Jess Ingram

Hometown: I was raised in Yucaipa, CA, on the traditional land of the Serrano and Cahuilla People.

My name is Jess and I am passionate about decolonizing therapy, including the medical mental health model, in order to help people heal and flourish as their own authentic selves. My journey has been inspired from a lifelong curiosity of human behavior coupled with my own lived experience of healing trauma and navigating the industrialized mental health complex as a neurodivergent, trans, non-binary person. I chose Alliant because of their systemic approach to Couples and Family Therapy, and I could not be happier that I did. Prior to attending Alliant I spent time studying Business Marketing at CSUF, Studio Arts at OCC, and graduated with my BA in Psychology from ASU; through this journey, I have never felt like I belonged in a program as much as I do at Alliant because of their supportive faculty and strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I balance the weight of this work by filling my own cup with joy, which includes spending time in nature, attending live music events (ska and punk are my favorite), and creating art. My hope for this work is to empower and uplift marginalized and oppressed voices, promote healing from years of systemic trauma, and to help people achieve their fullest potential through understanding that they themselves are not the problem.

Fun Fact: I am a trained metalsmith, specializing in cast metals and blacksmithing.

Research Interests: I am interested in researching potential limitations within the medical model of addiction and exploring the intersection of minority stress, trauma, and neurodivergence as it pertains to addiction as a coping mechanism for such in order to expand upon current addiction treatment models; furthermore, I would like to research the efficacy of harm reduction approaches and the mental health outcomes for persons who have been labelled as the identified patient and diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUDs) during their formative years.

Favorite part of the program: My favorite part of Alliant’s MFT program are the rich classroom discussions that are facilitated by the expertise of professors and sustained by the diverse perspectives of my cohort.

Advice to first year students: My advice to a first-year student would be to engage with the material from a holistic approach, focusing on meaning making rather than the letter grade. MFT grad school can come with its own unique heaviness due to the nature of the material and, as such, I would also advise first-year students to practice extra compassion for themselves and to find a school/life balance that allows them to fill their own cup as they prepare to go into practice with others.