Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Steele.
Hi Jon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
This journey started in college when I suffered a major arm injury and heard the infamous words “Tommy John surgery.” I could barely move as it sunk in that I lost my season and my scholarship to play baseball. It kept coming as I realized I lost my team, my athletic ability, and my identity as an athlete. I look at it today, and I see grief and loss, depression, and the anxiety of a major life transition happening all at once.
I became a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) by exploring my personal journey in sports and recognizing I could help others going through some of the same experiences I did. As an MFT, my schooling opened my eyes to see the impact of childhood wounds on current issues such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. The combination of my sports background and becoming an MFT provided me a unique perspective. I gravitated towards helping athletes, professionals, and those in high-performance positions as I could relate to and use the skills I learned as a therapist.
I’ve been practicing as an MFT since 2013 and now am the owner of my Private Practice called Jon Steele Therapy. My experience includes working with anxiety, trauma, grief/loss, and addiction. I help others by focusing on personal healing and establishing a healthy routine.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been smooth, and at the same time, I wouldn’t change it as I’ve learned and grown so much through the obstacles. They started with my career transition from working with youth to pursuing my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). I didn’t have enough Psychology credits from my bachelor’s, so I took an online Psychology course where I ended up finding a job as an Academic Counselor. Working and school had their challenges, including physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion to dealing with the constant stress of assignments. After graduation came the reality of learning how to be a practicing MFT while constantly seeking hours which counted towards licensure. I can remember so much doubt, anxiety, and exhaustion in the process of obtaining 3,000 hours. It took me about 5 years before I got my license, and through it all, the journey was rich with obstacles and challenges which made it that much more rewarding in the end.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in working with athletes and professionals through issues like anxiety, grief/loss, and trauma. I like to focus on building mental fitness by establishing a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle while pursuing emotional and mental healing. My sports background as a collegiate athlete sets me apart as I’ve experienced high-pressure environments on and off the field.
What are your plans for the future?
I look forward to a combination of professional and personal goals. Professionally, I’m planning on growing my private practice and establishing more ways to help athletes and professionals find mental fitness and healing. Personally, I like training and completing triathlons, spending quality time with my partner, family, and friends, and traveling.
Contact Info:
- Website: jonsteeletherapy.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonsteelelmftsports/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-steele-169061a6/
