Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jesse Sanders.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
I am Dr. Jesse Sanders, and I am a Mental Health Therapist, Speaker, Public Speaker, Influencer, Conversationalist, and best-selling author. Also, I have two beautiful and undeniably awesome daughters, Brianna and Brielle. In addition, I am a new grandfather of my “Little Man”. And I am here because of one of my co-parenting experiences with one of my daughter’s mother. I previously faced hurt, anger, anxiety, and other unhealthy and crippling emotions. I was compelled to identify and overcome my pain points. Furthermore, I was able to witness and personally experience the cyclone of the family court procedures. I observed families combating and while that was taking place, the child or children were hurting and withdrawing before our very eyes. I too, studied my daughter and observed that she too was in the storm with me and my pain as a parent was indescribable. I have always loved helping the oppressed, & redefine their identities and journeys through positive, inclusive & expressive means. Therefore, after my storm was over and the rainbow was visible. I decided to further my education in Psychology so that I could help those that have been oppressed, self-realize, and self-actualize on their own terms and be able to find their identity and purpose. I made a conscious decision, that rather than sitting back and shamefully shaking my head, I am going to become a redefining impact and voice. As a result, many individuals and families are not crippling themselves emotionally.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
Because I am a single and co-parenting father, we certainty most of the time did not have a dull moment in our home and still do not…lol. At the time I made this decision, my oldest daughter was attending acting classes and my youngest daughter was attending gymnastics. I of course worked a full-time job. I had to methodically select an accountability partner, which I think everyone should have one. My accountability partner was my sister Brandy, as well as my best friend Doug. They both had complete knowledge of my responsibilities and goals. There were check-ins that took place. In addition, I created a schedule for myself so that I could balance my full schedule. Equally, I reminded myself, that I did not make the conscious decision to go back to school to obtain any degree. But I chose to go back, to obtain a degree that would not only redefine my life, but also those that I serve. Affirmation is also a great way to stay motivated and focused. However, let me be clear, I am not stating there were not some dark or exhausting days. However, I had a healthy ecosystem with family and friends, including my co-parent, Liatresia. I also reminded myself that our words are the storeroom of power and we possess that power. Finally, I created self-affirmation. When we create affirmative actions, we must form affirmative words. We become, what we consume.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
I am a Redefining Mental Health Therapist, and I am having relevant conversations to redefine lives in a radical way. I provide therapeutic and social support to individuals and families who are living at the intersections of multiple oppressions. I challenge those that I encounter to operate in the realm of reality and not delusional creativity. Although, it may not be an easy task, it is a necessary task. When we rob ourselves of tunneling deep to identify and grow in our authentic self, we rob ourselves of exploring. We are our own inventors, authors, power beings, etc. There is no such thing as limits, but we can still block ourselves from our greatness because we’re so afraid of the unknown and uninvited pressures from society. I create specific individual and family unit comprehensive plans. I do not utilize a cookie cutter system, because our stories are not the same. Some utilize uniformed systems for everyone, and it may be effective for a small percentage. But, what about those that it is not effective with? That is not the case with me, my objective is for healing and focus to initiate on Day 1!
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
Life at occasions has taken us for a ride or two that we did not prepare for mentally during the times we presumed we had a grasp on our lives. Therefore, as you are grooming for success, perform self-inventory assessments, because it is vital, if you desire success with robustness. Three key rules I love to live by as I continue to catapult to greater dimensions are: Accept Reality (Acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree with it, but that I do not walk in a delusional “deceiving YOURSELF” state of mind, which is a mental illness), Behave Productively (Accepting reality helps you manage your thoughts and regulate your emotions, which are key to productive behavior), Control Our Thoughts (Our minds can be our best asset or our biggest enemy). If we’re going to make progressive changes. It is of the utmost importance that we utilize wisdom. Wisdom is a linchpin of happiness and purpose in life. It is the key to making sense of all the confusing information we are bombarded with today, to making better decisions and to feeling more at peace with how we live a liberated and redefined life. Refuse to allow yourself to be molded into someone else’s unrealistic programmed individual. Give yourself clearance to be yourself, on your terms, and on your tempo. The world needs you to be you! We were created in the image of our Creator to convey who we genuinely are into the world.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
We’ve all undoubtedly approached a detoured construction zone in our life. Many people aspire to have success; however, success commences with self-restoration. For, what we lodge internally is what our life will possess. Success to me represents a conscious decision to walk into our purpose. Understanding that speed is not the determining factor. But consistency and transparency are what is very important. Our culture shapes the way we process and perform, and it has influence in how we visualize ourselves and others. It affects our values – what we believe to be correct and wrong. The society we sleep in often affects our choices. But our choices can also influence others and help define our community’s success. I would also like to add, that success, includes utilizing wisdom and strength. Which is one of the many many reasons, I love and appreciate my grandparents, Zoma and Quentin Sanders.
What’s next for you?
My next is to continue to impact lives in a progressive manner via practical and transparent devoted counseling. However, I am also working on creating virtual inclusive redefining group programs for audiences, such as: fathers, co-parents, singles, life coaches, aspiring entrepreneurship training, and more. I am continuing to collaborate through our networking events, particularly, Cocktails and Conversation, that I host with my lovely friends and sisters, Courtney, and Toni. Our objective is to enhance relationships and expand visibility for business opportunities. Another goal was to bring together people of multiple identities to talk, network, and mingle and it has been success driven. More importantly it provides a platform for many, including myself. As I share my love of teaching lessons on how to have better relationships, business insights, and wisdom for life. Finally, I just completed a book that is available on Amazon, titled, “Hacking Your Mental Detour” and I am completing a book with my good friend, Dr. Matthew Wilmot.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
Website: https://iamredefined.org * Linktree: https://linktr.ee/drredefined * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drredefined/ *
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drredefined/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drredefined * Telephone: 614-695-5115*
Email: drjsanders@iamredefined.org