The Active Experience 2024: Dr. Jaz - Healing Through Creativity and Compassion

In a world often cluttered with roles and titles, Dr. Jaz stands out as a multifaceted gem, seamlessly blending the roles of therapist, nutritionist, author, professor, public speaker, poet, and stage performer into a captivating mosaic of creativity and healing. Beyond the labels, she is an artist at heart, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of artistic expression that surrounds her. With a contagious laughter reminiscent of a hearty symphony and a humor that dances at the crossroads of The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dr. Jaz brings a unique blend of warmth and wit to her endeavors. Yet, beneath the surface of levity lies a profound conviction—that each individual possesses within them the potential for a life brimming with peace and joy. Dr. Jaz's journey is one of understanding and empathy, recognizing the hurdles posed by societal norms and past traumas on the path to personal fulfillment. It is her unwavering mission to guide others in silencing the cacophony of damaging messages and nurturing the scars of trauma, paving the way for them to reclaim their lives with resilience and grace. Join Delivery Rank as we delve into the extraordinary world of Dr. Jaz, where creativity meets compassion in a symphony of healing and hope.

Can you elaborate on how your background as both a therapist and holistic nutritionist informs your approach to client care at The Active Experience®?

As a board-certified nutritionist who happens to also be a therapist, it’s nearly impossible for me not to view healing through a holistic and integrative lens. When I’m providing patient care, as a therapist or as a nutritionist, my approach is always rooted in full-body healing. By that I mean that regardless of the patient’s primary concern, depression, anxiety, distress related to chronic illness, weight loss, insomnia, or skin challenges, I am always considering the roles that culture, nutrition, trauma, and mental wellbeing may have played in the development and maintenance of the patient’s primary concerns. No presenting concern is singular in nature; they are layered and complex. Every patient’s treatment plan should be equally complex, and equally dynamic. That’s what I aim to do at The Active Experience®. I aim to approach every presenting concern from a holistic stance, and I aim to tailor treatment plans that incorporate multiple aspects of health and wellness.

As the CEO of Healing, Hope & Love, what inspired you to establish this nonprofit, and how does it complement the mission of The Active Experience®?

Healing, Hope & Love (HHL) began as a passion project. Though I always planned to open a nonprofit, I assumed that the organization would be focused on providing aid to women and children in some way. HHL was born in 2016 when I returned to Los Angeles after living in New York for three years. Upon my return, I noticed encampments of unhoused individuals on sidewalks and streets where there were none just three years prior. It was really astounding, and I couldn’t, for the life of me, understand what had happened in the three short years that I’d been away. A friend and I agreed to make about 35 sandwiches to be hand-delivered with bottles of water to unhoused persons living in Skid Row. As we left, we both said, “That wasn’t enough,” and “We need to do this again.” In that moment, Food For Friends was born. Our second program, Freedom Kids, was motivated by the 22 Push-up Challenge. As opposed to doing push-ups, I spent a week searching for a child who had lost a parent in the military. I found two, received permission from the surviving parent to mail them care packages of school supplies, and that was the beginning of Freedom Kids. It made sense to find a home for these two service programs, and founding a nonprofit made sense. I’m so proud of the work that HHL has done over the past seven years. It really blows my mind.

Being actively engaged in professional organizations, how do you stay updated with the latest advancements and best practices in mental health and nutrition?

That’s really one of the beauties of professional organizations. They keep their fingers on the pulse of what’s happening in their respective industries and disseminate that information to their members. Holding leadership positions in these organizations, teaching at the university level, and managing my own research lab each aid in helping me stay on top of current issues and practices in my disciplines.

How do you integrate scientific research into your holistic approach to healing and growth plans for clients?

Being grounded in research is a must. The definition of evidence-based practice is the integration of relevant research, sound clinical judgment, and a patient’s cultural preferences. A provider cannot claim to be providing evidence-based care if they are not bringing all three elements into their work. For me, research is the place to start. It gives insight into what has worked for others who have similar challenges that a patient is struggling with. Unfortunately, rarely is my ‘exact’ patient represented in the research. The person sitting in front of me undoubtedly has a nuanced presentation that XYZ study didn’t speak on. That’s where sound clinical judgment and the client’s culture come into play. They both help to round out my treatment plans so that the plan resonates with the patient in meaningful ways.

What inspired you to write your two titles, and how do they contribute to the overall message and goals of The Active Experience®?

Oh my goodness! How much time do we have?! This is such an involved question, but I’ll do my best to give you the short versions of these stories.

My first book, “Still Standing,” is a collection of poems and essays. Most of my friends in my various poetry communities had authored books and the concept seemed so colossal to me. It was something I wanted to do, and I also didn’t know where to begin. While living in New York, I crossed paths with a poet who blatantly asked me, “What are you waiting for?” The next day I scheduled a publishing consultation and was on my way to putting the book together.

My second book, “The Golden Penny,” is a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) book for lay communities. CBT is a common form of talk therapy that has been extensively researched and proven successful for many mental health challenges. It posits that unhelpful thoughts keep people stuck, and the CBT therapeutic process helps folks restructure harmful thoughts into helpful thoughts and beliefs. “The Golden Penny” was inspired by the notion, ‘change your thoughts—change your life.”

If you would like to find out more about The Active Experience and Dr. Jaz, visit https://www.drjazrobbins.com/