In my last blog to you I wrote about IABA’s step towards interdisciplinary care for our families. Over the last month I’m beyond proud to say that each Behavioral Health Clinic has either a LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) or a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) leading this charge under the guidance of our fabulous Dr. Toshi Szypra. Together this team is connecting with each family to ask, “How else can we help?” As the founder of IABA I’m still in awe of my incredible team that has the capacity to both listen and create. That is after all my very favorite thing.
A Season of Too Much
As we close out January that was full of the flu and snow days that never ended, February offers the light that spring is on its way. I wish I could say that in our success in hiring the positions that will create wrap-around care, excitement abounded. In our logical minds my team and I knew we were laying the foundation for something incredible. In reality three out of four of us have young children and had lost all patience for the month. We are people serving people and were at our limit. I would love to tell you we all leaned inward, took long weekends, and came back recharged. However, we all have a bit of work-a-holic in us that created a whole lot of resistance to being overwhelmed leading to, well, crashing.
As we sat around each other I knew I hadn’t led by example. I pushed instead of allowing space for life. Yes, there is a business to run, clients to serve, services to create, and employees to supervise. Every day someone around us needs something and we want to support, empower, and create independence among both clients and employees alike. January turned into a yes month when it should have been a month of setting boundaries for ourselves; boundaries that allow us to recharge and take care of ourselves and our families so when we do show up to work we’re present.
The wonderful Brene Brown gave me this priceless little phrase, “shitty first draft.” As the founder, the way I allowed us to burn out in January because of pressure at work and home was my shitty first draft. You see, one thing that sets IABA apart is that we are not chasing a corporate ladder. Not one employee is expected to give all of themselves away to the organization to take one step up that invisible ladder. Instead, we sit beside each other and listen, and employees advance when they are excellent at their craft. That was my vision at the start of IABA and it is still my vision today. When families come to IABA to gain access to care, I want them to know that as an employer we give that same care to our staff.
A Chance to Start Anew
Overarchingly we excel at this balance though I do have to admit that “work, life balance” is a bit of a trigger phrase for me as the founder. In my 20’s, hiring also 20-somethings, this little phrase was overplayed. That being said, we are an organization of people, serving people. And we are a woman-led organization. The gift of this is not something that I take for granted. When you put women at a table together incredible things happen. As women we have the unique skill sets to see what is needed around us and the brilliance to create it. And, as women, we are still fighting uphill against the demands at home while trailblazing our careers. Like too many other women, we still get caught up in trying to do it all.
To change our trajectory for 2026 as a leadership team, I called out the way in which we were expecting too much of ourselves in January. Relief flooded the room and each of us was able to breathe and agree. We connected as people before we asked one more thing of each other at work. In that meeting I knew my team was back (and going to hopefully take some time off) as we recentered.
What I want you to know, dear reader, is that we are not immune from life. That we are moms like you, trying to do the best we can for our own children and for IABA. And that we know what it’s like to try and do it all. We also know, even when we crash, that it’s not on us to do everything. But it is most certainly on us to take care of ourselves before we take care of others. Last night I made a bone broth soup, poured a good glass of wine, and followed it with ice water at bed. As I type to you this morning I’m a step closer to being centered.
In the light of February I am hopeful to share with the families we support the message to care for themselves, too, and, where life feels overwhelming, to lean into IABA. While we might not be able to help in every aspect, we are listening, and we relate. Sometimes all the help anyone needs is to know they are not alone.
Xoxo,
Jessie Cooper
