Jackie J.

Peer Parent

Little known fact about me: I have my motorcycle license and love to ride, especially dirt bikes and quads at our family cabin up in the mountains these days.

Favorite comedy special: John Mulaney’s “Baby J” about his recovery journey.

Hailing from Doylestown, PA I’m currently living in the great NYC area. As a former crisis interventionist with a corporate background, I am passionate about writing, sharing yoga, and complementary, healing modalities to support my recovery, that of my family, and those with whom I work. I currently work as a writer, yoga and meditation teacher trainer/practitioner, and group facilitator with our beloved OPLM and the Livestrong at the Y Cancer Survivor program in Wilton, CT. Visit my website

My debut as an author is Urge Overkill: A Story of Breaking Free, a self-help book on overcoming domestic violence from my days working at a domestic violence and rape shelter.

My second is Holistic Trauma Healing: Strategies to Integrate the Body, Mind, and Spirit, exploring how Psychology/ Allopathic Medicine comes together with complementary modalities for the layperson. It is a lifeline/toolbox of practices based on expert research in both fields to connect you with your internal strength and healing abilities. Each chapter offers resources and DIY practices to explore. It is due out through Llewellyn Worldwide in August 2025, woo hoo! Author page

I am a “cause person” who is happiest when I can laugh, dance, travel, sing-a-long with my competitive a cappella choir, Harmony on the Sound and with my musician hubby, Jack. I love to connect with like-minded people, family, & friends. Dancing, travel and my dog, along with nature and with my spiritual, meditative, and yoga practices keep me grounded and uplifted.

I am grateful for OPLM & became a peer parent at its inception to be part of the change that is needed in the world. Also to find and create community support. My goal as a parent and a human is to come from a place of calm and skill an.

I treasure my adorable family. I have two beloved sons, ages 19 and 21. My older son is my motivator who spent several rounds in IOP before completing one month in Caron Treatment Center, three months at Newport East RTC, and a year at Diamond Ranch Academy. He returned home in June 2021 to his old high school for half his senior year but went on to Hazelden then graduated high school and went to Turnbridge, Plymouth House, and the Retreat. He lived for a year in Sober Living.

We consider all his recovery programs as schooling and are proud of him and his resilience in the face of these challenges. As of today, 3/18/25, he has one year and 9 months of sobriety under his belt, and his real, radiant soul is shining bright. He recently moved to Portland, OR with his girlfriend and cat and is finding his career path.

My family and I have all attended individual and family therapy, along with my sons’ individual sessions, and 12- Step work with a sponsor. He is doing one day at a time in his recovery and currently resides in sober living and attends IOP. He is exploring putting his loves making music, playing basketball.

Our younger son is an old soul now in college at Drexel University in Philadelphia for computer science. He loves working out, exploring the city and visiting his girlfriend in MS.
Both sons are adorable, super nice, sensitive, funny, love music and have their own brands of brilliance.

I have worked with hundreds of people since becoming as a certified yoga teacher in 2001 (ERYT-790, YACEP, IAYT). I share the stress reduction and lifestyle management techniques that have helped me find my internal strength and heal.

I teach ongoing classes, workshops and run retreats. I teach trauma informed yoga I have trained with the Center for Motivational Change’s Invitation to Change as a facilitator and recently earned my Somatic EMDR certificate with the Embody Lab. Next step? Parent Coaching! Oh, and I am one of the OPLM mentors.