Life & Work with Jennifer Paweleck-Bellingrodt of Virtual practice

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Paweleck-Bellingrodt.

Hi Jennifer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After obtaining my doctorate in psychology from Baylor University in Waco, TX, my career in psychology started in the U.S. Army where I served as a military psychologist on active duty for four years. After getting out of the military, I opened a private practice right outside the main gate of Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, AZ and have been practicing ever since, now physically in the Phoenix metro area but also licensed to practice in most states in the U.S. For many years, I’ve wanted to reach more people than the seven I see per day four days a week. The 2020 pandemic actually compelled me to get moving on this, and I now have a podcast, more speaking engagements and an online training platform. I’ve also published multiple books and have three more in the queue.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I must say it’s been a pretty smooth road overall. I believe it’s because this is what God called me to do, so He’s made a way for me to do it without much ado. I mean, there have been some naysayers and some hurdles, but I stayed focused and cleared them as best I could. My biggest struggle has been overcoming my fears along the route and getting out of God’s way so that He could use me to do His work in this life.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a psychologist for over 20 years, I can honestly say that I’ve learned just as much about myself as I have about others! I’ve learned what works for me in terms of being my most authentic self as a practitioner and what patients are most likely to respond to in treatment. In my practice, it’s very important that people feel connected to the process of therapy and me as their therapist. I’ve learned that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea because of my direct, accountable approach; and that’s okay.

Professionally, I’m proud of serving thousands of people in my career so far, publishing multiple books and now being in the process of writing three more books to reach even more people. I was originally licensed in Arizona and currently have a practice in the Phoenix West Valley. Years ago, I expanded my practice to dozens of other states via a reciprocity agreement offered by PSYPACT so that I can reach beyond my local community and serve people all across the country. I also have a podcast, The Psych with a Mic, that has now reached 17 countries across 6 continents. Furthermore, I now have a training platform through which I offer online courses on mental health to people all over the world. In this life, pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional, and I now offer multiple ways for people to stop suffering and live healthier and happier lives.

I get most excited about working with people with personality disorders. These patients are often very unhappy and dissatisfied in their lives and frequently are near the point of losing hope that they can get better and live life differently. They generally have significant interpersonal issues, which means they don’t have the social support that helps guard against psychological distress. I love being able to show them that there’s a different way, that they can offset maladaptive patterns and change their cycle of thought-feeling-behavior to live a more fulfilling, less tumultuous life, regardless of how long they’ve been doing it their way or how traumatic the road was that landed them there in the first place.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I find that many people are surprised to hear two things about me: (1) that I grew up in a small farming town in Texas, partly because I don’t have an accent, and (2) that I served in the U.S. Army for four years as a psychologist before opening my private practice. It’s always interesting to see people’s reactions to these things.

Pricing:

• 55-minute intake appointment is $200
• 45-minute follow-up appointment is $175
• Speaking engagement pricing varies.
• Online training courses at www.thepsychoeducationacademy.com start under $10.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.doctorbellingrodt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepsychwithamic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jen.bellingrodt
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jennifer-paweleck-bellingrodt-psy-d-5621a3146
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shrinkthinkwithdrjen
• Other: https://thepsychoeducationacademy.com/
  • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shrink.think