Tamara R. Jackson: Where Vision Heals and Purpose Restores — The HopeFull Journey of a Trauma-Informed Healer

By Tammy Reese | Saturday, August 9, 2025 | Mind, Body, & Soul

Tamara R. Jackson doesn’t just talk about healing, she builds spaces where it can finally begin. As the founder of HopeFull Therapy and Consulting, her work blends trauma-informed clinical care, spiritual insight, and lived wisdom to help people reconnect to their voice, their power, and their purpose.

Her journey spans stages, sacred spaces, and clinical rooms — from the bold rhythm of spoken word poetry to the quiet work of holding space for survivors. Whether she’s mentoring through film, guiding a therapy session, or speaking on trauma and faith, Tamara moves with one clear commitment: to help others live with vision and walk with purpose, even in the face of pain. Her motto, “May Your Hope Be Full,” isn’t just a tagline, it’s a lived truth, one she embodies and invites others to believe is possible for them too.

Tamara, thank you for joining us. Let’s start here: What is the personal vision that guides your work, both as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and as a woman navigating life with purpose?

Tamara: Thank you for having me. The guiding vision behind my work and really, my life, is summed up in the motto of my company: “May Your Hope Be Full.”™

It’s more than a phrase; it’s a mission. I don’t want people to simply be hopeful; I want them to be full of hope. This is not mere semantics, but it’s everything. With all that we face in life — personally, collectively, spiritually — being full of hope means you’re grounded in something deeper. It means you have a reservoir to draw from: reminders of what you’ve survived, the strength you carry, and the vision of what’s still possible. That kind of hope doesn’t erase pain, but it helps make even the hardest moments bearable. It helps us keep going with purpose in season and out of season, come what may.

What does “vision and purpose” mean to you on a soul level — and how does that influence the way you show up for your clients, your advocacy, and yourself?

Tamara: When I think about vision and purpose on a soul level, it comes down to moving with intentionality, patience, and the willingness to pause — to assess and reassess as I walk toward what I’ve been called to do.

The scripture that grounds me in this is Habakkuk 2:2–3: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

That passage gives me permission to trust divine timing. It reminds me that vision doesn’t always mean speed, and purpose doesn’t always mean ease. It also teaches me to extend patience to myself and to others, which is essential when journeying with someone through healing.

I understand my role as a therapist and advocate is to be a resource — a tool that creates space for transformation, but not the source of the healing itself. That clarity keeps me grounded. It protects me from developing a savior complex and helps me stay rooted in humility, presence, and partnership with my clients as they do the brave work of becoming whole.

You’ve cultivated such a unique, trauma-informed space through HopeFull Therapy and Consulting, LLC. What was the vision behind founding this practice, and what makes it stand apart from traditional mental health care models?

Tamara: HopeFull was born out of burnout, burnout from both my pastoral work and my role as a therapist. I’ve had the blessing of walking alongside people through the ebbs and flows of life, holding space for their healing and growth. But in many of the settings where I served, faith-based and public health alike, I found that while I was creating safety and support for others, there was little regard for my own well-being as the one doing the holding.

To make it plain: I was cultivating safety, presence, and compassion for others, but there were few systems in place to pour back into me. In the church, the focus is often entirely on the needs of the congregation, with little acknowledgment of the emotional labor carried by clergy. We hear a lot about “church hurt” from the perspective of congregants, but rarely do we make space for pastors to speak about the pain they endure. I’m not for spiritualizing away pain and grief; it is a maladaptive response to trauma that does more harm than good.

Similarly, in public health, clinicians are often overloaded with caseloads. The emphasis is placed on numbers as if productivity is the only metric that matters, rather than the quality of care or actual symptom relief. That kind of pressure leads to burnout, turnover, and ultimately, fractured care for clients.

HopeFull was my response to that. I created it as a space where I could continue journeying with people through healing, but from a model that allowed me to show up whole and well. It’s a space for both clients and clergy. A space where church leaders can come and just be, without performing, producing, or spiritualizing away their challenges. And a space where I could embody what I teach: that healing, balance, and boundaries are sacred acts.

