Dr. Jada Philips originally wanted to be a lawyer. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, WI, she moved to New York with her then boyfriend, now husband, with the idea of going to Columbia University to become a criminal lawyer. Circumstances changed so she adjusted and used her interest in psychology and her psychology classes toward earning her Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College in NY. Dr. Philips describes this part of her journey as going with the flow. In this podcast, Dr. Jada Philips (known as “Dr. J”) recalls her academic and professional journey leading up to her opening her own private practice in New Jersey called “Reserved For You Psychological Services.” She shares her experiences and thoughts in hopes of helping those interested in the field of psychology or wanting to become a licensed psychologist and opening their own business. She admits there were some challenges along the way but said “I have pushed beyond what people said I could do.” She shares some of the challenges associated with starting your own private practice. She also discusses how and why she earned two master’s degrees and why she decided to receive her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Walden University. Throughout the podcast, Dr. J offers practical advice to those who are seeking a graduate degree in psychology and those wanting to become a licensed psychologist. For example, she states “definitely speak with enrollment staff about the whole licensing requirements for [your] state. Find out how many hours you need. Find out how the school assists in getting those hours or having connections to other businesses or other mental health professionals that can help get those hours.” Dr. J also recalls how many clinical hours were required to receive her New York psychologist license and how important it is to find the postdoc opportunities and those people who can sign off on your hours. When asked if she had any additional advice for those wanting to break into the field of psychology or open their own private practice, she offered these encouraging words “if you’re willing to do it, step out on your own” and “I would say do it if you want it. If that’s where your interest is at, don’t let anything hold you back.” She also shared that she joined a group on Facebook called “Clinicians of Color [in Private Practice]” that helped her overcome some of the challenges of thinking through and starting her business. She said that there are many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) therapists in the group and many people who own their own private practice who share their information and stories which helped her and can help others wanting to open their own psychology private practice. Near the end of our discussion, I learned one thing that is unique about Dr. J, she loves giraffes. When she was younger, she remembers everybody liking a certain animal, usually one of the common animals like a cheetah or elephant. She loves giraffes because they are so unique and different. With this in mind, I believe she would enjoy, and agree with, the following advice “Don’t be afraid to stick your neck out and reach for your goals.” Connect with Jada Philips: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | WebsiteConnect with the Show: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn https://vimeo.com/748852931 Interests and Specializations Dr. Jada Philips has over 14 years of mental health experience and she specializes in individual therapy, testing and assessments, and private consultations. She develops individualized therapy treatments for people suffering from trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and loss. Her treatment approach is centered on the person as a whole. She also has a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate. Education Bachelor of Arts (BA), Criminal Justice (2005); Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI.Master of Arts (MA),