Burns Virtual Psychological Solutions: Healing Minds, Empowering Hearts – Meet Dr. Jazmin Burns

Hello, I'm Dr. Jazmin Burns, a licensed psychologist. I’m a native of Sacramento, California and now live in San Antonio, Texas. I earned my Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English with an emphasis in Literature, Criticism, and Theory, as well as obtained a minor in Psychology in 2013. In 2015, I started my graduate program at Alliant International University in Sacramento, where I obtained my Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Clinical Psychology in 2017 and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree in 2019. I have experience working with individuals of all ages with a variety of diagnoses in private practice, as well as clinics, hospitals, and community-based settings. I have a passion for increasing access to care for children and families, which is why I became licensed under PSYPACT. With this license, I’ve been able to help individuals across the country who may not have access to resources and providers in their state.

I also enjoy empowering individuals to advocate for themselves. I take time to provide families with psychoeducation regarding diagnoses, school rights, and resources so they can feel more confident and competent in supporting their children and themselves. I’m also a co-facilitator of the Sankofa Family Support Network (which is sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities [CEDD]), a free parent support group for families raising Black children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. From 2020-2022, I served as California’s Children’s Mental Health Champion, a program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). As a Champion, I worked to develop state-specific work plans to implement effective strategies for mental health promotion, prevention supports, and the creation of networks (e.g., school, healthcare, and community) to promote better inter- and intra-system connections. My journey in the field of psychology has been both fulfilling and rewarding. I’m excited because I was recently named a CREA Global Awards honoree for my work in the field of psychology, which was a huge honor!

When I'm not helping patients, I love spending time with my husband and (almost) two-year-old son. I enjoy playing video games, cooking, eating, traveling, singing, and sleeping. Before becoming a mom, I acted in community plays. Maybe one day I’ll be able to get back into that.

Jazmin Burns, Licensed Psychologist

Inspiration for Burns Virtual Psychological Solutions.

The inspiration to establish Burns Virtual Psychological Solutions as a virtual private practice came from a desire to break down barriers and reach individuals who may face obstacles in accessing traditional mental health services. I wanted to offer a convenient and accessible platform for people seeking support and guidance in their mental health journey. The potential to connect with patients from various backgrounds and locations through an online platform motivated me to start this venture. Additionally, I wanted this to be a virtual place where families could experience one-stop shopping for their children and even themselves. The services my team and I offer extend from birth to older adulthood.

Overview of mental health services:

We offer a comprehensive range of mental and behavioral health services at Burns Virtual Psychological Solutions. These include psychological evaluations (including autism and ADHD evaluations), speech-language services, immigration and naturalization evaluations, brain mapping, parent coaching, individual and group therapy, social skills support, yoga, postnatal services, and even job support services. We even offer services to other mental health providers, such as case consultations and report writing support. Currently, our most popular services are adult autism evaluations and immigration and naturalization evaluations. We write comprehensive reports and offer feedback sessions to ensure that our patients fully understand the evaluation results. Additionally, we provide services such as stress management, anxiety and depression treatment, trauma counseling, and support for life transitions. Our approach is holistic and client-centered, and we tailor our interventions to meet the unique needs of each individual.

Target clientele and tailored offerings:

Our services are designed to cater to a diverse clientele. We partner with pediatricians, law firms, community mental health centers, and psychiatrists to provide psychological evaluations and support services. We work with individuals of all ages and all backgrounds. Whether someone is dealing with mental health challenges, seeking personal growth, or navigating relationship issues, our interventions are personalized to meet their specific needs. We strive to create a safe and supportive space where our patients feel understood and empowered to make positive changes in their lives. Additionally, we work with a large population of neurodiverse individuals. My team and I are neuro-affirming meaning we celebrate people’s brain style differences. This is another way we’ve been able to create a safe and validating space for those seeking support.

Success stories and testimonials:

We have received heartwarming testimonials from many patients who have benefited from our services. They have reported improved coping skills, enhanced self-awareness, and strengthened relationships. Some patients have expressed how therapy has helped them gain insights into their patterns of thinking and behavior, leading to a greater sense of well-being and overall life satisfaction. Additionally, we have received positive news from immigration attorneys about how our report helped their client receive asylum in the U.S. and how our supplemental letters on N-648 evaluations have helped clients achieve naturalization in the U.S.

Future plans and initiatives:

Looking ahead, I hope to continue to grow my private practice, hire more clinicians, expand our reach, and provide even more specialized services. We have already started partnerships with agencies in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, and continue to explore partnerships with organizations nationwide that share our vision of promoting mental health awareness and reducing the stigma associated with neurodivergence and seeking help. Additionally, we plan to develop online workshops, classes, and resources to educate the community about various mental health topics, as well as neurodivergence. We’re also planning to get trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to provide even more behavioral interventions to families virtually and improve parent-child relationships.

Greatest career achievement:

My greatest career achievement so far has been starting my private practice. It’s only two years old but it’s amazing how quickly it has grown! I started it during a crazy transition in my life. I had just moved to San Antonio with my husband, my then two-month-old son, and my cat. I had also just begun a new full-time job starting a psychology department for an agency. I look back and think, “What was I thinking?!” but I knew in my heart it was going to work out. I’m very spiritual and knew God was looking out for me and would help me grow the practice. My husband, family, and friends were also huge supports for me. I love what I’ve built so far and I’m so very proud of my team, as well as the patients we have seen thus far. Seeking help and answers can be a scary step in one’s journey to heal but everyone we have worked with so far has been brave in sharing their stories and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback on how we’ve helped change their lives. I look forward to seeing Burns Virtual Psychological Solutions grow so we can help even more people.

Pivotal moment:

It’s hard to pinpoint a single pivotal moment. My desire to start my private practice honestly stemmed from getting frustrated working within different systems. As I stated earlier, I’ve worked in hospitals, research facilities, community mental health centers, etc. and while I learned a great deal and worked with amazing people, I realized there was always some systemic, bureaucratic thing that would slow down progress causing families to have to wait way longer than they should to get help. Even something as simple as getting a document translated into another language would sometimes take months! I knew that by being in private practice, I would be able to support patients more easily without the hassle of working in these systems. And now we’re able to partner with agencies or they can refer patients to us at Burns Virtual Psychological Solutions, which is exciting, and I feel like we’ve been able to speed up the process for families to get help sooner. At the end of the day, it’s a team effort!

If people would like to learn more about me, my team, and my practice, they can visit here. Additionally, if people are interested in Sankofa, they can visit here.

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