Jessie RM Pandya, is a U.K. registered Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapist & Coach (MBACP), with over 25 years of experience in the Health, Wellness & Lifestyle industry. Jessie is a dedicated Trauma specialist, with a background in Nursing and Coaching. She is passionate about helping clients to address the root causes of Anxiety, Depression, Burn out, P.T.S.D, and Stress, which might be the result of a past or current traumatic event. Jessie has helped many clients to break free from the Trauma cycle and live to their fullest potential, without years of therapy. Jessie has undertaken further intensive Somatic Trauma Therapy training with world-renowned author and trainer in the field of trauma Babette Rothschild. Jessie is passionate about transforming lives, through healing Trauma.
Jessie Rm Pandya, Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapist & Coach
Is there a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
I think this is a great question as I believe that I’ve gone 'full circle' and ended up exactly where I am meant to be in my life. In 2007 I was living in a convent in Palermo, Italy, discerning a vocation of becoming a Sister for Mother Teresa of Kolkata’s religious order called the Missionaries of Charity. To become a Sister was a deep, personal ‘calling’. But then I received my ‘call within a call’ to become a psychotherapist. In the convent I had a spiritual director called Father Salvatore and he suggested to my formation mistress to send me for further studies to train as a psychotherapist. Unfortunately, this was not something that the Missionaries of Charity could accommodate. So, after much discernment I made the heart-breaking decision to leave my community and religious life. When I returned to the UK, I started a BSc (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy (Accredited by the BACP).
Tell us a little bit more about going ‘full circle’.
So, it was almost twenty-two years ago, that I felt called to join the Missionaries of Charity as a religious Sister. Prior to that my interests were always driven by my great love of humanity, from being a youth worker, nursing assistant, volunteering for various charities among other things. The Missionaries of Charity suggested that it might help them if I had a nursing qualification. I began my training as a mental health nurse since I’ve always had an interest in how the mind works, people’s personalities, what makes people unique, neuroscience, psychology, nature and nurture and so forth. However, I decided to switch to general, adult nursing as I knew that the Missionaries of Charity would benefit far more from my qualification as a general nurse. Hence, I’ve gone ‘full circle’ in what was deep inside me.
What is your work inspired by?
My work is inspired by God’s tender love for me and the commandment ‘Love one another as I have Loved you’ (Jn 13:34). Saint Teresa of Kolkata said ‘The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty’. I see this time and time again as an Integrative Psychotherapist, specialising in Somatic Trauma therapy. What brings clients to my private practice, who might otherwise be excelling or high-functioning in other areas of their lives, often is a core relational trauma, a deep sense of not ‘being loved’ which often results in anxiety, depression, burn-out, a constant need for ‘productivity’ and ‘doing’, a ‘perfectionism’ or ‘busyness’, to compensate for those uncomfortable feelings. The ‘inner script’ that’s been hard-wired is: ‘I need to earn love’. Obviously this is not a conscious thing, it’s subconscious wiring that takes place during our childhood, in our formative years. The interactions with our parents or primary caregivers, teachers etcetera, become hardwired as our modus operandi as adults.
How do you help your clients and why are you called Synchronicity Psychotherapy and Coaching?
Well, the name and how I help are tied together. I believe the synchronised events in my life have led me from being Youth worker, carer, nursing assistant, nurse, to discerning a vocation to the religious life as a Missionary of Charity Sister to become who I am now as an Integrative Psychotherapist & Coach, specialising in Somatic Trauma Therapy. In a nutshell, I would say that nothing warms my heart, soul more than empowering my clients to break free from the Trauma Cycle and start living to their fullest potential, without years of therapy. I work with my clients to safely and relationally 'rewire' their nervous system out of past memories, negative beliefs and patterns of inertia. I teach my clients techniques along the way, so that they become their own therapist and do not require years and years of therapy. My desire as a therapist is to make myself dispensable.
What are a few of your greatest achievement so far?
There are many I that I treasure, but to name some, I would start with gaining my First-class honours degree. This was a tremendous achievement for me as I suffered what doctors thought was a mini-stroke during the final year of my training. Then another significant moment was the week after gaining my degree I was diagnosed with cancer. So, overcoming cancer, twice in the past seven years, is a huge achievement. In addition, I would say creating a bespoke trauma therapy hub, for a local charity offering holistic support for women, girls, survivors of domestic abuse and saving many lives whilst being diagnosed with cancer, for the second time is something I am very proud of. It may sound funny to some but climbing Mount Snowdon, was a huge personal achievement too!
Finally, what would you like to achieve for yourself and your business in the future?
My greatest love is the sea, so I’d love to live by the sea. I’m a creative at heart and would love to become a published author and a motivational speaker. I appreciate that I’d have to become less of an introvert first. I’m still working on that. As for my business, I’d like to create a bespoke boutique Trauma Therapy retreat centre, with a charitable arm, specialising in supporting women, in particular mothers who have experienced domestic abuse.
Finally, when I’m old and grey, I’d like to offer single sessions of therapy, through the use of a ‘bartering’ system. So, for example, you will share with me a book, poem, painting, pottery, piece of music, or a song, a recipe, that’s moved, inspired you and share with me why and how it’s impacted you and I will give you a therapy session in exchange.
Visit my website for more info!
