I am Woman- Jessica Turner

There is a remarkably lovely street covered in sunshine, where a picturesque home is nestled behind maturing trees and is adorned with blossoms and shrubs. Inside resides a woman whose life sparkles with exciting endeavors, incredible miracles, and humbling sorrows. With all that fills her heart, she exemplifies determination to hone in on her special gifts in order to illuminate the paths of others, as well as her own.

In just one article, it would be inconceivable to note every defining moment that makes someone everything they are. Yet, what can be conveyed within these lines, is the gentle radiance one woman carries from all she has experienced.

There are oceans more to share, enough to fill a lifetime of pages. Still, these brief passages reveal much about one lovely, perspicacious woman. A woman who enjoys musical theater and concerts, eating out, bike rides, roller skating, and movie snuggles with her darling girls and husband. Love and compassion emanate from the stories she tells.

Jessica is I am Woman, and here is only a piece of her story…

“I wish there was more I could share in this short time. I would like people to be able to read more about my life and learn from my mistakes and know that they aren’t alone in what they are going through, because I’m one that has been through the same types of things. I want them to see that I am someone who has felt things they have felt. I portray myself with a lot of confidence, but I don’t always feel this way inside.” – Jessica

“Sometimes it looks like I have it all together but I don’t. But I hope I’m ok and enough to just be less than what I want to be. I’m in the process of being made into something I will be someday. I try and keep an eternal perspective of things. I’m not there yet which means there’s some ugly things to work through, and there are some hard things to work out. We’re not alone, and it’s ok to be real and weak as we continue to work through things.

‘There is so much in life that I could share. Close calls I’ve had in my life in that the Lord has protected me from. These same experiences have defined my relationship with Him. A lot of pains, disappointments, failings, that I have had to learn from. There isn’t time to share all of it. Maybe the message I need to give to people is that we are all human. I am not doing this project to share how wonderful I am. I want to get across that I’m also not so great in other ways. I don’t have a Pinterest life, my house is usually a wreck, my hair is fixed- but sometimes it’s not. I want people to know to be real, and it’s ok to not be ok. There are days we are in limbo, and it’s easy to compare what we see on the outside of what other people are portraying, but we have to remember the realness we have in our lives. Everyone has the same realness, they just might not be showing you at that moment.”

Jessica specializes in music therapy within mental health, focusing mainly on patients recovering from suicidal attempts. She utilizes music to process emotions arising from their treatments and to support their personal goals and teach coping skills. Some of her therapeutic interventions include various activities such as songwriting, hand bells, drums, meditation, vocal improvisation, and music-guided imagery. Her work spans across diverse settings such as residential care, intensive outpatient programs, day programs, and even lockdown facilities.

Jessica explains parts of a few of her processes:

“Listening to a song involves analyzing the lyrics or replacing certain lyrics with their own. This process helps me understand how they process thoughts and emotions. Music serves as a trigger, prompting us to recognize and engage with our emotions, fulfilling our need to experience and express them.

‘During guided imagery sessions with a group, we start with breathing, movement and stretching to prepare the mind and body. Participants then lie down as I play supportive music, guiding them to envision different mental landscapes. This process is intuitive, allowing me to trust where their journey needs to lead. I facilitate exploration of various symbolic places and experiences, helping them express and process their emotions. I feel like a vessel in these moments, spiritually guided to attend and connect with their needs. Participants explore sensations like the texture of grass, the colors and smells of nature, and the warmth of the sun on their faces, which deeply affects their emotional and physical states.

‘Sometimes, something as simple as a little rhythm shaker can make a big impact. Through improvisation with sound and texture, participants express themselves in profound ways. Even those initially reluctant to engage find significance, realizing their importance and the value of their voice. Starting with a small shaker, they may transition to leading the group by playing the drum, demonstrating their growing involvement and empowerment within the therapeutic setting.

‘I encourage patients to identify their gifts and to understand that experiences meant to refine us, do not define us.

‘It’s crucial they recognize their own worth and capabilities, rather than relying solely on external validation. Together, we address recurring thought patterns like circular thinking and dwelling on past regrets or future uncertainties (the ‘what ifs’). By promoting mindfulness and present-focused awareness, we work to break these cycles of suffering and foster a healthier mindset to work through life’s stressors and challenges.

