Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Lockyer.
Hi Julia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began as a nursing major in college and realized I was more interested in patient mental health and social functioning than the medical healing process. It became my passion, I wanted to know all about the brain and got as involved as I possibly could. I landed a position doing research and clinical work at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. While there, I had an unbelievably driven and empowering female mentor, Dr. Christina Master, MD. No surprise to anyone who knows her, she is one of those people that can be delivering the next best idea in brain research while simultaneously making the room laugh so hard that they can’t breath. I loved her attitude towards owning her silly, kind, and nerdy sides while also lifting up other women. I desperately wanted to be on that level; to make an impact in the medical field like she had. This is ultimately the reason I pursued my doctorate at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. Despite the distance, Dr. Master was an integral part of my dissertation committee and continued to inspire and mentor me from a far. Upon completion my doctorate and then internship at University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine. I completed my post-doctorate in Massachusetts and came to Jacksonville to be closer to family. Never envisioning a world in which I would start my own practice, I saw a need for services in ADHD, Bipolar, Anxiety, Depression and LGBTQ+ populations and a need for more resources of trained professionals. It grew from there.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The path to where I am today had many mountains to climb and obstacles to avoid. It’s been a messy, muddy path that is ever changing and by no means easy or done. While I used to be shy and had the opportunities to “put my head down and just get through it,” and believe me there are moments I have, I have learned that in order to be successful and make a difference you must speak up. Because of this my first quiet nature of observing is often mistaken for submission, until I use my voice. I have been the outlier in many places I have worked, or left early to maintain my own emotional safety (when it wasn’t safe to speak up). I have an unwavering loyalty to patient justice and will speak this truth.
As a whole, women are relatively new in the work force if you think about it. Do we choose to “survive, stay silent, and get through” or do we dare to challenge the outdated systems that don’t serve us or our patients? There are countless of these choices to be made throughout the day. My learned tendency to point out unchallenged or unnamed power and privilege has become more important to me than being “professional” at times.
While it a noble pursuit, to speak up, it can come at a cost (i.e., burnout). Like many others in the field that have studied and written about, I chose to join them and to speak up in my own way on a moment to moment basis. This can lead to disrupting the “peace” at times. It has been by far my greatest struggle while also my proudest learned skill. While I will say this is my approach it is not safe for everyone, instead of judging those who aren’t speaking up lets build others up; you never know their whole story.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Dr. Julia Lockyer?
While I love research my passion has always been psychotherapy. I a trained as a generalist but love working with the LGBTQIA+ and ADHD populations.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Taking a risk is a part of growth. To date, I have been the only one I have known in my circle to have left an APA accredited internship (this was unheard of in graduate school). I didn’t feel I was learning what I needed for my career path and my values did not align with the clinical site. Despite all the advice to, stick with it and stay silent. I could not morally do this and in turn bowed out gracefully from my position. Leaving a position was both the riskiest move and the most profound move I have made. While at the time it was accompanied by shame, embarrassment, and guilt, I can honestly reflect and say it was one of the most empowering decisions I have made for my career.
Pricing:
- 150 for individual therapy
- 200 initial appointment
- 1200 for ADHD evaluation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doctorjulialockyer.com/
