Meet Jennifer Nassar Dohr | Founder, Authentic Voice

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Nassar Dohr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what makes you happy? Why?

Lots of things make me happy–latte with steamed oat milk, seeing people smile again, playing with my two rescue pups, reading poetry, baking pie, potting succulents, and laughing with my husband and two grown children. But my deepest fulfillment comes from helping people uncover their authentic voice. I work with those who cannot wait another minute to cast off the painful “fit in and be accepted voice” and, instead, live from a place of healthy, healing authenticity. Teaching myself this process and sharing it with others is my life’s work.

What should our readers know about your business?

Clients who reach out to me are generally in their middle years and have arrived at a pivot point—personally, professionally, or both. They are ready to examine the stories where their authenticity resides. And they’re committed not to just thinking about those stories, but to picking up a pen and writing them down through the journaling methodology that forms the heart of Authentic Voice: we move the pen automatically in order to make the subconscious conscious, in order to access the answers that lie within. The results—a profound clarity of self, creativity, confidence, and resilience—are astounding, every time.

What sets my method apart is my skill, honed though twenty-seven years as an English teacher at Harvard-Westlake School and The Archer School for Girls, in guiding people to reconnect with their whole selves by freely writing whatever needs to be written. From my retreats and workshops to my individual practice, I lead the way for people to acknowledge the fulness of their experience.

I’m often asked if Authentic Voice is therapy, and the answer is no, though it sure can be therapeutic–and journaling is frequently recommended by therapists. I’m also asked if Authentic Voice is a writing workshop, and the answer is also no, though it’s not a surprise to me when clients realize there’s a longer project in them. No one critiques the writing, and sharing is optional. Through poetry, sketching, and sensory-based prompts, we mine unexplored and often ignored moments, memories, and emotions so that we can make sense of and integrate them. We happen to be writing, but Authentic Voice is not about writing. In fact, if you’ve never written before, all the better.

What makes Authentic Voice special is the understanding that true authenticity has nothing to do with the trite advice to “just be real.” Rather, it’s a willingness to embrace the journey–in all its joy and adversity. And when you do that on the page, something magical happens. Once you see the insights that emerge, you cannot unsee them. That’s just as true for adults as for the thousands of young people I’ve had the privilege of teaching over my career.

Earning trust is one of the things I’m most proud of; it’s the foundation of our relationship. I ask my clients to open up, to access their inner knowledge, and that takes vulnerability. In fact, showing up can be the hardest part. But once we begin, the most profound, lasting transformation occurs. It’s a beautiful unfolding that I get to be a part of, over and over.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I feel most calm and centered in nature, so I’m always the first to suggest a hike. One of my favorite places is Topanga State Park, where there are miles of stunning trails with incredible views of the ocean. And I would time our visit to catch an outdoor performance at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon—I highly recommend a pre-show picnic dinner in their garden before heading into the amphitheater, where your picnic blanket doubles to keep you cozy after sunset.

But I also love the urban side of the City of Angels, so I’d definitely suggest getting lost among the endless stacks at The Last Bookstore downtown (don’t forget to peruse the funky shops on the second floor) followed by a shopping and dining at Grand Central Market (I’m partial to Sarita’s Pupuseria, but every spot is terrific). Stop in at Long’s Family Pastries in Chinatown for a box of their incredible Sesame Balls, right out of the oven. There’s just so much to love about downtown: Walt Disney Concert Hall, MOCA, Little Tokyo, The Music Center, and on and on.

I would suggest another day in Los Feliz perusing Skylight Books (check their website for author readings) followed by lunch at Il Capriccio, one of the first restaurants my husband and I loved when we moved to Los Angeles from Boston thirty years ago. From there, you’re minutes away from the Griffith Observatory, and if it’s summertime I’m always up for a classic tragedy by the talented Independent Shakespeare Company in Griffith Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my loving family and friends who have supported me from the minute I first imagined Authentic Voice one year ago. From beta tests out of my home in Sherman Oaks to answering my relentless questions about striking out on my own, I cannot imagine where I’d be without my extended Los Angeles community.

Website: www.authenticvoicenow.com

Instagram: authenticvoiceus

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdohr/

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

Image Credits
David Palmer, Stuart Radford