I’ve hit the jackpot with life. By that, I mean that every hardship has helped me learn, grow, and become stronger. And the life lottery started early! My biological father died in a motorcycle crash when I was 3 years old. From this tragedy, my mom married my step-dad when I was six, and we moved from the beaches of Del Mar, California, to a trailer court in the high desert of Southern Utah. I remember the drive vividly because Tina, my cat, had kittens underneath the passenger seat of Mom’s 1969 convertible Camaro on Interstate 15 around Bakersfield.
Growing up wasn’t easy. Our single-wide trailer was heated by a wood-burning stove in the winter, and the overworked swamp cooler often stopped working in the summer. I didn’t realize how humble my upbringing was until many years later because it was just normal to me. It was normal to stockpile wood to avoid freezing in the winters, and I got pretty good at fixing swamp coolers in the summer. It was normal to run amok from sunup to sundown with my mom’s instruction being, “be home before dark!” It was even normal (I hope you’re sitting down) to wander about all day without a water bottle!
During those years, I learned many tough lessons that schooling couldn’t teach. While all the stories won’t fit on this “about me” page, I hope they give you an idea of who I am today and where I came from. If you’re still unsure about me, check out the @jedsaidtherapy YouTube channel ( 100,000 subscribers strong ), where I’ve uploaded over 700 free therapy videos, or visit Instagram for countless therapy memes and I'm even on tiktok.
Therapy starts with two things: connection and honesty. Having been trained in many styles of therapy, I’ve found that being genuine is the quickest way to establish a connection. I believe that providing supportive and honest reflection at the appropriate time gives people the best opportunity for gaining awareness, which can then be used to work through life struggles.
Clients often hear me say, “Do you want nice or honest?” Nice gives them the answer they want to hear (and have likely heard before from family and friends), while honest gives them something new to think about. At the end of the day, therapy is all about giving people the option to think differently. Thinking first, then feeling, then behaving.
My philosophy: You are not broken. People can change, and many relationships can mend. Lastly, you are stronger and more resilient than you realize.
Now, let’s get to work.
Growing up wasn’t easy. Our single-wide trailer was heated by a wood-burning stove in the winter, and the overworked swamp cooler often stopped working in the summer. I didn’t realize how humble my upbringing was until many years later because it was just normal to me. It was normal to stockpile wood to avoid freezing in the winters, and I got pretty good at fixing swamp coolers in the summer. It was normal to run amok from sunup to sundown with my mom’s instruction being, “be home before dark!” It was even normal (I hope you’re sitting down) to wander about all day without a water bottle!
During those years, I learned many tough lessons that schooling couldn’t teach. While all the stories won’t fit on this “about me” page, I hope they give you an idea of who I am today and where I came from. If you’re still unsure about me, check out the @jedsaidtherapy YouTube channel ( 100,000 subscribers strong ), where I’ve uploaded over 700 free therapy videos, or visit Instagram for countless therapy memes and I'm even on tiktok.
Therapy starts with two things: connection and honesty. Having been trained in many styles of therapy, I’ve found that being genuine is the quickest way to establish a connection. I believe that providing supportive and honest reflection at the appropriate time gives people the best opportunity for gaining awareness, which can then be used to work through life struggles.
Clients often hear me say, “Do you want nice or honest?” Nice gives them the answer they want to hear (and have likely heard before from family and friends), while honest gives them something new to think about. At the end of the day, therapy is all about giving people the option to think differently. Thinking first, then feeling, then behaving.
My philosophy: You are not broken. People can change, and many relationships can mend. Lastly, you are stronger and more resilient than you realize.
Now, let’s get to work.
Podcasts: To book a podcast interview with Jed, contact him directly on the main line or send email to [email protected]
What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't happened yet.