Meet Jen Phippen | Psychotherapist & Healer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jen Phippen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jen, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I love this question and think about it a lot. This is an incredible time to be alive, with long needed systematic unraveling happening all around us. This unraveling is alongside very real concerns about the survival of our species and life on this planet. Crisis often precedes evolution and this is the time for evolution. As a realistic optimist, I see such creativity and possibility within the chaos of our times. I often wonder what the world will look like as my children become adults and what they are receiving as a result of how we live now. I want to be remembered as someone who was willing to use my whole being as a change agent towards a more conscious way of living. I want to be remembered as someone who was willing to open my heart to the suffering of the world and take needed actions to help alleviate suffering of my fellow beings.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
There are many different aspects to my business. First and foremost, I am a psychotherapist and healer based out of Fort Collins. My practice is called Transform the Nest and focuses on supporting women to thrive in their lives. I offer psycho-spiritual support in my office and virtually throughout Colorado. I feel passionate about providing a safe space for nurturers to deepen self-love and cultivate resiliency. My specialties treat issues associated with caregiving; including grief, postpartum, life transitions and compassion fatigue. I assist my clients in healing their trauma so they can live beautiful and meaningful lives. I host monthly women’s healing circles utilizing breathwork and mindfulness practices for women to meet with open hearts in community. Each circle offers its own kind of magic as unique women from all backgrounds come together in a vulnerable and loving space.

I also created a tarot deck called the Tarot of Transcendence. The deck is a labor of love and utilizes the symbolism of tarot to offer a deeper understanding of ourselves, our psyches and our spirit. I love integrating these cards to my circles and hearing how they have brought deep meaning to those who use them.

Believing in myself and trusting my gut has been the most important choice I have made in starting my business. I believe in the work that I bring to the world and knowing that in my soul helps me thrive. Learning to listen to my inner knowing and trusting myself continues to bring me success and alignment within my business and all other aspects of my life.

My business honestly started as I was looking to heal from systematic burnout and compassion fatigue. I had worked most of my post-graduate career as a hospice and palliative care social worker. This work was very sacred to me and I knew I wanted to continue doing what I love without the limitation of working for dysfunctional organizations. The more difficult it became to work in misaligned spaces, the more clear it was that I had to create what I needed if I wanted to thrive in my career. My work now is aligned with my values, deeply personal and heart centered. I love having creative control on how I practice values in my work. My purpose is steeped in service and bringing forth more loving and empowered ways of being.

Taking that first step was the most difficult decision I have had to make in my business. It takes courage to believe in yourself enough to take a leap of faith. I have made many mistakes and faced many challenges throughout this journey and am grateful for each one. They all have provided clarity on what I do and don’t want. Gaining the courage to create something based on my heart and values has been a very spiritual and personal process. That sense of personal integrity and service has helped me gain success in this work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have taken many visitors on a drive through the Poudre Canyon. There are so many wonderful trails and spots to stop along the way. One of my favorite places is Gateway Natural Area. It is great for kids and has a diverse landscape to really soak in the beauty of this area. I would also want to show off Fort Collins. I grew up here and it has changed so much from my childhood. I love our bike paths. I especially love the Spring Creek trail so I would have to tour the city via that path. I would stop at all our amazing parks along the way and maybe get Dairy Queen as a nod to my childhood. I wouldn’t have anyone visit without exploring the shops and events in downtown Fort Collins as there is so much to see.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am so incredibly lucky to be surrounded by amazing women with deeply aligned values. Many of whom have supported me beautifully throughout my journey. I couldn’t of even imagined going on my own if it wasn’t for my dear friend, Mary Beth Swanson supporting me. She is doing beautiful work in the community and alongside Hannah Wurster opened an amazing group practice called The Willow Collective where they provide mental health support to parents and young children in Larimer County. I am a proud partner provider with them. They provide much needed support to parents and children’s mental health in Larimer County.      

Website: www.transformthenest.com, www.tarotoftranscendence.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenphippen_lcsw/

Image Credits
Janelle Rose