We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Jarquin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
This is an interesting question for me that always requires an explanation. Although I was born and raised in Miami, Florida I consider myself to be Nicaraguan or Nicaragüense. Both of my parents are from Nicaragua and raised my sister and I the “Nicaraguan” way. We learned to speak Spanish before English, only spoke Spanish in our home (which I still do today), were surrounded by media in Spanish, took Spanish courses to reinforce the language, and spent summers in Nicaragua. From a young age, my parents instilled the importance of education in my sister and me. As immigrants who came to the United States in search of a better life for themselves and their families, their solution to that was education. For that reason, my parents worked very hard and made a lot of sacrifices for us. For over 20 years, my father worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week while my mother worked multiple jobs so that my sister and I could pursue our education. As a result, I felt the responsibility to repay them for their dedication and hard work. I did that by taking the opportunity they worked so hard to create for me and obtained a higher education to become a “profesional” or professional, as they dreamed of. Today, I hold a PhD in family therapy and am a licensed therapist. I am currently a clinical director, adjunct professor, AAMFT approved supervisor, and a qualified supervisor for registered interns in the state of Florida. All of this was made possible because of the support, hard work, and determination of my parents. I am who I am today because of them.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

When I was in high school, I completed an assignment where I wrote about wanting to become a therapist and help others. I am fortunate to have accomplished that in 2016 when I graduated from a therapy program. When I started my doctoral program, I dreamed about becoming clinical director. I also thought about teaching and becoming a supervisor. Years later, I was able to accomplish all of those dreams, thoughts, and more. Currently, I am a clinical director, adjunct professor, AAMFT approved supervisor, qualified supervisor in the state of Florida, and a life and wellness coach. Additionally, I am Vice President of the board for the Latinx Therapist Project, a non-profit organization that aims to decrease the mental health care disparity amongst the Latinx, Spanish-speaking population and help recruit and empower the next generation of Latinx therapists. Holding all of these positions is a lot to juggle, but I am passionate about the work I do.
I was recruited by an organization in South Florida to develop their Mental Health and Wellness Division. This is something extremely exciting for me because I was chosen to build out an entire department, or division. In the past, I created mental health programs, curricula, trainings, and workshops, but had never built a department. It is a new challenge that I am extremely excited to take on! The organization is also moving towards incorporating mental health into all of their programs, and I get to consult on how to accomplish that. Another aspect I enjoy about this organization/role is that the goal is to provide services to underserved populations. As the director, I am not only looking to serve these populations, but am also making sure that we provide quality services, and that our approach is different from traditional mental health. When I first started off as a therapist, I quickly noticed that what we learned in school didn’t apply to the people I was working with. I then had to change my approach in order to be effective in my work. For that reason, I am implementing a different approach to mental health.
I would like to point out one more way my work sets me apart. Although society has come a long way in terms of how it views mental health, there is still a stigma. When something is physically not well, we are quick to make an appointment with a doctor; however, if things are not so well with us mentally or emotionally, how quick are we to consider going to a professional for help? As a life and wellness coach, I offer mental health check-ins to ensure things are going well, and to help my clients stay on track. If a person is experiencing stress, anxiety, or burnout (which most of us are these days), then we create a wellness plan that is tailored to the person’s needs and lifestyle. My goal for the wellness plan is for it to fit seamlessly in the person’s life, instead of being a burden or added chore. I want others to know that self-care is essential, completely obtainable, and not selfish!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a best friend visiting the area and wanted to show them the best time ever, I would take them to so many different places! Of course, it would depend on what my friend’s interests are, but if I had to choose, it would be a combination of being out in nature, sightseeing, checking out different restaurants, of course, and catching a glimpse of the nightlife. There are so many beautiful parks in both Miami-Dade and Broward, so it’s hard to narrow it down. One that is near and dear to my heart is Kennedy Park in Coconut Grove. While you’re there, you can walk around the docks then make your way towards the central area with CocoWalk, restaurants, shops, etc. As for the food, I HAVE to mention Nicaraguan restaurants because the food is amazing and does not always come to mind when you think of Miami. Fritanga Caña Brava is a hole in the wall with amazing and authentic food. If you’re looking for something a little bit more upscale, The Spotted Gallo is another great place. As for sights, Wynwood, Brickell, Brickell Key, and Las Olas are all great.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My journey has been a lengthy and challenging one, and I certainly wouldn’t be here without the love, support, and guidance from many. I want to start out by giving a shoutout to my family. My family has been there for me during happy moments and those that weren’t so happy. They have been the ones to push me to do better and to keep striving for more. They have cheered me on and supported me throughout my journey, which they continue to do today. I know that I can count of them for whatever I need. I also want to give a shoutout to my friends, professors, and mentors who saw potential in me, one I didn’t always see. They pointed out that potential and encouraged me to do more. Lastly, I want to give a special shoutout to my group of close friends. They have truly supported me through the good times and the bad. They have given me the space to vent when things get tough, are always there for me when I need support, and offer words of encouragement whenever self-doubt creeps in. Thank you all for what you do!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.mentalhealth.doc/

Image Credits
Rebecca Borrego

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