Meet Jaena Abarzua | Founder, CEO and Clinical Therapist

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

Hi Jaena, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Our country is experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis, in fact, a recent CNN/FRR poll found that “90% of US adults say the United States is experiencing a mental health crisis”. This crisis is affecting everyone: children, teens, adults, couples, families, etc. On top of that, many states are experiencing a shortage of mental health providers. There is an increase in the demand for mental health services due to external influencing factors such as COVID, political divisiveness, inflation, social media, loneliness, climate concerns, difficulty finding jobs and an overall sense of disillusionment. There is a huge need that is not being met.

Sea Glass Mental Health is a brand new online mental health company that provides therapy services to residents of AZ. We have heard of countless reports of individuals in need of treatment who cannot find a provider or who are put on a waitlist for months before being able to see a therapist. We are offering same-week appointments with our experienced providers as well as offer various session times for convenience, such as early mornings and evenings. Our platform is Telehealth-only so that we are able to offer services to all residents of AZ, regardless of their physical location. We have also found that most of our clients prefer Telehealth so that they are able to save time, save gas and many of our clients report prefer having their therapy from the comfort of their own home. We actively work to reduce the stigma around mental illness and help people to access the help they need.

Sea Glass Mental Health also prioritizes the mental health of its’ providers so that they are able to maintain a healthy work/home life balance, reduce chances of burnout and create a work culture that fosters sustainability and fulfillment. If we are able to meet the needs of our providers, they will then be able to continue to meet the needs of their clients for many years to come.

What should our readers know about your business?
Sea Glass Mental Health is a woman-owned mental health company that offers online therapy services to AZ residents. We currently provider services for teens and adults and plan to expand our services to offer couples and family counseling by next year. Mental health providers are in high demand and short supply these days so we pride ourselves on offering same-week scheduling and extended hours for convenience (6am-8pm). Our therapists are trained in evidenced-based modalities such as CBT, ACT, EMDR and mindfulness to deliver the most effective treatment and treatment results.

Sea Glass Mental Health is also proud to maintain an innovative and mindful business structure. We are different from small practices because we offer our providers salaries, benefits, 5 weeks of PTO, flexible scheduling, ability to work from home, continued education opportunities and a positive and involved work culture. Many small practices hire on therapists as independent contractors so they only get paid for the clients that they see and many practices do not offer anything in the way of benefits. We are also different from the large mental health companies, such as MindPath, Talk Space and BetterHelp because we are not a “churn and burn” model. Our model prioritizes the needs and wellbeing of our providers so that they are able to provide the best treatment possible and have a sustainable career in the mental health field. A recent study found that: “By looking over 5,979 psychotherapists resumes, we figured out that the average psychotherapist enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years.” (https://www.zippia.com/psychotherapist-jobs/demographics/). We plan to change this.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Arizona is an amazing place to vacation for a week! Despite what many people may think, it is a diverse state with a lot to offer. Sedona is a must-see destination; we would start the day off with the beautiful scenic drive, go for a hike (maybe West Fork Trail or Devils’s Bridge) and would grab lunch and go shopping at Tlaquepaque. We would spend another day at the Joya Spa at the Omni Scottsdale Resort at Montelucia and end the evening listening to live music on the grounds and overlooking Camelback Mountain. Of course, shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall would be on the itinerary along with some of my favorite restaurants such as Cibo, Diego Pops, The Gladly, 2 Hippies Beach House and Spinatos. Visiting the art galleries in Old Town Scottsdale would also be a must-do. If we had time, I would take my guest to Bearizona then to the Grand Canyon. If they are “outdoorsy” we would then camp at “Under Canvas” and make s’mores under the open and clear AZ night sky.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give a shoutout to the book “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. This has been, by far, the most inspirational and influential book that I have read (an extra shoutout to my brother Jake for the recommendation). I read this book during a transitional period in my life and I pulled many lessons from it that have stuck with me ever since. I was inspired to take risks (which does Not come naturally to me), think outside the box, and to create my own path. I also began to realize that trusting in myself and trusting in the Universe/God/Spirit (whatever you want to call it) is the first step to freedom and success. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” If you haven’t already read the book, I suggest doing so. It is applicable for everyone, regardless of their path.

I also want to give a shoutout to my husband, Trevor. He is my rock, my cheerleader and my visionary. He shares in my enthusiasm and excitement during my good days and never fails to listen and encourage me during my hard days. I would not want to embark upon this journey without him by my side.

Website: www.seaglassmentalhealth.com

Instagram: @seaglassmentalhealth

Linkedin: Sea Glass Mental Health