Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Mayfield-Ashwood.
Hi Jessica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My passion for helping others began long before I became a therapist. As a teenager, I was deeply interested in understanding how people overcome challenges and improve their quality of life. That curiosity eventually led me to pursue a career in social work and mental health.
I earned my Bachelor of Social Work from Michigan State University in 2019 and my Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2020. Over the past decade, I have worked in the mental health field, including seven years providing direct therapy services.
As a Detroit native, I have always felt a strong connection to the city and its people. After purchasing a home in Detroit’s historic Rosedale Park neighborhood, I became even more committed to addressing the gaps in mental health access and reducing the stigma that still prevents many individuals and families from seeking support. I wanted to play a role in making mental health education, resources, and services more accessible within my community.
In 2020, I began working as a child and family therapist at a community mental health agency, providing services to children, adolescents, and young adults with significant emotional and behavioral health needs. While the work was incredibly meaningful, it also exposed me to the realities of burnout. That experience became a turning point in my career, teaching me the importance of boundaries, sustainable care, and practicing the same wellness principles I encourage my clients to embrace.
Seeking a healthier balance, I transitioned to a group private practice in 2023. The flexibility of private practice created space for me to pursue another passion: writing. As a therapist, I saw a need for children’s books that could help young readers and caregivers understand mental health in a way that felt approachable, relatable, and empowering.
This led to the creation of my children’s book series, “Ruby and Amethyst on Their Adventure S.T.R.E.A.K.”, which follows two siblings as they learn about emotions, mental health, and healthy coping skills. In 2024, I self-published my first book, “Amethyst Has a Worry”, which introduces children to anxiety and practical coping strategies. In 2026, I released my second book, “Ruby Loses Focus”, which explores ADHD, self-esteem, and strategies for success at home and in school. I also created an anxiety workbook for children and teens to further support emotional learning and skill development called, “A Child’s Guide For Handling Anxiety”.
In December 2024, I founded Take Flight Wellness, a behavioral health practice dedicated to helping individuals and communities thrive. Through therapy, professional development trainings, clinical supervision, wellness workshops, and community experiences, our mission is to make mental health support practical, accessible, and transformative for the people we serve.
Looking back, every chapter of my journey, from community mental health, to burnout recovery, to entrepreneurship and authorship, has reinforced the same belief: healing happens when people feel supported, informed, and empowered to grow. That belief continues to guide everything I create and every person I have the privilege of serving.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has definitely not been a smooth road, but each challenge has helped shape the professional and person I am today.
As a new therapist, I struggled with confidence and often questioned whether I was equipped to help people navigate some of life’s most difficult experiences. Like many helping professionals, I also had difficulty setting boundaries around my workload and client communication. Over time, that led to increased anxiety and burnout.
One of the most important lessons I learned during that season was that therapists need support too. Seeking my own therapy helped me better understand myself, identify my needs, and develop healthier boundaries. That experience not only improved my well-being but also made me a more empathetic and effective clinician.
Becoming an author came with its own set of challenges. Self-publishing required me to learn an entirely new industry on my own, from writing and editing to publishing, marketing, and distribution. There were many moments of trial and error, but each step taught me valuable lessons about perseverance and entrepreneurship.
Transitioning into private practice also brought unexpected financial challenges. Building a caseload took longer than I anticipated, and there were periods of uncertainty while establishing myself in a new setting. Later, starting my own practice, Take Flight Wellness, felt like a significant leap of faith. While it has been incredibly rewarding, it has also required me to wear many hats. In addition to providing therapy services, I manage marketing, administration, billing, community outreach, professional trainings, book promotion, school visits, and event participation.
Balancing these responsibilities has not always been easy, but it has taught me the importance of giving myself grace, embracing growth over perfection, and taking things one day at a time. Looking back, I realize that many of my greatest challenges have also been my greatest teachers. They have strengthened my resilience, deepened my compassion, and reinforced my commitment to helping others navigate their own journeys.
We’ve been impressed with Take Flight Wellness LLC., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Take Flight Wellness is a behavioral health practice dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities improve their emotional well-being and quality of life. We provide individual, family, and group therapy services, professional development trainings, clinical supervision for limited licensed social workers, community wellness workshops, and mental health education initiatives.
While we support clients with a variety of concerns, I am particularly passionate about helping individuals navigate anxiety, burnout, stress, trauma, and life transitions. My approach is practical, compassionate, and solution-focused. I believe therapy should not only help people process their experiences but also leave them with tangible skills and tools they can use in their everyday lives.
What sets Take Flight Wellness apart is our commitment to making mental health education accessible beyond the therapy office. In addition to providing therapy services, I am also a children’s author, speaker, and community educator. Through my books, workshops, school visits, and community partnerships, I strive to normalize conversations about mental health and provide resources that reach people wherever they are. I believe healing happens not only in individual sessions but also through education, prevention, community connection, and representation.
One of the things I am most proud of is creating a brand that reflects both professional excellence and genuine community care. Whether someone attends a workshop, reads one of my books, participates in a wellness event, or begins therapy services, my goal is for them to feel seen, supported, and empowered.
At its core, Take Flight Wellness was founded on the belief that mental health support should be approachable, practical, and accessible. I want readers to know that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that everyone deserves access to tools and support that help them thrive. Through every service, program, and resource we offer, our mission remains the same: we spread wings and heal minds.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think authenticity has been the most important factor in my success. Whether I’m working with clients, speaking in the community, or writing children’s books, I try to show up as my genuine self. People connect with honesty, and I’ve found that meaningful impact starts with authentic relationships.
I also believe perseverance is essential. My journey has included burnout, self-doubt, financial challenges, and plenty of learning curves, but each experience taught me something valuable. I’ve learned that success isn’t about having all the answers but it’s about staying committed to your purpose, being willing to grow, and continuing to move forward even when the path isn’t clear.
Pricing:
- Accept Most Insurances including Medicaid
- Books range from $12-18
- Therapy workshops range from $0-500
- Sliding Scale available for therapy
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.takeflightwellnessllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeflightwellness?igsh=MXVzN3M2em1kNTM0eg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://tr.ee/2SEomwmzYb
- LinkedIn: https://tr.ee/zzvC8I2Cqi
- Other: https://linktr.ee/jessicamayfieldashwood?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=434ed53e-b687-4c2e-b284-8a6804fc5a6b
