Meet Jacqueline Plante

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacqueline Plante and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacqueline, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I think this is a great reflection for every business owner to consider periodically. There are a few meters that I use to determine whether to keep moving forward or not: Am I still passionate about this work? Is my reason for starting this company still relevant? If I stop doing this, what would I do next? Do I feel like I’m still challenged to grow in new ways?

I think while there have certainly been moments of frustration, and moments of entrepreneurship I don’t always enjoy, my passion for this field and supporting other therapists who are able to then go out and support their clients feels more important now than ever.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When we founded Gather & Grow OC in 2018 the hope was to have a small team of therapists to support one another in a field that can be isolating. The idea was to make specialized care in a beautiful space accessible to populations that are sometimes overlooked and relegated to community mental health support (which can be wonderful, but has its own limitations). In order to foster this, we also had to offer education and training that enhanced the skills and specialties of our team of therapists.

The biggest hurdle to all of this has been time. When the pandemic happened and other businesses were forced to shutter, we had to pivot our practice online. The need for therapy grew immensely, and we wanted to support that, which meant growth to our team, and more commitment to training. We powered through, but there was no sourdough bread baking for us.

I think what I want people to know about Gather & Grow is how much we honor the people who choose to work with us. We prioritize the therapeutic relationship in ways that sometimes goes against what others would call “good business practice” because at the end of the day we know that our reputation for offering highest quality care is going to be what sustains us long-term.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I know when people think Orange County they assume beach, but our little contingent up North has amazing things to offer! Fullerton has a great downtown with an awesome farmer’s market that I love to hit up when I can. My favorite restaurant right now is DTTN2.0 in Santa Ana. It’s hard to get a spot there, but if you can the menu is insanely good. Always rotating with the season, and just so fresh and new, you won’t find anything like it. I have twin 4 year olds, so a lot of my days are spent finding family friendly activities, and I’m a huge fan of the local libraries (Fullerton, Brea, Placentia, Yorba Linda) for reading times, summer book challenges, etc. And ok, yes, if you come all this way to visit, we will also spend a day at the beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My business partner Traci Medeiros! My built in collaborator, mentor, friend, and support.

Website: https://gatherandgrowoc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquelineplantetherapist/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-plante-0b561b68/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacquelineplantecounseling/