggles can feel quite paralyzing. In truth, you can be struggling and at the same time, take actions that are aligned with your values and the life you want for yourself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist in Miami, Florida and I provide English/Spanish bilingual services in 40 U.S. states. I’ve been providing therapy to young and middle aged adults for more than 15 years. I was trained in general mental health, which means I can treat many mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, OCD, grief, relationship issues, and life transitions.
I specialize in providing civil and immigration psychological evaluations and am an expert witness available for testimony. Basically, I provide assessments to determine the psychological impact of an event relevant to a legal case. This often helps the court in its decision-making process. I have conducted more than 5,000 evaluations and am an expert in this field.
I am extremely proud of the work I’ve done to help families remain united when for example, a father who solely supports his family is facing deportation. I have also supported many victims of domestic violence who are seeking their own pathway to citizenship when they are being abused by a U.S. citizen spouse. These are some examples of the cases I see and the impact of this work can be life changing for people.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
For me, inner peace has been the key to feeling successful. Striving to have a regulated nervous system and being present in the moment as much as possible is important to me. Our minds have a way of keeping us stuck in the past or preoccupied by the future. Before you know it, life has passed you by and you weren’t truly present for much of it. Reminding yourself that this moment will never come again, that you will never be this young, or feel this exact way, can be helpful.
Accepting how difficult it is to be human is another part of reaching inner peace. That way, when life challenges you, you are able to normalize tough circumstances and even see the beauty and growth in it. This also means accepting unpleasant emotions and simply noticing what’s coming up, while responding to yourself with empathy.
Each moment is a one-time event and learning to witness it fully, even the uncomfortable parts, is where real peace -and in many ways, real success lives.
Pricing:
- Psychotherapy: $220/hr (no insurance)
- Immigration Evaluations (VAWA, Hardship Waivers, Asylum, T Visa, U Visa): $950-$1250
- Many insurances accepted for therapy
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jb-psychology.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjbpsychology/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dr-Jacqueline-Blanco-Psychologist/61566569275383/
- Phone: (305) 699-8209
- Email: drjblanco@jb-psychology.com
