Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Gordon.
Hi Jason, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always wanted to be a helpful and positive person in people’s lives. What most people didn’t know during my time growing up in Florida was my sexuality. I grew up in N.W. Florida, The Bible Belt! I was a radio DJ for a while, and the format was Christian…it was there that the audience not only wanted to hear songs, but they wanted company.
Every night, I would receive multiple phone calls requesting songs, but what stood out to me at that time was that people were lonely, people were in need, and people needed someone they could talk with. I loved broadcasting, but most importantly, I loved being there for others. I hated to leave that job, but one evening while on shift I said a bad word… I said “damn” live on the air. I knew from that point on, I was toast. I decided to resign that night because the phone blew up after I said that dirty word. It was then that I decided to join the Navy. The Navy was my ticket out of that area, and I will always be grateful that the Navy did that for me.
After serving in the Navy, I went back to school to study mental health. The Air Force paid for my graduate school, and I served almost nine years. I worked in an outpatient mental health clinic and I assessed, diagnosed and treated mental health disorders in New Mexico, Guam, Korea and here in California. I am actively seeing patients virtually and have a thriving private practice. It was during the beginning of Covid-19 that I realized that the mental health and the wellbeing of others were going to suddenly take a nose dive in the lives of everyone impacted by the pandemic.
Even before the pandemic, people lacked getting the services they needed or deserved for various reasons. So, I decided to create a podcast called Mood Food. The podcast is designed to provide healthy coping skills to teach people how to cope with negative situations, people or things that happen in life. We have been on the air for over a year, and we have almost 50 episodes. I say we, because I asked my husband to join me…he’s more interesting than I am. We broadcast all over the world, and have thousands of downloads. We love what we do because people respond to positivity…they need hope, they need encouragement. That is our purpose, our mission and our desire that what we record is helpful.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh my…being diverse in The Bible Belt was no picnic. The fear of being beat up, ridiculed, and judged was reality and happened daily. When I came out, I felt like I was in front of a firing squad. What I didn’t realize, is when I joined, I had to really keep “being gay” quiet. The law during that time was Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). Thank God there is not more of that law and while serving at my first Air Force base, I met my beautiful husband. His name is Othell. We met at Chilies in El Paso…I was late because of a road closure. The funny thing is he thought I was making it up to avoid meeting him. I finally made it to Chilies, and we got married not too long after meeting. It really was love at first sight. He was in the Army at the time and I was stationed about an hour away.
One day, I got notified that I was going to Guam. My husband Othell and I cried because we were going to be separated. The next week a miracle happened, he received orders to Korea. Korea is only a four hour flight from Guam. We were able to see each other, and finally, I was able to be stationed with him before he retired after serving in the Army for over 20 years.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a board certified mental health provider. I have over seven years of experience. I provide mental health therapy… psychotherapy to diverse populations, and have experience in working with individuals with PTSD, anxiety depression, substance-abuse, and marital issues. You name it, I’ve seen it! I love working with patients, and I am proud of all of them. The patients I have worked with thus far have been and continue to be very motivated and dedicated to getting better! They realize that what life has thrown at them has been very difficult especially when they are alone. Patients appreciate having someone come alongside them to help them process and work through whatever has negatively impacted them in a safe and supportive environment…that’s what I’m most proud of is that I offer that environment.
I want patients to know that no one is perfect, and that we all go through things, but what’s most important about going through things, is having positive people to help us get through the things that we experience in life. Don’t ignore it, address it. I think what sets me apart from others, is that I do have a lot of life experience. I’ve had multiple careers, I’ve had multiple interactions with diverse populations, and not all of the careers and populations have been very supportive, loving and accepting. What I feel is most important is being present with patients, being supportive towards patients in a manner that is empowering and uplifting, but also builds off of their strengths and their spiritual beliefs.
I am not here to be in competition with anyone, I am very humble, and I’m very grateful to be where I am today. That’s what sets me apart…I embrace humility. I am not here to tell people what to do because they come from different backgrounds, they come from different lifestyles, and they come from different life experiences, families, cultures …everything. I’m only here to help and to provide positive support to encourage them that they are going to make it, and not only are they going to be able to make it, but they will make it real good.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
The love my granny gave me. She was always my number one fan. She raised me because my dad was a drug abuser and alcoholic and was never around. My biological mom had a career of her own, and decided to follow that. My granny always supported me in all that I did. She was always my guardian angel before she ever passed away. I remember her always saying the right things at the right moments, and I remember her always being supportive in so many ways even when I felt defeated, deflated and sad. She was an amazing cook, and I learned how to make biscuits from her, and I still make them to this day.
Pricing:
- 90 min initial 135.00
- 60 min follow-up 95.00
- 50 min follow-up 85.00
Contact Info:
- Email: jdgordon@alumni.usc.edu
- Website: https://meetmonarch.com/therapist/jason-d-gordon-lcsw-board-certified-la-mesa-ca
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moodfoodpodcast/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Mood-Food-Podcast/100048287655810/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCzgQbBNhpF547psVDsKTjag
