Jess Jackson, Licensed Massage Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Safe Sound Protocol facilitator, in a somatic session

Hey, I’m Jess (she/they)!

I’m a licensed massage therapist, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, SSP provider and trauma-informed educator and mentor for healers. I draw from my lived experience as a neurodivergent survivor and years of trauma-informed study and practice. I’m a forever student of the nervous system, neuroscience, healing justice and somatics.

I love getting nerdy about the nervous system, and it’s super important to me to hold and co-create a trauma-informed space whether I’m with students or clients.

I hope you will feel held here.

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I am based in Midcoast Maine on Wabanaki land and work virtually with clients across the globe

I’ve been honored to work with

107 TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINEES ❁ 189 SELF-PACED STUDENTS ❁ HUNDREDS OF SOMATIC CLIENTS

107 TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINEES ❁ 189 SELF-PACED STUDENTS ❁ HUNDREDS OF SOMATIC CLIENTS

I strive to hold trauma-informed space for all beings and bodies, especially neurodivergent and queer folks, chronic pain spoonies, folks who feel left out of many mainstream healing spaces, and folks who have been through developmental, systemic and sexual trauma.

This also includes healing practitioners who didn’t feel safe to be themselves in schools or trainings that were dogmatic, “guru”-style, and definitely not intersectional, trauma-informed or accountable. We deserve and deserved better.

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Only clients and students can decide if a space is trauma-informed and if a practitioner is their cup of tea. But it might help you to know that some of my lived experiences include neurodivergence, complex trauma, sexual violence, chronic pain, and surviving via dissociation (and then surviving through thawing out and feeling aaaaall the feelings).

I’m a white neuroqueer femme and I know I can’t promise you a safe space, but I do my best to be present, client-centered, human and accountable. No to spiritual bypassing, yes to impact over intent, and a big yes to following your perfect pace and not shaming the ways you’ve survived all the hard things.

  • “I have been a facilitator for years but it wasn’t until recently that I realized some of the terminology and the ways I was approaching things were getting under my own skin. If my job is to provide a safe and supportive space for others I knew I had to educate myself. I was absolutely dumbfounded at how simple and transformative the practices within the program were.”

    Sara, Breathworker & Trauma Informed Student

  • "Jess embodies trauma-informed practice. Her approach exemplifies and amplifies being cared for within a community. The spaciousness and genuine invitation to show up as you are feels like a rare offering in today's world. It is telling, and a breath of fresh air, that Jess's embodiment of care provision, rooted in a trauma-informed ethos, is just as present in follow-up (behind- the-scenes so to speak) as it is within the groups."

    Marla, SSP Group Participant

  • "The SSP experience has been tender and open; a gentle space to land each week and spend intentional time tending to my nervous system. I relax and my breath deepens as I arrive into this unique space with an open invitation to find the experience I need that day with the music and the group, but no expectation to do so in a specific way."

    SSP Client

  • "My session with Jess was such a beautiful catalyst to further healing within myself: she gently supported me in realizing that part of being a trauma-informed massage therapist is creating the conditions where I, too, can feel safer and more present. This was just one of several lightbulb moments in our consultation, which really helped me get clarity on how I want to grow in my trauma-informed practices."

    Mel Meder, Massage Therapist

  • “Jess is an incredibly kind and skilled facilitator who makes their clients feel seen and safe throughout the process. If you get the chance to work with them, don't hesitate.”

    SSP Client

  • “Part of what I loved about the SSP was Jess’s invitation to show up exactly as we were. Just before SSP began, I experienced some trauma in a group setting and felt hesitant about the group dynamic of this process. I was able to show up completely nonverbal and in tears the first day, and felt warmth and welcomed in this experience."

    SSP Client, 1 of 2

  • "As the weeks progressed, I was able to connect outward more to other members of the group as my nervous system allowed, and even initiated conversations and cracked some jokes! The SSP was healing on multiple levels for me, and this group dynamic was just one slice of the pie.”

    SSP Client, 2/2

  • “Jess clearly possesses a nuanced understanding of how the subtle/energetic and physical body holds and expresses trauma wounds. She is a gifted facilitator.” 

    Meg, Life Coach

  • “I've already noticed that the way that I'm speaking with and writing to clients is indeed starting to shift for the better. And I feel good knowing that I have a solid toolkit for this work that I can continue to use as I grow my practice.”

