Jenny B. Smith
Pull up a chair and stay awhile. Here you’ll find words meant to meet you where you are—offering comfort, clarity, and encouragement as you let go of guilt and grow into the life you want.
About Jenny B.Smith
Hi, I’m Jenny. This site is, at its heart, about my writing—stories, reflections, and tools for healing that I hope feel like a real conversation between us. My blog is where I explore what it truly takes to heal—body, mind, and heart—and how we can gently find our way back to ourselves.
I speak on topics like trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, self-compassion, embodiment, and the messy, beautiful process of learning to trust yourself again. My perspective comes from two places: the academic and professional training I’ve had as a psychotherapist, and my own lived experience of moving through trauma.
When you read my posts, I hope you feel welcomed into a space of honesty, compassion, and practical wisdom—like we’re sitting across the table, coffee in hand, sharing stories that matter. Take your time, wander through the blog, and see what speaks to you—you might just find words you didn’t know you needed.
If you’ve ever felt trapped by what others expect of you, weighed down by guilt, or unsure of your own worth, you’re not alone. I write for you—the one navigating the messy work of setting boundaries, untangling old patterns, and finding the courage to live in a way that feels true. My hope is that each piece I share helps you breathe a little easier, trust yourself a little more, and move toward a life rooted in self-compassion, purpose, and inner freedom.
My writing weaves together the hard-earned lessons of my own journey through addiction and recovery with 25 years of experience as a mental health professional. It’s a perspective shaped by compassion, lived experience, and deep professional insight.
As a psychotherapist and teacher at Arizona State University, I specialize in neurophysiology and counseling skills—work that’s grounded in both science and human connection. With over 25 years of experience, I understand how deeply ingrained emotional conditioning can make it feel almost impossible to set boundaries or put yourself first, especially when you’re weighed down by guilt or shaped by others’ expectations.
In my writing, teaching, and therapy practice, I help unravel those hidden patterns, offering tools rooted in research, lived experience, and practical therapeutic wisdom. My approach is both compassionate and actionable—guiding you toward a life that feels freer, more aligned, and grounded in self-compassion.
Jenny led me to some insight and shared other points of view that I could consider. She was just plain amazing and helped me through a difficult time.
– DCS Employee
Beyond my practice, I’ve led transformative workshops for professors and professional educators, helping them cultivate the inner resilience needed to sustain their work. At ASU, I developed and teach a comprehensive neurophysiology and counseling skills curriculum, blending textbook knowledge with real-world application in ways that resonate deeply with my students.
Whether in the classroom, the therapy room, or on the page, my work is about helping people break free from the patterns that hold them back—and step into a more fulfilling, balanced, and values-aligned life.
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About the Book
Jenny Bilskie-Smith’s forthcoming book invites readers on an extraordinary journey of healing and self-discovery. With profound insight, she blends her personal lived experiences with 25 years of expertise as a psychotherapist and educator, offering a powerful lens on how generational trauma, attachment wounds, and self-abandonment shape our inner worlds. Through vulnerable storytelling and deeply compassionate guidance, Jenny illuminates a path to reclaiming autonomy, cultivating self-compassion, and rediscovering joy.
Jenny asks the right questions and creates the safest, most affirming environment for maximum growth and healing. I’ve had lots of therapists, coaches, and counselors over the years, and I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating that you have such a gift.
From navigating family dynamics and setting healthy boundaries to the transformative power of mindfulness and embodiment, this book resonates with ambitious, thoughtful individuals yearning to break free from guilt and obligation. It’s more than a story—it’s an invitation to those longing for freedom and a life aligned with their values and intuition. A must-read for anyone seeking to heal, grow, and embrace their full, authentic selves.
Media and Guest Appearances by Jenny B. Smith
Jenny has been interviewed in the media and on a number of podcasts for her expertise on healing one’s relationship with food and their body. She uses a unique healing approach that employs an unusual social justice and trauma-informed lens.
Love Your Food, Love Yourself, Love Your Life Podcast
Body & Food Shaming Can Be Traumatic, Embody Healing with Jenny B. Smith
Host Tammy Lantz interviews Jenny to uncover various forms of trauma, which include food and body shame. They dig further into what exactly trauma is, the impact of trauma on our nervous system, and three super tangible tips for regulating our nervous system.
Level Up Tribes Podcast
Find Food Freedom & Body Peace with Intuitive Eating Coach Jenny B. Smith
Host Agnes Goodwine interviews Jenny about a book she is writing that explores the relationship between disordered eating, addiction, and generational trauma. Curious about how to heal your relationship with food and your body?
Feature in AZ Central
Peer-support program works to keep DCS workers from burning out.
Jenny discusses the program she created for a statewide peer support program for the Arizona Department of Child Safety, which gained the attention of legislators, other states’ child welfare systems, and the media. Years after Jenny’s departure from the agency, the program remains.
Publications
- 2021: Awarded The Most Insightful Stories About Binge Eating by Medium for the essay, “Intuitive Eating: What Your Body is Trying to Tell You.”
- 2021: Quoted in Fitbit Blog called, “There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Definition of Healthy”
- 2021: “I’m The Tomato, And the Tomato Plant” was featured in the 2021 Roots, Shoots, and Blooms anthology published by Phoenix Oasis Press.
- 2022: “Thomas Grant Bilskie,” a memoir essay about the healing power of a cat, was published in an award-winning anthology Beyond Boundaries: Tales of Transcendence.
- 2024: Feedspot Top 30 Arizona Mental Health Blogs
Who Would Benefit From
Jenny’s Writing
Jenny’s writing is multifaceted and covers a variety of themes, allowing for appeal to a broad range of readers. Those most likely to gravitate toward this story include:
People who feel trapped by external expectations
This book helps uncover the hidden beliefs and patterns keeping you tethered to others’ expectations. It guides you to reclaim your autonomy by reconnecting with your authentic self. Through its insights, you’ll learn to shed external layers and live in alignment with your own values and desires.
Experience Anxiety and Self-Doubt When Trying to Set Boundaries
Discover compassionate tools to navigate the emotional weight of setting boundaries. The book provides step-by-step guidance for creating boundaries rooted in self-respect. It empowers you to overcome fear and guilt, helping you honor your needs without shame.
Are in a Cycle of Self-Blame and Shame
This book offers a compassionate lens to help you understand and release self-blame. Through relatable stories, it shows how shame often stems from harmful conditioning, not truth. You’ll find tools to replace shame with self-compassion and build a stronger, more confident self.
Value Self-Compassionate and Integrative Healing
Anyone interested in personal growth and healing
This memoir highlights how unresolved trauma gets stuck in the mind and body and can wreak havoc on a person’s well-being. Trauma is not necessarily just one terrible event. It can be the culmination of many small, more subtle events. If left unresolved, this suffering is passed down from one generation to the next.
Seek a Sense of Inner Freedom and Personal Empowerment
This book guides you to reclaim your inner power by challenging limiting beliefs. It provides actionable steps to help you break free from guilt, fear, and self-doubt. Ultimately, you’ll discover the freedom to live authentically, guided by your intuition and values.
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