Today we’d like to introduce you to Douglas Essig.
Hi Douglas, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to reimagine mental wellness started on one of the hardest days of my life. I had to Baker Act someone I love deeply during a severe mental health crisis. Watching them get taken away in handcuffs broke something open in me. It was a moment I’ll never forget and it lit a fire in me to change the way we talk about mental health. I wanted to make it as normal as talking about working out or eating healthy.
After graduating from Florida State, I moved to Atlanta and jumped into medical sales. On paper, life looked good. But something felt off I was disconnected, restless, and deep down, I knew I was meant for more. So I did something that didn’t make much sense to anyone else: I walked away.
I headed out West in search of clarity and became a white water rafting guide. During multi-day trips on the river, I watched people come alive just by being outside, unplugged, and in motion. That trip showed me something simple but profound: nature heals. Movement unlocks what’s been stuck. And when we’re in the right setting, healing just happens.
When I got back home to Florida, I tried a few things opened nail salons, started a campervan company called Fearless, but all of it was leading me somewhere deeper. Around that time, I deepended my relationship with God. I started to realize that my purpose wasn’t just about building businesses…it was about building something bigger than myself. I wasn’t just chasing success. I was being called to serve.
I went on to earn my master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Jacksonville University, where I was supported by mentors who encouraged me to think creatively and explore new ways to help people heal. JU gave me the space to imagine what mental wellness could look like beyond four walls. That insight became the foundation for my own approach. So I created Healing Hobbies Jax a movement rooted in nature, movement, science, and faith.
At the end of the day, Healing Hobbies is here to remind people of what they already have inside them,peace, strength, and joy and help them reconnect with it, one step at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all, it hasn’t been a smooth road. But the best journeys rarely are. Like rivers that twist or trees that grow a little off-center, building something meaningful doesn’t follow a straight line. Starting Healing Hobbies Jax has felt a lot like being on the river, there are calm stretches, tough rapids, and moments where you just have to keep paddling.
One of the hardest parts has been figuring it all out without a playbook. When you’re creating something new, something that doesn’t really fit into a box,there’s no clear map to follow. From shaping our approach to getting people to understand what we do, it’s taken time, patience, and a lot of trial and error.
There have been times I’ve felt impatient, wishing things would come together faster. Helping people gain autonomy and real tools for life isn’t quick work; it takes time and trust. There are days where I’ve felt the weight of doing it all, but even in those moments, I’ve been reminded that I’m not in this alone. The mission is greater than me.
What we’re building at Healing Hobbies Jax isn’t just a business; it’s something that meets people where they are, outside of walls and expectations, and invites them into something more foundational and lasting. I’ve learned to listen more closely, follow what feels true, and trust that even the tough parts have a purpose.
At the end of the day, the challenges have shaped the experience. They’ve made the victories sweeter and the mission clearer. And honestly, those unpredictable parts, the rapids, have become some of my favorite parts of the ride.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Healing Hobbies?
Healing Hobbies Jax is all about rethinking how we approach mental wellness, making it authentic, relatable, and rooted in the rhythms of nature. We combine the outdoors with science-backed tools, offering a down-to-earth complement to traditional therapy.
Not everyone processes emotions by sitting still in a room. For many, especially men, clarity comes through motion. Walking side by side, paddling across calm waters, or just moving in nature helps unlock what’s been bottled up. When the body moves, the mind often follows. That’s the heart of what we do.
We work with people facing burnout, stress, anxiety, transitions, grief, emotional disconnection, and the everyday pressures of life. Our sessions meet people where they are, no matter their background or story.For those feeling stuck, we help them find movement again—not by pushing, but by guiding them back to their own strength.
We take a grounded, whole-person view of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, and scientific. It’s not just about managing symptoms; it’s about giving people real tools they can use every day to face life’s challenges with strength and clarity. We help untangle what’s holding people back so they can grow into who they’re meant to be.
I’m proud of the way we do our sessions. A lot of times in the mental health world, we tell people to get outside, go for a walk, unplug, and use their senses but we actually built that into the work itself. We don’t just talk about it, we live it. The way we run sessions—outside, moving, breathing fresh air—it helps our clients, and honestly, it helps us too. It keeps us from burning out and brings us back to what really matters. We’ve gotten back to simplicity, and we hope that inspires others to do the same.
What sets us apart is how we embrace nature’s imperfections as a reflection of our own. Our sessions aren’t about having it all together, they’re about showing up, growing at your pace, and building resilience.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love living near the beaches here in Jacksonville. Being just minutes from 11 natural parks, including some of the most beautiful beachfront around. I love how active our community is and how our most used mode of transportation at the beach is our bikes. The local farmers market brings that farm-to-table vibe right into our kitchens and reminds me that the American dream is still alive and growing.
Our sports teams might still be building their story, but the real MVP of this city is the river and marsh systems. If you’ve ever taken the time to explore them, you know they’re like a mental reset, peaceful, expansive, and full of life. What’s also rare for Florida is that we get to experience the rhythm of seasons here, which makes the outdoor lifestyle even more special.
There’s a strong energy of entrepreneurship in Jacksonville that I find really exciting. Local businesses are popping up and building multiple locations throughout the city. But at the same time, I see a gap. Many jobs still keep people indoors at a desk, which isn’t ideal for physical or mental health. We talk a lot about wellness, but there’s still room to bridge the space between what we believe and what we actually do day to day.
That’s where I think we can grow, by reimagining our public spaces to support proactive wellness. We’ve got a strong hospital system already in place. Now it’s time to build a community culture that keeps people out of those hospitals in the first place. To create habits that make health sustainable. I’d love to see Jacksonville become a true Blue Zones city one known for longevity, vitality, and people living fully.
I’m proud to be part of that vision, and even more excited to see what’s ahead as we keep moving forward together.
Pricing:
- 50 Minutes- $150
- 90 Minutes- $250
- Consulting- Reach out for pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.healinghobbiesjax.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healinghobbiesjax/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-essig-88806bba/
