Dr. Kariotis, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Well, to really understand my journey, I’ll have to take you back to 2009 when I received my Masters. At the same time I was earning my Master’s degree, I was also going through a bit of a health revolution – ultimately losing 30 lbs. and completely transforming my lifestyle. Shortly after this, I realized that I wanted to be providing a more direct-line of help (as a psychologist, that’s really what we care about), and working in a psychology research lab wasn’t providing that for me. So, after I completed my doctorate in 2012 from Northeastern University, I chose to keep one foot in academia (by teaching psychology courses to undergraduates) and at the same time accepted a position with a small start-up wellness company doing weight loss counseling. I loved the work I was doing with my clients, and quickly realized it was a lot more than just weight-loss counseling – it was life transformation counseling. Unfortunately, the start-up ran out of funds and as the only full-time, salaried employee, I was ultimately let go.
Now, in 2012 as I was completing my doctorate, I was also going through a personal revolution – ending a 10+ year relationship with my high school boyfriend (who I was engaged to) and falling in love with a woman who (at the time) was married and had three small children. No big deal. We both left our male partners and turned our whole lives around so that we could build a new life together.
When I was let go from my wellness start-up, I began blogging about my journey. In April 2015, Elephant Journal published a piece I had written about my “big change of heart” and suddenly women were reaching out to me, saying that this was their story too (having left a man for a woman). Although not my original intention when I went off on my own, I began to work with clients one-on-one who had also had a “big change of heart” and ultimately created an online community of support for women just like me.
Today, I work as a Relationship Advisor specializing in nontraditional couples and family structures (i.e., same-sex couples, divorced/remarrying couples, and blending families), as this is also my personal experience in many ways. Additionally our online community (the Big Change of Heart Community) has over 225 women and I also host a podcast, the Big Change of Heart Podcast, for women who were previously with men and are now with (or want to be with) women. And as of Fall 2017, I am also a Justice of the Peace for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, helping to create and officiate unique, personalized ceremonies for same-sex couples, second/remarrying couples, and blending families.
I truly love the work I am doing today, and I wouldn’t be doing this work if it weren’t for the amazing personal journey I’ve been on over the past (nearly) 10 years. It’s been a wild ride, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Does anyone ever say it’s been a smooth road? If so, I’d love to meet them – I think they might be a mythical creature! Truthfully, it’s been a roller coaster – lots of ups and downs, and aggressive amounts of learning and growth. I never considered the entrepreneurial life, especially after being in academia for the first 25 years of my life (which was basically my entire life). I think, though, the structure of academia made me ill-fitted for your standard 9-to-5 career. I became accustomed to making my own schedule, getting work done on my own timeline, and choosing my own topics of interest. I love feedback, thoughtful discussions, and brainstorm sessions, but truthfully I don’t think I do very well being told what to do in a work environment anymore. Academia ruined me that way.
But, as any entrepreneur will tell you, there are definitely a lot of struggles along the way, and I have no doubt that there will be many more to come. Working as a solo-entrepreneur comes with its own brand of difficulties, as indicated by the name – we’re a one-woman show. There isn’t a lot of feedback, thoughtful discussions, or brainstorm sessions when you’re only colleagues are two cats and a dog… That’s why I network regularly and make connections with any like-minded people I find. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely existence if you’re not actively working to build a community of support around you!
Dr. Jennelle, LLC – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As I mentioned, I am a Relationship Advisor and a Justice of the Peace for nontraditionals (i.e., same-sex couples, divorced/remarrying couples, and blending families). The majority of my clientele are women who were previously with men and are now with women. I work with these women to help them through the most difficult of transitions – divorce from a male spouse, being “out” in a same-sex relationship for the first time, blending children into a same-sex relationship, etc. It’s important to note that I am not a counselor, therapist, or coach, I too am nontraditional in the way in which I approach my work.
One of the things that really sets me apart in this field of “professional helpers” is that I share my story as a way to connect with my clients. This is often a big “no-no” in our field, and it’s one of the reason I, for lack of a better term, went rogue. Going through a “big change of heart” can be incredibly alienating, but when you find someone who has had that similar experience, it truly can give you new life. I want my clients to know that I understand where they’re coming from, and not just in the “I have worked with women in your position” but because I AM a woman in their position. The more I share, the more comfortable they become. So I blog, podcast, publish articles, and share glimpses of my personal “big change of heart” journey on Instagram in hopes of connecting with the women who need that extra support, guidance and advice.
Secondly, I am a virtual Relationship Advisor. What does that mean exactly? It means that 95% of my work happens, you guessed it, virtually! I work with my clients through email, text/messaging, phone calls, and live video sessions. Not only does this allow me to reach more women all over the country (and world!), but it also is so much more convenient for my clientele – who, most often, are busy with careers and carting children all over the place. This way they can watch their kids at soccer practice from the car while having a phone call with me!
And it’s important to note that while I primarily tend to work with the women who have had a “big change of heart”, I truly aim to work with the entire family system. I have worked with adolescent and adult children, husbands, men post-divorce, and many heterosexual couples as well. If my nontraditional approach resonates with someone, then regardless of their relationship status or identity, I am always willing to help.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on? What are you most proud of?
It really is so hard to say what my proudest moment is to date. I was humbled when I received a nomination for the StartOUT ‘Out Entrepreneur’ Contest in 2015, and even more so when I was one of six finalists. I am also incredibly proud to be a regular contributor to the online magazines Scary Mommy and Thought Catalog and an expert on the YourTango platform. I am so proud of the beautiful, thriving community of women in the Big Change of Heart Community who lean on each other in moments of hard and happy, who show up for each other again and again, and who make me so grateful to wake up every day and do the work that I do. And I am equally proud of my clients who are continually doing the hard work to see their love survive and thrive in some of the most challenging circumstances. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of their journey and to be able to offer support in, what I consider to be, the most important area of our lives. My very first clients were married this past September, and now as a Justice of the Peace, I hope to be able to perform ceremonies like theirs at many more nontraditional weddings!
Truly, my clients and community make me prouder than any other accomplishment, because they are out there doing the hard work and asking for help when they need it most. As we like to say, it may be the hardest thing we ever do, but it is always worth it.
Pricing:
- A 30-minute phone consultation (book in @ drjennelle.com/schedule) – FREE
- A 60-minute one-time session – $100
- Unlimited messaging – $100/month
- Unlimited messaging + 1 60-minute one-time session – $250/month
Contact Info:
- Website: drjennelle.com
- Phone: 781-754-4111
- Email: jennelle@drjennelle.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/drjennelle
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/drjennelle
- Other: www.bigchangeofheart.com
Image Credit:
Studio K Photography (two wedding pictures)
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