You speak and teach on powerful topics like Cultivating a Trauma-Informed Faith Community and Healing From Your Witness. How do these conversations expand the way we define trauma and healing, especially in spaces that aren’t traditionally trauma-aware?

Tamara: In terms of providing education in both sacred and secular spaces, I’ve been doing that long before I was officially called to ministry. Before I was ordained, I had the opportunity to teach a comprehensive, holistic sex education curriculum at the church I was attending, something that, at the time, felt revolutionary. I’ve always been committed to making “taboo” or traditionally off-limits topics more accessible and digestible, no matter the setting.

At one point, I partnered with the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey to establish the Sacred Safe Spaces ministry. Through that initiative, I traveled throughout the state educating churches on how to respond appropriately to domestic violence and sexual assault. This work was not just reactive; it was deeply proactive. I helped faith communities create preventative measures and prepare themselves to be sources of real support when congregants found themselves in crisis. This ministry continues today, although I no longer lead it.

When we create space for these conversations from the pulpit to the pew, we normalize them. And that normalization is powerful. It gives people the language and safety they need to say, “This is happening to me” or “This happened to someone I love.” Trauma-informed ministry expands our understanding of both trauma and healing by grounding it in truth, compassion, and the reality that wholeness isn’t just possible — it’s sacred.

In your experience, what are some of the most overlooked or misunderstood effects of childhood exposure to intimate partner violence — and how can we begin to truly support adult survivors in reclaiming their voice and power?

Tamara: This question feels so big to answer adequately. One of the most overlooked dynamics I’ve encountered is how often a child — particularly one of the opposite sex — will identify with the abusive parent. In my work, I’ve seen this most often with women who, having grown up witnessing their fathers abuse their mothers, adopted those same controlling behaviors in their relationships, regardless of whether they partnered with men or women.

When I asked why, the responses were sobering: “Women are weak and should just listen,” some said. It revealed how deeply internalized the messaging around gender, power, and worth can be when a child grows up in a home shaped by violence.

I remember a session with a queer client years ago. She was reenacting an incident with her partner, and as she acted out her aggression, she suddenly lunged toward me. I didn’t flinch — I simply held space. She paused, confused, and in a later session said, “It bothered me — who are you not to be afraid of me?” I responded, “Who are you that I should be afraid? I cannot help you if I must fear you.” That moment opened the door to deeper healing.

To truly support adult survivors, we have to go beyond surface-level interventions. It starts with unpacking and reimagining their core beliefs about relationships, safety, and power. We need to deconstruct unhealthy frameworks — especially those rooted in control — and rebuild an understanding of love that centers mutuality, respect, and accountability. This work is not easy, but it is essential if we want to guide survivors toward reclaiming their voice, their agency, and their capacity for healthy connection.

How can organizations and leaders begin creating trauma-informed work environments in meaningful and sustainable ways? What role does empathy play in leadership?

Tamara: Creating a trauma-informed work environment requires more than offering an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). While access to therapy is important, truly trauma-informed organizations embed wellness into the very fabric of their culture. This includes how policies are shaped, how supervision is conducted, and how communication flows across all levels. Leaders should be trained not just in the principles of trauma but also in the practical tools of reflective practice, emotional intelligence, and equitable decision-making.

At its core, a trauma-informed approach recognizes that most people have experienced some form of trauma. This awareness shifts how we speak to each other, how we handle conflict, and how we support our teams. It reminds us that our actions impact the collective — our coworkers, clients, and the broader communities we serve.

Empathy plays a central role in this environment. It doesn’t eliminate accountability, but it creates space for people to be seen and heard. When leaders operate with empathy, they create safety, psychological and emotional, that allows employees to bring their full selves to work. When leaders engage employees with curiosity when they notice performance issues, instead of reacting punitively fosters trust, retention, and long-term sustainability.

Your award-winning documentary The Invitation offers such a powerful look into the lives of women with autoimmune conditions. What was your vision in creating this film, and what impact has it had so far?

