Looking Back on Our Year at Betty Jackson Counseling Services
“Recognizing and processing emotions is not a sign of weakness, but a practice of strength.”
A year ago, I was standing in the middle of storms. I was carrying the weight of traumatic life events while trying to fulfill my responsibilities as a minority woman, a business owner, and a single parent. I was doing my best to hold everything together, for my clients, for my daughter, and for myself. But even in the midst of chaos, Betty Jackson Counseling Services, PC, stepped out on faith to expand its reach and help launch Parkers Hope for Mental Wellness (PHFMW), a nonprofit created to serve individuals in the community who need mental-health and substance-abuse services but lack the traditional resources to access them. A year ago, PHFMW was nothing more than a vision. Today, it is a growing organization beginning to expand its services in the
community. While still in its preliminary stages of development, PHFMW is progressing well and steadily coming into its own. Our mission is clear: to prevent mental-health challenges, equip people to cope with adversity, and cultivate resilience in the face of stress, loneliness, anger, and sadness.
Hard Seasons, Real Challenges
This year also brought one of the most difficult professional obstacles I have faced: the transition of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to managed care organizations. With nearly 90% of my clients coming from underserved communities, this change caused major delays in reimbursement. I continued to serve clients despite often not being reimbursed on time, and sometimes not at all. The financial strain on a small business like mine was real, and it has been a challenge to keep the business afloat with so many obstacles in the way. I had to truly trust the process and rely on my faith to keep pushing when resources were scarce. But support showed up. Organizations and private sponsors stepped in to help Betty Jackson Counseling Services stay afloat during moments when the funding gap could have shut our doors. I leaned deeply on my faith to navigate those dry seasons. I kept showing up for my clients with grace and a smile, even when my own circumstances were heavy. As a trauma survivor myself, I could not turn away from the very people who mirrored my own story.
Moments That Mattered
Despite the hardships, this year brought powerful moments of affirmation:
November 2024: Meetings with GKFF, filming with TV One, and undergoing preventive surgery.
December 2024: Grand Mental Health recognized me as their Community Partner Spotlight.
March 2025: PHFMW hosted our first community event for families with children with special needs and presented at the Oklahoma Social Work Summit.
April 2025: Speaking at East Central High School’s JROTC banquet, receiving TERO certification, and partnering with Tulsa Public Schools.
May 2025: Collaborating with OU Tulsa School of Social Work and partnering with Just the Beginning.
June 2025: Recognition as an excellent field partner and beginning collaboration with the Juvenile Bureau.
July 2025: Continued work on the FINS Program through the Tulsa County Juvenile Bureau and participating in the Oklahoma Baptist State Convention Prison Ministry, providing outreach to youth impacted by incarceration.
September 2025: Celebrating my 51st birthday with self-care trips and furnishing Parkers Hope for Men, which is set to open by January 2026.
October 2025: Equity capacity-building, FINS Program progress, joining the Nehemiah CDC board, and preparing Parkers Hope for Men for launch.
What This Year Has Changed in Me
This year refined my resilience, deepened my purpose, and strengthened my presence as both a clinician and a leader. I leaned into emotional intelligence, not just as a concept, but as a way of life. I learned not to let anyone else’s emotions push me out of my character or purpose. We must stay focused and aware of the emotions that arise when we are triggered by trauma, especially when stress clouds our ability to navigate forward. I have realized that recognizing and processing these emotions is not a sign of weakness, but a practice of strength. It allows us to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, to maintain clarity in the midst of chaos, and to continue serving others with compassion. By embracing this awareness, we can transform challenges into opportunities for growth, not just for ourselves, but for the communities we serve. My hope is that anyone reading this can see that cultivating emotional intelligence is a lifelong journey, one that empowers us to remain grounded, intentional, and resilient, even when life feels overwhelming.
What I’m Carrying into Next Year
As I step into the coming year, I am carrying three things with me:
Emotional intelligence: choosing peace, clarity, and grounded decision-making no matter what storms come.
Faith in the process: trusting that if I continue to serve with integrity, compassion, and consistency God will continue to open doors. I must believe in my faith and rely on resilience to keep going, no matter the circumstances. I must continue to fight or what I believe in.
Commitment to self-care: understanding that rest, reflection, and intentional moments of peace are necessary to stay aligned with my purpose. Self-care helps keep my mind clear, my spirit balanced, and my perspective grounded so I can continue making decisions that reflect strength, wisdom, and compassion. So never give up on what you strongly believe in. Taking care of yourself and having faith in your purpose can manifest itself into something beautiful if you trust the process. always remember that your past does not determine your future. You must continue thinking positively to sustain positivity, even when challenges arise to distract or discourage you. In those moments, you must know how to pause, reflect, and realign yourself with your purpose.
Looking back from then until now, this year demanded strength, humility, and unwavering belief. Looking forward, I see growth, impact, and the continued unfolding of my purpose. I am still here. I am still standing. And I am still doing the work I was called to do. I will continue this work with intention and purpose, striving to create meaningful change within the populations I serve. By staying grounded, resilient, and committed to self-care, I can continue to show up fully, for my clients, my community, and myself.
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