Ep 6: Jessica Juarez (Artist/Counselor/Business Owner)

Jessica Johana Juarez Garcia is an experienced professional with a passion for helping youth, schools, and communities through her work as a counselor, artist, and community leader. She has been working in direct service roles since 2001 and is committed to using transformative and healing practices to support individuals and groups.

In 2004, Jessica founded The Venus Collective, a Chicago-based womyn's collective that continues the efforts of feminist foremothers by honoring womyn's cultural and creative contributions around the world. Venus fosters leadership, builds community collaborations, and provides an inclusive space for womyn to reflect on their multiple identities. The collective ran until 2010, but its impact on the community continues to be felt today, as it created a space for womyn to come together and empower each other.

Jessica holds a M.A specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University, and an M.Ed. specializing in Educational Psychology- Youth Development from UIC. She is certified in Community Justice for Youth and Balanced and Restorative Justice peace circles and holds a Mediation Skills Certificate from the Center for Conflict Resolution. With her education and certifications, she is able to provide a holistic and culturally responsive approach to support and healing.

In addition to her work with The Venus Collective, Jessica is also the founder of Kindred, LLC, and Co-founder of The Praxis Institute. In her current role as a part-time private practice counselor with F.L.Y Radical Therapy,  a Field Supervisor, and coach, she continues to facilitate various workshops that align with an eclectic approach. She draws from multiple modalities such as holistic practices, arts, identity and culture, social-emotional learning, transformative rituals, and liberation psychology, to create a truly holistic and empowering experience for her clients.

Through her work, Jessica has always been committed to multicultural collaborations and providing culturally responsive support. Her approach is grounded in honoring and celebrating multiple identities, cultural values, and beliefs through the integration of arts and healing. She believes that healing is a collective process and that everyone can play a role in it.