‘I guide patients to uncover their own answers by asking the right questions. Through imagery exercises, some express their feelings and visions openly, facilitating deep self-reflection and understanding… I can see the light and goodness in others very easily and I wish they could see that too. I know I need to be better to turn around and practice that for myself, but truly, it’s very easy to see it in others.”

“That aloneness, awfulness, and discouragement that we feel-’I can’t overcome this,’ or ‘I’m always going to be this way,’ and mostly, ‘I’m alone’- those are all lies. We aren’t alone, we have the Savior. Every pivotal experience and moment I have had, has always pulled me back to the Savior. Understanding my relationship with Him, how real He is, and how much He loves me.

‘My approach in my therapy sessions involves teaching eternal principles, promoting self-discovery, and helping individuals reconnect with their core identity beyond their struggles. By shifting their perspective, I aim to help them see themselves in a broader light, emphasizing universal teachings without imposing specific religious doctrines.”

Musical therapy is a relatively new concept, and Jessica invests a lot of effort in educating others about its true purpose. It’s not merely about playing relaxing music. Jessica shares a glimpse into one of her sessions,

“I like to circle up the room. Everyone is seated, each with their unique backgrounds and struggles. Despite their differences, they find common ground and quickly form friendships. Building relationships in single sessions can be challenging, especially in acute settings where participants may attend only once. The group dynamic shifts constantly as people come and go, prompting me to use music immediately to assess strengths and move forward with treatment.

‘Participants face a critical choice: engage with therapy to find a way out of despair, or remain in suffering.”

Music has always been central to Jessica’s life. Introduced to its magic in her childhood home, she joined her family onto the stage at the tender age of two. She taught herself to play various instruments by ear, learning to read music only in college. Jazz became her passion and her favorite genre when her grandfather sparked her interest by playfully singing Jazz songs from the Big Band Era to her when they were together.

Currently a songwriter, Jessica debuted with Long Overdue Goodbye and continues to expand her repertoire with diverse goals aimed at reaching new audiences across different genres. Her music is available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon, boasting eight released songs and credits for creating and toplining on over thirty more.

Jessica is focused on placing her music in films and TV shows, while also undertaking a special project to compose for one-handed piano players. Her dedication shows in her special project by her meticulous efforts to craft pieces that sound as if played by two hands. She understands that consistent daily work will help her achieve her ultimate goal of completing a full piano piece book.

“By small and simple things, are great things are brought to pass. It’s a profound reminder for me because every day I have big dreams, projects, and goals I want to accomplish. The key for me has been breaking them down into small, manageable tasks. I focus on tackling a little bit each day—today a bit, tomorrow a bit more. Gradually, through these small and simple steps, I’ve been able to make progress with my music, both on my own compositions and contributing to others. Reflecting back, I’ve completed so many songs in just a year, something I never imagined possible. I usually work when my three daughters are at school or in the evenings.

‘I feel like there’s a significant purpose the Lord is preparing me for in music. There are upcoming opportunities where sound will play an even more crucial role in our lives, especially in how it affects us. Despite all I’ve studied and practiced, I believe we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of the potential music can achieve.”

“I have learned there is purpose in the challenges we go through, and part of that purpose is to share with others so we can help those that experience the same types of challenges. We learn, and we turn around and can empathize with people we wouldn’t be able to if we didn’t have the experiences to be able to understand.

‘When it comes to the ‘ups’ of life we want to put so much value on those ‘ups’ and successes and put so much light on these areas when we share with others. But I want others to know there is value in all of it. The ups and downs, the peaks and valleys, and the darkest moments can become our greatest life lessons, and greatest blessings. Those hard times can take us to places, like the refiners fire.

‘Like the refiners fire, there are these impurities we have to burn out. Impurities that are sometimes sitting inside of us – dormant. These impurities might be harming us in ways that aren’t obvious or painful enough for us to take action just yet. So we sit in the muck until something drastic happens to get our attention to give these impurities the necessary attention they need. We realize we can’t ignore it anymore and we need to tackle it. I want to encourage others to take courageous action and be compelled enough to take action…We have to be patient with ourselves in these moments because there was knowledge we didn’t have before this moment of attention.

‘But when we realize that we now have this knowledge, we should spend time deciding on what we’re going to do with it.”