Meet Your EAP Friend: Josefina (Josie) Sierra

This is the seventh and newest 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, fifth, and sixth installments.

Oftentimes, it can be scary to take that first step and reach out when you’re struggling, and the last few years of an ever-changing work and home landscape has only exacerbated the number of people having a hard time as we return to on-site work and embrace NASA’s Future of Work. Josefina (Josie) Sierra a counselor intern with the Johnson and White Sands EAP and one of four clinicians supporting the center. If you make an appointment with the EAP, she could be one of the professionals you would speak with.

Get to know a little about her, below.  

What is your job title? 
EAP counselor. 

What do you do for the Employee Assistance Program?
Individual therapy, as well as workshops and presentations on topics relating to trauma, mental health, and coping. 

For people hesitant to reach out to the EAP, what would you like them to know?
I want to validate that seeking therapy is often a vulnerable decision. I try to do my best to ensure clients feel safe and supported throughout their journey to mental wellness. 

How has your own personal/professional background influenced your work with the EAP?
Being a child of immigrants and first-generation Mexican American, I did not know the importance of mental health until early college. I noticed the lack of resources available to Spanish-speaking populations, as well as the cultural dynamics that make mental illness, trauma, and therapy a taboo topic. This experience encouraged me to pursue a career as a therapist in order to provide culturally sensitive and empowering treatment to people of various ethnic, socio-economic, and gender-nonconforming backgrounds. I am trained in trauma-informed care by working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Additionally, I have worked with perpetrators of domestic violence to teach accountability and non-violence. I have also worked in substance use and correctional settings. This experience allows me to meet my clients where they are in their mental health journey, bring empathy to my sessions, and provide holistic care. 

Resiliency has proven to be an invaluable trait during these challenging, strange times. How do you encourage others to build a capacity for resilience within themselves?
I encourage people to make their own definition of what resiliency looks like for them. I often hear people say they are not resilient because they do not showcase it the way other people do. I think it is important to define resiliency in the context of one’s own life. Getting out of bed can be resilient. Taking a risk can be resilient. Allowing yourself to exhibit the whole scope of human emotions can be resilient. It’s a matter of acknowledging what you can/cannot control, validating your experiences/feelings, and having self-compassion.

Now, more about you!

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Dallas, Texas. (Go Cowboys!) 

How long have you been at JSC?
About two years. 

What have you learned about yourself that you didn’t know before because of the pandemic?
I relied too heavily on outside sources for structure instead of taking control of my own routine. For example, I relied on work to give me schedule of when I should go to bed, wake up, eat, etc. Now, I think more consciously of how I want my week to look like. 

Summer is quickly approaching! What do you consider your favorite summertime activity? 
Eating ice cream outside and enjoying the weather. 

What kinds of things bring a smile to your face?
My cats! 

Is there a quote or piece of advice that continues to inspire you (and what is it)?
“Choose discomfort over resentment."

Josie Sierra and Lychee. Image courtesy of Josie Sierra.

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