The Well Narrated Life – Exclusive Interview With Trauma Therapist Ebonie-Marché Jones
Updated: Aug 21, 2024
Ebonie-Marché is a licensed, New York-based therapist. She works with adult survivors navigating sexual assault and challenging family dynamics. She grew up on the Caribbean Island of Antigua before permanently immigrating to the United States. Living in these two countries revealed similarities in how the African Diaspora deals with sexual trauma and the impact of transgenerational trauma across cultures. Recognizing these truths informed her perspective about challenging family dynamics, secrecy and silence around abuse, and complex trauma within family systems.
She is passionate about growing community and creating avenues for peer support. She operates a private practice and helps individuals move towards post-traumatic growth through conversation, movement, mindfulness, and body awareness. She has a master's degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College and a master’s degree in Mental Health and Wellness Counseling from New York University. Her goal is to help survivors feel empowered to take up space, be heard, and be fearless in reclaiming bodily autonomy.
Ebonie-Marché Jones, Psychotherapist and Founder
What is your business name, and how do you help individuals?
Ebonie-Marché, LLC is a private psychotherapy practice that helps individuals move towards a more empowered and embodied way of being. I guide individuals toward reclaiming their stories, trusting themselves, and embracing safety and stillness. Mindfulness and movement play an integral role in my practice. Strengthening the mind-body connection helps to associate the body with safety. Individuals learn to disrupt thought and behavioral patterns that impact the healing process.
What kind of audience do you target your business towards?
The individuals I work with are self-aware, self-directed, and have a general idea of challenges, strengths, and goals. I work with adults navigating past traumatic experiences specifically related to sexual violence, consent, and challenging family dynamics. The individuals I work with seek more clarity, different tools, and guidance toward post-traumatic growth. They also want to discover who they are without survival and protective mechanisms.
What is the link between sexual assault and family dynamics?
Traumatic events shatter safety and connection. What individuals need during this time is community. That need for a community can be met through different sources. However, the level of familial support affects the healing process. Processing a traumatic event alone is a different experience compared to processing with support or as a collective. Often, the expectation of silence and lack of support prevents individuals from receiving the care they deserve and need.
How do you create balance in your life?
I have strict boundaries around work. Otherwise, every space becomes a workplace, which results in never-ending workdays. I have a morning and evening routine. I schedule myself into my days (meals and breaks). I have a support system that keeps me grounded and connected. My quiet time includes yoga, meditation, prayer, or being in nature. My favorite New York City activities include experiencing the performing arts, seeing a Broadway show, or creating a unique adventure.
Who inspires you to be the best that you can be?
My grandmother inspires me. I think of her as my first therapist. She is empathetic, compassionate, and has a heart for service. Community means a lot to her. She knows how to connect to others. She is a source of encouragement and consistent support. She's a joy.
Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.
My greatest career achievement is being open to learning from those who choose to work with me. This openness requires humility and vulnerability that allows me to be human. It also contributes to my practice being holistic, collaborative, and person-centered. Those who work with me are requested to give feedback from time to time about the process and overall evaluation of sessions. While this might sound unusual, it is necessary. I desire to be the best therapist for those who choose to work with me, and sometimes that comes with discomfort and awkwardness.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
When I started my journey in therapy, I did not know I needed that particular experience. I scheduled my first therapy session because I wanted to experience group therapy. There were challenges relating to starting the group. My therapist suggested individual therapy as the alternative. I agreed with hesitation. Fast forward, that was one of the best decisions I made. The experience was revealing and confirming. It was also a lot of work. During this time, I gained the confidence to confront some individuals and reclaim my story. It was life-changing.
How would you describe your therapy style?
My therapy style is conversational and curious about how the traumatic event has changed the individual. My style leads individuals to explore experiences in context and how the impact echoes throughout their life. Identifying patterns and themes is not enough. We investigate them and become fearless in digging deeper.
