Meet Your EAP Friend: Jackie Reese

This is the sixth and final installment in a series introducing NASA Johnson Space Center team members to the many people working in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Catch up on the first, second, fourth, and fifth installments.

Oftentimes, it can be scary to take that first step and reach out when you’re struggling, and the pandemic has only exacerbated the number of people who are having a hard time. Jackie Reese is the director of JSC’s EAP and one of four clinicians supporting the center. She could be one of the professionals you would speak with if you make an appointment.

Get to know a little about her, below. 

What is your job title? 
I’m the director of the JSC Employee Assistance Program and the White Sands Test Facility EAP, and I provide oversight of Glenn Research Center’s EAP as well.

What do you do for the Employee Assistance Program?
My primary job is to keep the program running effectively and efficiently, as well as providing clinical care for my clients. My responsibilities include overseeing cases and educational/support offerings we provide and managing our quality assurance program. I provide consultation to center management, my colleagues in Behavioral Health and Performance, my teammates on the Resolving Issues Team, and other stakeholders in employee behavioral health and well-being. I manage our Critical Incident Stress Management Program. I have a certification in threat management, and I’m a standing member of the JSC Threat Assessment Team. I’m also a board-licensed clinical supervisor for post-graduate counseling interns.

For people hesitant to reach out to the EAP, what would you like them to know?
We’re here to help. Counseling is primarily a combination of teaching, coaching, and providing tools, resources, and supportive care for folks who are struggling. We all struggle sometimes, and I’d like to see folks approach counseling much like dentistry — it’s good to have periodic maintenance, and sometimes you need more involved care.

How has your own personal/professional background influenced your work with the EAP?
I worked in a variety of settings before coming to JSC, including community mental health, juvenile probation, hospitals, and private practice. What I saw across these environments was the consequence of a lack of access to adequate mental health care, particularly following traumatic events or circumstances. I saw, firsthand, how much people suffered and declined without good care, and I wanted to be part of a shift to prevention and early intervention with mental health.

What struggles have you seen at the forefront as our workforce grapples with these challenging, strange times — and how has the EAP served as a force of good in the face of these difficult moments?
The thing that concerns me the most deeply right now is the continued divisiveness in our country and how this has impacted our JSC family. While that divisiveness benefits entities beyond most of us, it harms us in our family, work, and community lives. In my tenure at JSC, I’ve seen us come together to deal with tragedies like losing Columbia, the Building 44 shooting, and major hurricane/flood events. While we have had disagreements on causes and how to manage those events, I didn’t see as much of the personal attacks and bullying that I see now. That behavior erodes team cohesiveness and effectiveness, as well as health, and impacts our ability to safely do the incredible work this center is capable of. My team has been working hard to help people manage mental health concerns, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts constructively. We have daily stress management exercises, assertiveness courses, and support/resource groups to meet the demands of this very exciting, high-tempo period. It’s our hope that people will reconnect with each other during our presentations and workshops to expand and strengthen their working relationships and support systems. We’re working with the EAPs at other NASA centers to offer presentations and panel discussions for the entire NASA workforce. We just did a major overhaul of our website to improve access to resources. I really want the workforce to embrace self-care as a necessity, not a luxury. 

Now, more about you!

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a little farming and coal mining community in the mountains of western Pennsylvania. Folks there were very hardy, salt-of-the-Earth people. My dad was the only surgeon around for 50 miles in any direction, and got called for emergencies at all hours. When I was a teenager and he got middle-of-the-night calls, I would drive him to the hospital while he drank coffee. I’d sleep on the couch in the doctor’s lounge until he was done. Through his example, I learned the value of service and sacrifice. A lot of his patients were poor, and would often bring us whatever they had for payment (it might be a crate of apples or homemade pierogis). Looking back, I realize now it was an underserved community in terms of medical care, and that influenced my viewpoint and career path quite a bit.

How long have you been at JSC?
I’ve been here for 27 years now.

What have you learned about yourself that you didn’t know before because of the pandemic?
I never thought we’d be able to move to 100% virtual services, then to a hybrid model that allows us to support remote and TDY employees.  

What is your favorite holiday tradition? 
My favorite holiday tradition is having a big gathering of family and friends at our home for Thanksgiving. Everyone brings a dish and we watch football, play games, and eat too much. At dinner, we each take a moment to talk about what we are thankful for from the year — and it’s often very emotional as folks share challenges and gratitude. The pandemic and subsequent fallout has given us quite a bit of perspective on how fragile connections, health, and life can be. This year we were very grateful to be together. 

What is your secret to centering yourself and unwinding after a hard, emotionally charged day? 
I try to spend a few minutes with team members at the end of the day and this helps us wind down a bit. When I’m done for the day I close the computer and walk away from it until the next work day. I use the drive home to transition, then usually spend time outside enjoying the garden and playing with our dogs. Then we figure out dinner, and sometimes we go for a walk or drive. I might catch a bit of news and weather online, but I don’t spend a lot of time on my phone, and the TV is seldom on in our house these days. I’m a big fan of yoga, so gentle yoga and meditation are often part of the end of my day before I go to sleep. On the weekends, I love spending time gardening. It really lifts my spirits. Plants are like people — they can grow under extraordinarily challenging circumstances with the right care.

Flowers and plants bloom under the care of Jackie Reese. Images courtesy of Jackie Reese.

Are you Team Cat or Team Dog? Which furry animals inspire the most joy in you?
Both! Before I switched over to psychology, I was a veterinary medicine major, so I love all animals. We lost three of our four pets to old age or cancer during the pandemic, so we recently decided to rescue some new pets. Now we have two young kittens, and a puppy to keep our 7-year-old dog company.  What brings me joy about our pets is how much they love life. They’re full of energy and curiosity, and I love the world I see through their eyes. They remind us of how important it is to enjoy the moment.

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Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Johnson's EAP at 281-483-6130 or jsc-employeeassistanceprogram@mail.nasa.gov if you need someone to talk to.