Tamara: The Invitation was created to be a resource, a voice, a source of encouragement, and a conversation starter for those living with autoimmune diseases, as well as for the people who love and support them. The film features women, as we make up nearly 80% of autoimmune diagnosis, and this rate is steadily climbing. While the film includes professional women from a range of backgrounds, it was especially important to me to center Black women’s stories. Too often, our voices are omitted from conversations around health, whether in media or in medical research.

In my view, the lack of inclusion in scientific studies, most of which are not tested with the composition of Black bodies or other people of color, feeds into medical bias and neglect. That bias shows up in how our pain is dismissed, how long it takes to receive a diagnosis, and the way treatment options are often misaligned with our needs. With autoimmune diseases affecting so many limbs, organs, and systems, timely diagnosis is critical.

In terms of impact, The Invitation is doing what it was designed to do: spark dialogue, build awareness, and affirm lived experience. I’m continuing to schedule screenings and talkbacks, and I’m especially excited about expanding into immersive experiences — like “dinner and a movie” events, where attendees can enjoy meals based on non-inflammatory diets. I want people to see that changing what we eat for our health doesn’t mean giving up joy, culture, or flavor.

One of your expert topics is The Gift of Gratitude and Power of Hope. How do gratitude and hope shape your everyday life — even in the face of challenges?

Tamara: Well, I’ve addressed hope earlier. Gratitude and hope are more than ideas I teach; they’re spiritual disciplines I live by. I try to celebrate every triumph, big or small, as an intentional practice of gratitude. Whether it’s a moment of peace in a chaotic day or a major breakthrough, I don’t take anything for granted. Gratitude reminds me that blessings, both mine and those of others, are not earned solely by personal effort or might, but by grace.

That practice of gratitude fertilizes the soil where hope is nourished. When life brings valleys, and it always does, I reach inward to a kind of inner archive: moments I thought I wouldn’t get through but did. That memory fuels my hope. It says, “If I made it through before, I can make it through again.”

Together, gratitude and hope keep me grounded. They remind me that while I can’t always control the storm, I may get wet, but I can choose how I show up in it, with faith, with perspective, and with a heart still open to joy.

Faith is a cornerstone in many of your teachings. How do you integrate spiritual resilience into your clinical practice in a way that honors both emotional and spiritual healing?

Tamara: I always say, “I am the healer who first needed to be healed.” For me, spiritual resilience isn’t about preaching or prescribing beliefs — it’s about helping people reconnect to a sense of meaning, purpose, and inner strength, especially after a traumatic or life-altering experience.

I see myself as a professional listener, and in listening, I offer people permission to be, to feel, and to be heard, authentically, however they show up.

To be clear, in clinical practice, faith is not something I introduce unless the client brings it into the space. To do otherwise would violate the ethical code I’m bound to as a clinician. That said, faith is always present — because it lives in me. May my actions always be the loudest sermon.

Where can our readers watch The Invitation or connect with you for therapy, consulting, or speaking opportunities? And what upcoming projects should we keep our eyes on?

Tamara: For those interested in watching The Invitation, exploring therapy, or hiring me for consulting, workshops, or speaking engagements, visit www.hopefulltherapyandconsulting.com orwww.tamararjackson.com—both will take you to the same place.

As for what’s next, I’m currently developing a series of microshorts focused on navigating emotions, brief but powerful pieces designed to inspire reflection and growth. I’m also in production on a new documentary exploring the intersection of policing and mental health crisis response, a project close to my heart and deeply relevant to the times. Stay tuned!

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Owner of Visionary Minds Public Relations and Media, Tammy Reese is an award-winning writer and journalist best known for landing major interviews with Angela Bassett, Sharon Stone, Sigourney Weaver, Laurence Fishburne, Geena Davis, Billy Porter, Morris Chestnut, Nelly, Mona Scott Young, Giancarlo Esposito, Luke Evans, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jennifer Connelly, Joseph Sikora, Meagan Good, Leon, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Phylicia Rashad, Omar Epps, Courtney Kemp, Vivica A Fox, Ryan Coogler, and so many more.

She is a proud member of ForbesBLK as well as New York Women in Film and Television.

Other articles by Tammy Reese in Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine.

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