My Work That Matters
Over the past 20 years, I have carried many roles - each one shaping me
as a leader, advocate, and human. But the roles that stand tallest are those
in which I’ve stood beside those whose voices are often unheard.
As a parenting coach inside jails, prisons, and supportive residential communities, I stood beside mothers and fathers, including parents serving life sentences as they worked to nurture and reclaim their bonds with their children and caregivers under the weight of incarceration. It was an honor to speak at the graduation completion ceremonies and witness the emotional reunions between parents and their children. Hearing their speeches was truly moving. However, it was deeply emotional to witness the parents part ways again as they returned to their cells, serving as a reminder of the challenges they continue to face.
As a former therapist associate, I also had the privilege of providing trauma therapy to children, transition-aged youth, adults, women experiencing domestic violence, individuals engaged in sex work, and asylum seekers — many of whom have endured profound struggles with substance misuse/addiction, and moments of crisis, including chronic homelessness, suicidal ideation, self-injury, and overdose. And if you're reading this, never judge someone for their pain and depression. You truly don't know what the hell they've been through. And you wonder why the mental illness is there? It's from the trauma, the abuse, and the family members that treated them like shit. Stop thinking it's just "genetics." It's not just the "genetics." It's what happened to them.
Leading support groups for children and youth in foster care allowed me to hold space for their stories, their resilience, and their quiet hope. I witnessed courage and resilience in its rawest form, as young people navigated systems that were never built for them. This experience holds a very special place in my heart as I was a foster care sister for 19 years to youth and young adults with disabilities. Did you read that right? 19 years. I became a social worker way before I got my MFT degree.
Developing the California Mental Health Services Authority's (CalMHSA) Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program Curriculum (Generalist & Crisis Care) became another sacred part of my work, helping people with lived experience draw from their journeys and wisdom to rise into their power as guides, mentors, and changemakers.
These are just a few of the roles I’ve held. Each one part became part of a deeper commitment to creating spaces where people are seen, honored, and empowered to heal and lead their own lives.
Today, that commitment continues through my work in education and consulting as a college instructor, facilitator, curriculum developer, and 1:1 coach producing and refining content that supports students, service providers, entrepreneurs, and creatives on their paths to growth and impact.
For a potential collaboration, find me on TikTok: Brightlightlife or connect here.
Mary Jane Almeda, MA, MFT is a behavioral health subject-matter expert, coach, curriculum developer, and professor based in the heart of Los Angeles County. With over 5,000 behavioral health service providers, community members, and leaders trained through 300+ workshops and transformative trainings, Mary Jane has become known for creating immersive, emotionally intelligent spaces with real connection and meaningful growth. Her work stands out for its depth, authenticity, and spiritual grounding, blending the science of human behavior with the art of soulful reflection. Mary Jane brings a thoughtful and intuitive presence to everything she leads—whether facilitating high-level support circles or 1:1 coaching sessions. She meets people where they are, guiding them through transformative processes that restore balance, purpose and self-trust, a rare combination of wisdom, warmth, and unshakable discernment that resonates deeply with those operating at the top of their fields.II offer 1:1 coaching for high-profile individuals who are looking for real support behind the scenes.