    Olivia LaBarre, Animal Communicator & Reiki Practitioner

  • “The guide is beautifully presented, easy to follow and has helped me personally and in my role as a youth worker. It has helped me to recognize thoughts and feelings on a much deeper level.”

    Amanda T. on the Spiritual Bypassing Guide, It’s Not All Good

  • “It has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of spiritual bypassing and how to hold a safer container of space for others in my work.”

    Samantha G.

Jess Jackson, Licensed Massage Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Safe Sound Protocol facilitator, smiling in nature

I joke with clients and students that I have two settings: massage-therapist-soft, and nerdy-passionate when I’m teaching. But there’s a third setting lately, and it’s joyful.

Laughter is medicine belongs on a throw pillow at TJ Maxx, but I do want you to know that when you think about working with me, it’s not all rose quartz and fake sheepskin throws.

Holding tender space matters to me. But I also want you to feel comfy sharing about the reality TV you’ve been watching, to show up in your regular clothes from your regular house. And you can talk about taking meds or drinking soda pop and I won’t pass out or clutch my selenite.

Not just because I’m an excellent healer with a regulated nervous system (most of the time—wink), but because just like you, I’m a regular human.

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PERSONAL & COLLECTIVE HEALING

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POWER TO THE OPPRESSED

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UNSHAMING SURVIVAL

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NO SPIRITUAL BYPASSING

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NEURODIVERGENT NERVOUS SYSTEMS ARE BRILLIANT

❁ PERSONAL & COLLECTIVE HEALING ❁ POWER TO THE OPPRESSED ❁ UNSHAMING SURVIVAL ❁ NO SPIRITUAL BYPASSING ❁ NEURODIVERGENT NERVOUS SYSTEMS ARE BRILLIANT

Your body has a story to tell. Your nervous system does, too.

It can be scary to slow down, and it’s not always as easy as “feeling your feelings” or making contact with your body

But with relative safety, the pace that the slowest part of your nervous system is asking for, and lots of compassion, befriending your nervous system just might be possible.

If you feel like you might want to be partners in healing with me, yay! Right now the best way to work together is in an SSP Group! The next one begins April 8th.

I also have a little shop of healing gems and resources.

I’m rooting for you and your healing!

Want to feel me out first? Book a free connection call.

TRAUMA INFORMED EXPERIENCE

My lived experiences have readied me to do this work, and I am a forever student of trauma informed approaches, somatic processing, and bodywork. I value quality over quantity so that I can embody and integrate my learning.

I strive to learn from folks with shared values who don’t bypass systemic trauma and marginalized experiences and/or appropriate healing modalities from other cultures and peoples (to name a few considerations among many). Of course no trainer or training is perfect. I hold every practice with wonder and a critical eye.

Here are a few of my learning experiences that shape my practice.

  • 15+ years in trauma-informed social services

  • Training, facilitation & 1-1 mentorship for early childhood educators and care providers

  • Licensed Massage Therapist, state of Maine on Wabanaki land

  • Massage Therapist | Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute | 750+ hours | 2017

  • Trauma Touch Therapy| Colorado School of Healing Arts | 50 hours | 2018

  • The Trans Body on the Table | Santa Fe School of Massage | 8 hours | 2019

  • Relational Bodywork & Somatic Education Trauma Practitioner | 48 hours | 2019

  • Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy | 50 hours | 2018 - 2019

  • Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy Certification | Embody Lab | 60 hours | 2021

  • WEV Small Business Intensive Training |10 weeks | 2011

  • ReBloom Foundations Training |Rachael Maddox |16 hours | 2022

  • Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Certification Training | Unyte ILS | SSP Provider, 2023

  • Safe and Sound Protocol Practitioner Group| Paula Scatoloni, SEP, SSP | 2023

  • Somatic Mentorship Circle with Sage Hayes | Embodied Liberation | 9 hours | 2024

  • Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes Training | Maggie Kline, LMFT | 12 hours | 2024

  • Rest & Restore Protocol (RRP) Certification Training with Unyte | 2025

  • Become Embodied | Ariel Giarretto, LMFT, SEP | 2025

  • Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) | SEI | 200+ hours | 2023–2025

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Healing and Helping in a Wounded World

Real talk on somatics and nervous system healing for neurodivergent bodies, brains and business owners.

Weekly newsletters with somatic support and trauma-informed business guidance that won’t ever tell you to just take a deep breath or ChArGe YoUr WoRtH.